Watauga Head Start

will not re-open in fall
By Melanie Marshall

Parents of children attending Watauga Head Start or who had applied for the 2009-10 head start program received letters late last week notifying them the school would be closing its doors permanently effective immediately.

Watauga Head Start had been operating at the Clint Norris Road location in Boone for 35 years, running from August to May, closed in June and July. The program accepted 19 children per term.

The school operated under the federally funded organization Intermountain Children’s Services (ICS), which operates head start programs in Avery, Mitchell, Yancey and Watauga counties. ICS is based in Bakersville.

Two members of the central office personnel were at the school Monday packing up supplies. Nora Hise told the Watauga Democrat central office personnel were notified of the closure one week ago, citing high staff turnover rates. She and health manager Barbara Young declined to comment further.

ICS director Arvene Byrd could not be reached for comment.

Shana Scott, a current ICS board member living in Watauga said the board also expressed concerns in upcoming repairs that would be required at the school.

The Mabel Community Head Start Program in Zionville, also operated by ICS, is scheduled to re-open in the fall.

These programs are not related to the state-level More at Four programs in the county.