Head Start presses on
with plan for building
BY JOYCE BLAY
Staff Writer
LAKEWOOD — If at first you don’t succeed, try again. The wisdom of an old adage is the basis for a new strategy to fund construction of offices to house both Lakewood’s Early Head Start and Head Start programs at a cost savings, according to director Karen Colletti.
"After the first round of bidding, the lowest bid was $1.4 million," said Colletti. "However, a second round of bidding has been authorized in order to open up the process to more bidders who may be able to complete the project for less money."
With a total of $900,000 in federal grant money available to pay for the project, Colletti would have needed at least $500,000 in donations or bank loans to make up the difference. She is hoping to narrow that gap with a new round of bidding, as well as an appeal to the public to help her organization continue to help Lakewood.
"In order to keep the cost of borrowing the required funds to a minimum, the program is relying on the community’s generosity," said Colletti.
Both Early Head Start and Head Start are comprehensive child development programs, according to Colletti. Their combined purpose is to address all aspects of a child’s development, from their health needs to their nutritional needs, as well as their social and emotional development.
"We want to prepare them to learn by the time they are ready to attend kindergarten," said Colletti.
The Lakewood Early Head Start is only open to residents of Lakewood.
The Head Start offices currently located at 30 East 8th Street are supplemented with additional classroom space donated by the Yeshiva Tifereth Torah at 75 East End Avenue.
Colletti is anticipating the eventual relocation of both programs into one central location once ground is broken at a 3.5-acre site on Cedar Bridge Avenue. The Township Committee deeded the land to the nonprofit organization for $1 in 2001.
The front of the parcel is still awaiting construction of a facility that will house the Lakewood Police Athletic League. Colletti stressed that even though the parcel would be shared by the two organizations, there would not be one building for both.
"The building that is out to bid represents Phase I," said Colletti. "It will have four Early Head Start classrooms for the [children up to 3 years old] who will be enrolled in the program. "
Phase I is planned for 60 children. Home visitors who provide social and education services are currently serving 24 of those children in the family’s residence due to a lack of available space at the program’s current offices.
"They do the whole program for 90 minutes a week," said Colletti. "The entire family comes into the center for a group socialization activity twice a month for an hour or two."
In Phase II, said Colletti, additional classroom space would be added to the center to house the Head Start program, which is targeted at 3- to 5-year-old children.
Colletti said that in order to register a child in the program, families have to fall within federal poverty guidelines. Registration is based on proof of income eligibility and township residency, she added.
The program’s operational costs are funded by a federal grant.
"Once Phase I and Phase II are complete there would be one centralized location for both programs," she said.
When asked when that would happen, Colletti said, "I couldn’t even tell you. There is only funding for Phase I; Phase II hasn’t even begun to be funded, but we hope to obtain the funding in the near future."
Colletti said that bids already submitted to build the architectural design that has been approved will be opened on Dec. 8, but that anyone else was also welcome to submit a bid before that date. She also said that donations would be just as gratefully accepted.
"All contributions are tax deductible and we depend on community support for these programs," she said.