The new Head Start preschool and Early Head Start toddler and infant care center opened on north Nevada Street September 3, 2019, with all 112 slots filled. A waiting list was established.
This Logan/Lidgerwood Head Start Center marks a return of Head Start services to the Logan and Lidgerwood neighborhoods after a five-year absence. Head Start had operated out of the Logan Elementary School for about 15 years before the school needed the space.
The new center is on Nevada Street across from Longfellow Elementary in a building purchased and remodeled for it by Hutton Settlement of Spokane. It’s a perfect partnership between two agencies that provide services to children, say the leaders of the organizations.
“The Hutton Settlement has an amazing and longstanding reputation for serving children in our community,” said Patty Allen, Head Start district director for Community Colleges of Spokane. “It is perfectly aligned with the services we provide.”
“Head Start provides care and preschool opportunities to children and families who wouldn’t otherwise have them,” said Chud Wendle, executive director of Hutton Settlement. “It is great to be in partnership with the Community Colleges of Spokane delivering critical services to the Spokane community.”
Head Start is a federal program administrated by the Community Colleges of Spokane that provides early childhood education, social services and health services to low income families. Hutton Settlement Children’s Home in Spokane Valley is a nonprofit that just celebrated its 100th birthday. Hutton owns rental properties for income.
Hutton purchased the building at 3704 N. Nevada formerly occupied by Bates Pharmacy and with Head Start’s federal funding remodeled it to create eight classrooms, two playgrounds, a commercial kitchen and parking for Head Start.
A public open house is scheduled for 2 – 4:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13, with a short program at 2:30.
The Head Start, Early Head Start and state-funded ECEAP programs operated by the Community Colleges of Spokane have more than 30 centers in Spokane County and provide care and support for more than 1,800 children and their families. The CCS has been the grantee for Head Start since 1973.
Hutton Settlement is located on a 319-acre campus on Upriver Drive and provides safe and healthy living opportunities for children ages 5 to 18 in need of a long-term alternative home.