03 February 2011
Letter from Leonard Jozwiak, Vice President, Geminus Head Start
"The Head Start community is highly concerned about Senate Bill 196 eliminating unemployment benefits for Head Start teachers and other staff.
Head Start teachers, since the program is entirely federally funded, are only paid on an hourly basis of $12 t0 $14 per hour for an annual wage range $18,470 to $21,546! Unemployment compensation has always been considered supplemental compensation, available to Head Start staff across the country in order to provide a more competitive wage, particularly since the Head Start year is also slightly shorter than the standard public school year providing for fewer income earning days.
Passage of this bill would be highly detrimental to sustaining Head Start staff and services throughout the State jeopardizing the maintenance of the $107,537,000 federal dollars that currently flow into Indiana to support the scope of quality Head Start services provided.
We respectfully request your rejection of this legislation, SB 196, as a detriment to sustaining Head Start services to Indiana’s most needy children and families."
Click here for an Indiana Head Start fact sheet for your reference.
