Head Start building project under way

DANBURY -- An oversized bucket loader put dirt into dump trucks lined up on Bank Street Monday, as city officials oversaw site work at the new headquarters for Head Start of Northern Fairfield County.

Crews were removing dirt on the corner of Foster and Bank streets before beginning the foundation for the one-story building.

It's scheduled to be ready for the summer of 2013.

"It's very exciting,'' said James Maloney, who manages the federal Head Start grant as president and chief executive officer for the Connecticut Institute for Communities.

"The staff are delighted. There are a lot of advantages to have the program's staff in the same building with the classrooms," Maloney said, since now the offices are across town from the classrooms.

The project has been financed with a $4 million state grant and a $4 million city bond.

The city demolished the former Immanuel Lutheran School in December to build this facility on the site after the old school proved too expensive to renovate.

This building will have four early Head Start classrooms for 32 children, age 6 weeks to 3 years; 11 Head Start classrooms for about 220 3- and 4-year-olds; and classroom for parent training and other facilities.

The early Head Start and 11 Head Start classes will move from the current location at the Mill Ridge Educational Center, and Maloney said he hopes the other two Head Start classes at Mill Ridge will have space in another city school.

The city plans to renovate the educational center for use by two middle school programs. Head Start will continue to run its two Head Start classes at Sacred Heart School and two at the Laurel Gardens housing development.

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Head Start building project under way