Newton County Special Service Corporation, Inc. (NCSSC) is closing the Mt. Judea Learning Center (Early Head Start) on March 22, according to an announcement released by Sherry R. Campbell, executive director of NCSSC.
"To maintain compliance with the Federal Head Start Performance Standards and Head Start Act, NCSSC has restructured our Early Head Start services. Early Head Start Services are funded by a federal grant.
"Mt. Judea Learning Center staff, parents, and the Deer/Mt. Judea superintendent were notified of the closure during the week of Feb. 12 -16.
"The NCSSC administration and Board of Directors would like to thank the Deer/Mt. Judea School District for their many years of collaboration by offering the use of the facility and the community of Mt. Judea for their support and participation.
"NCSSC will continue to serve children and families in the Deer/Mt. Judea communities through our home-based services. Children currently enrolled in the Mt. Judea Learning Center will also have the option of transferring to one of our existing locations at Jasper or Western Grove.
"All staff employed at the Mt Judea Learning Center have also accepted a comparable position at one of the other two locations.
"NCSSC will continue to serve 52 funded slots through our Early Head Start Grant. The restructuring did not result in a reduction of slots or funding," the announcement said.
Deer/Mt. Judea School District Superintendent Bill Mizaur said he attended a meeting of the NCSSC board and it was explained that the decision to close the center was not made at the local level, but that it was federally mandated.
The school district hosts the state funded ABC program at both campuses and that program will continue, Mizaur said.
