Source: Melissa Kaye
Feb 14, 2025, 1:25 PM CST
Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. (WFHR, WIRI) – Governor Evers visits Wood County Head Start during his tour of Head Start child care providers. These visits highlight the Year of the Kid and the Evers Administration’s efforts to keep costs down for working families. On February 12th, Governor Tony Evers and Wisconsin Department of Children and Families Secretary Jeff Pertl visited locations in La Crosse, New Richmond, and Wisconsin Rapids.
The non-profit, Wood County Head Start Incorporated, owns the building where a little over 90 children are provided care and education. Part of the building was built in 1914 and was the Biron Elementary school. Wisconsin Rapids School District took it over in later years and added more to the building. It was sold and ran as a Christian school for over 20 years. In 2008, the non-profit took it over and started renovations on the old building. They now have new doors and windows and a new heating system.
When the federal government put a freeze on funds in January, the Wood County Head Start systems were down that morning. CFO Kris Reas said she kept trying to access the system throughout the day. Around 2PM, she was able to draw down the funds for payroll. They haven’t had issues with the system since then.
The Child Care Counts Program has helped Wood County Head Start. They started with Part B – Recruitment and Retention, in 2023 in just two of their locations to ease into it. Reas said having the program extended would enable them to use it agency wide. They utilize Part A of the program now for supplies and food. It enables them to serve the same quality meals in all of their locations.
John Martin is the Executive Director of Wood County Head Start Inc. Every lead teacher in the preschool program at Wood County Head Start has had help through the Head Start program to facilitate and finance their education. Martin said they are in the beginning stages of the apprenticeship program. They are hoping the program will help these apprentices gain their education and be the next generation of teachers.
Governor Evers toured the entire building and visited several classrooms. He commended the staff and praised the facility. “This is like the Taj mahal of early childhood. … It just warms my heart, frankly, to see the good work that’s done here. Obviously a great facility, but a lot of dedicated people over the years. [It’s] easily one of the most important ones in the state.”
Ex. Director Martin shared that about 86% of the families who enroll their children in the head start program are working families. If kids don’t have childcare, their parents aren’t able to go to work.
Governor Evers said Wisconsin’s economy is strong because so many parents are able to stay in the workforce. Head Start programs are possible in part because of federal funds. While they will do all they can at the state level to bolster the program, they can’t fund it entirely. “If Congress decides not to do Head Start, that’d be, there’s nothing we could do to kinda correct that mistake. That’s a 60 year old federal program. I just don’t think the state could do anymore then what I’m hoping they’re going to do in this next legislative session.”
The 2025-27 Executive Budget will include ongoing funding to make the Child Care Counts Program permanent. This includes investing over $500-million aimed at lowering child care costs, supporting this critical industry, and investing in employer-sponsored child care. The lack of federal funding would have disastrous consequences for states and critical programs that support kids, families, and communities in Wisconsin.“It would be an unbelievable shame if the president decides, eh, we’re done with this, moms and dads can take care of it. That would be horrible.”
Governor Evers said Democratic legislators are in favor of funding childcare and he’s hoping they can work in a bipartisan manner like they did with shared revenue and the Brewers stadium. “We worked bipartisan, in a bipartisan way. Hopefully Child Care Counts will be one of those this time.” He said they just need a handful of people to understand how important childcare is for our kids, our working families, and our economy.
The 2025-27 Executive Budget will be published in the upcoming days. You can find information about the biennial budget here.
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