Aug. 29, 2007 — Creating a comfortable and safe learning environment for youngsters was the goal behind the construction of a new multi-purpose Head Start complex, which officially opened on St. Thomas Wednesday.
Located in Sugar Estate, the complex has been in the works for more than a decade and is now the result of several hundred hours of hard work and commitment, Department of Human Services officials said during grand-opening ceremonies. Before 1995, the building housed various Human Services divisions and administrative offices.
Once Hurricane Marilyn hit, however, the building was destroyed, leaving only a wrecked foundation that housed numerous squatters and nests of iguanas. Seeking to rebuild, Human Services officials requested funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, but could not garner enough money to return the complex to its former state.
"It was then that (former) Human Services Commissioner Sedonie Halbert requested funding from the Head Start regional offices," explained Diane Jeffers, administrator of the department's pre-school services programs. "Her goal was to consolidate the Head Start programs on the island, bringing everyone together under one roof."
Speaking after the ceremony, Halbert explained that the project was initially expected to cost about $2 million. "We did need about an extra $1 million to finish everything we set out to do," she said. "But I'm really pleased with the result, and it's going to be a great advantage to parents and children in the neighborhood."
During the ceremony, Gov. John deJongh Jr. gave a similar assessment of the building, saying that parents could now "be comfortable dropping their children off at a facility like this."
"I believe our goal is to ultimately get our children to the point where they can be confident on their own," deJongh added. "And I think today is definitely the beginning of that process, one that will allow the 80 children enrolled in the program to look at this as the start of a successful education."
Painted light blue to match the surrounding environment, the Head Start complex boasts more than 300,000 square feet of space — enough to hold four Head Start classrooms, training and conference rooms, a state-of-the-art kitchen, a parent lounge with library and a gated playground in the back.
"We truly rejoice at this wonderful accomplishment," said Michal Rhymer-Charles, assistant Human Services commissioner on St. Thomas. "And as we sit here today, we know that we're doing all this for our children. But it's just the beginning, because we expect great things out of this facility, and much more from the Department of Human Services."
Human Services Commissioner Chris Finch added that the two-level complex should also have a positive impact on the surrounding area, which is fanned by Charlotte Amalie High School and Barbel Plaza.
"It also continues to give parents the opportunity to be involved with their children," Finch said. "Because, let's face it: If parents get the chance to be more involved, their children do better in school."
The purpose of the Head Start program is to give young students — primarily 3 and 4 year olds — a good jumping-off point into their educational careers, Finch explained.
"It's a family-oriented program that serves low-income households," he said. "It's based on how kids actually learn at a certain age, and offers things like social, health care and other family-oriented services."
Since the first day of classes are about a week away, visitors to the facility on Monday also took the opportunity to tour the building, exploring classrooms, conference rooms and, of course, the kitchen.
To make things official, deJongh, Finch and Halbert joined other officials in a ribbon-cutting ceremony, signifying the official opening of the complex.
"This is like a dream come true for me," Halbert said. "I'm so excited we were able to get this done."
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