ETNA – After 18 years, the Carmel-Etna Head Start is slated to move to Newburgh at the end of this school year.

Virginia Nute of Carmel, whose child attends the facility, is a member of a group of concerned parents. They have organized meetings with Penquis Community Action Program, the regional administrator of the Head Start program, to discuss the decision. The first meeting for parents and administrators was Thursday. A follow-up meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. today at the Etna Community Center. Sens. Betty Lou Mitchell, R-Etna, and Tom Sawyer, R-Bangor, may attend.

Head Start is a program designed to serve very low-income families who have 3- and 4-year-old children. Etna, Carmel and Levant primary schools all opened prekindergarten programs last fall. Four-year-old children may attend these programs instead of Head Start. Nute said the families and children will lose many benefits without Head Start, including a program for 3-year-olds, the more social and creative emphasis that many parents feel Head Start provides, dental and some health services and parental involvement.

Jeanne Bridges, director of child development at Penquis CAP, said it was a decision made in an attempt to stretch their funds. Due to level funding, increased costs and new requirements, the program is in effect facing a $190,000 shortfall.

When Richard Lyons, SAD 22 (Hampden, Newburgh, Winterport) superintendent, contacted Bridges with a proposal to partner services in Newburgh, she felt she had to recommend it. “It cuts our staffing costs in half,” Bridges said. By moving the Head Start from Etna to Newburgh she will only have to cut 24 slots for children from their program instead of 34.

As a result of Thursday’s meeting Penquis CAP will try to meet the parents’ concerns partially by assuring the 14 children who will be age 4 in the fall spots at the Head Start program nearest to them.