ABOVE: CDI Head Start at 1001 E. Voorhees, formerly the Social Security building.
It was back in March of 2022 that the ribbon was cut for a new Head Start facility, in the old Social Security building at 1001 East Voorhees. Com Action had lost their grant and could no longer run Head Start, a program designed to serve the most vulnerable children; such as those from low income families, those with disabilities, and those in foster care.
CDI, Community Development Institute, out of Colorado, stepped in and a new partnership was born. One of the many who expressed high hopes at the ribbon cutting was Danville mayor Rickey Williams, Jr; who had benefitted from the Head Start program as a child.
(1st Picture) The ribbon cutting for the new CDI Head Start facility in the old Social Security building at 1001 E. Voorhees in March of 2022. (2nd Picture) Danville’s Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr; who participated in Head Start as a child; addresses attendees about his hopes for the new partnership.
But now, Head Start director at the Danville facility Donny Gill has recently resigned after 11 months on the job. Gill told Neuhoff Media that communication with CDI suddenly stopped, especially after two allegations involving racism.
Gill says both allegations were not true. He says one came from a worker who became upset when asked to do something; and the other came from someone who’s child was on the waiting list, with the mother accusing Head Start of playing favorites, or even taking under the table payments.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: So she accused us of having doctors’ and lawyers’ children in the program; taking bribes; and that we only accepted white children, when the Voorhees roster is easily over 90% African American.
Gill says CDI assumed Head Start in Danville was guilty, and that led to a toxic environment. He says another problem was staff simply not knowing how to do their jobs, due to contradictory feedback and instructions, and often bullying behavior, from different visiting CDI center supervisors.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: So the staff just didn’t know what to do. And it would get frustrating for the teachers, and the assistant teachers and the program aides; because all they would receive was negative feedback. You can only take that so long. There’s other jobs out there, and that’s why we’d lose so many people.
Neuhoff Media made contact with CDI, but were unable to obtain a statement.
Gill says that under CDI, Head Start in Danville has had a 186% turnover rate, making it extremely hard to maintain staff. He says that as of the beginning of this school year, the lack of staff is allowing only one classroom of children to be cared for. Donny Gill concluded by saying that CDI is doing a disservice to the City of Danville, and the at risk families the area has that could really use Head Start’s services.
