Great things are in store for the children and families of Tornillo Head Start as the center inherits the Tornillo Elementary School building.
For the past two years, Tornillo Head Start has occupied three classrooms in a single wing of the Tornillo Elementary campus. The opportunity for expansion arose when Tornillo Independent School District (TISD) consolidated Tornillo elementary school students into Tornillo Intermediate and Middle Schools in 2023, leaving the Tornillo Head Start Center alone in the old Tornillo Elementary School building.
ESC19 Head Start Director, Socorro Rodriguez negotiated with TISD Superintendent Rosy Vega-Barrio to allow Head Start to occupy the building and expand the program to include two Early Head Start classrooms, a dedicated space for nutrition services, a speech therapy room, expanded offices for staff, spaces for parent conferences and training, a safer and more secure playground, and dedicated parking for Head Start staff -an upgrade that triples the square footage space for Tornillo Head Start.
John Alarcon, the director of ESC19 Head Start Construction, Facilities Maintenance, Transportation, and Support, recognizes the benefits this expansion will bring to Tornillo Head Start families. He states, "Once we have completed the move and relocated the playgrounds, the benefits of our expanded services are substantial for our Head Start families and little ones. Transportation and security will remain our top priority."
Tornillo Head Start serves 38 full-day and half-day PreK students in three classrooms. The addition of Early Head Start (EHS) will include two EHS classrooms, accommodating 16 infant and toddler children.
Tornillo EHS opens in October, 2023.