TEB Hears Comments Regarding Head Start

After Hilary Gourneau was terminated as Fort Peck Tribes’ Head Start director last week, Tribal Executive Board members received comments from community members during an education committee meeting on Monday, June 15. Gourneau has filed a grievance in the matter.

Susan Turnbull commented about the strides that Head Start has made on the reservation during the last five years.

“The director brought it up to where it is today,” Turnbull said.

Challenges include people don’t understand the program and don’t realize the need for the most current curriculum. “We want to keep the standards really high,” Turnbull added.

TEB member Roxanne Gourneau said that the new buildings in Wolf Point and Poplar are funded with federal funds not tribal money. She said the federal money is administered to use for the benefit of children.

“If Head Start fails and doesn’t meet the goals we’ve established, the council is responsible,” Roxanne Gourneau said. A parent shared that her son struggled with a teacher at Head Start. The mother said it was because of the Head Start director and another teacher that her son is now doing better.

“We need to come together and figure things out for our kids,” the mother said.

TEB member Carolyn Brugh pointed out that the TEB board wasn’t the body that terminated the employee.

All personnel issues are referred to the chairman’s offi ce.

Brugh said she feels for everybody that is upset. She explained TEB is trying to address all the issues on the reservation.

“We’re supportive of everything,” she said. “We want the success of Head Start.”