Hawaiian Gardens : City Expands Preschool

In response to the apparent dissolution of the Long Beach Head Start program, the Hawaiian Gardens City Council voted Tuesday to expand its city-run preschool program.

Since disputes among board members and other problems caused the Long Beach program to lose its funding for this school year, many Hawaiian Gardens parents have signed up for their own city’s program.

“There has been a great spillover since Head Start was canceled,” said Yvonne Esparza, the city’s preschool instructor.

The council voted to add two classes to the 10-week program. There is now one class with 18 children aged 3 to 5. The program has a waiting list of 24 children, and Esparza said she expects that list to grow.