While a $1 million preschool investment sounds tempting, the Cherokee County School Board wants more information from Head Start before buying into the program.

The school board’s Special Needs Committee asked the district administration at Wednesday’s meeting for more specifics about a proposed federally funded Head Start program in Cherokee County.

Head Start is interested in serving 52 children under the age of 3 through a $536,000, 3- year renewable grant program at the Cherokee Community Learning Center.

The new $7 million school building presently serves students in adult education, alternative school and Parents of Pre-schoolers programs.

School board committee member Cheryll Smith expressed concern with how the federal Head Start program would impact students already in the community learning center.

“My concern is the adult education and alternative school might be cast aside. Our illiteracy rate in the county is too, too high,” Smith said. “If we don’t educate parents, how can we educate our children?”

Head Start has indicated it will cover the estimated $400,000 in startup funds needed for the building renovations and the hiring of new employees, assistant superintendent Dr. Linda Sellars said. The proposed renovations include adding a new entranceway and two bathrooms for new pre- school classrooms.

“No programs would be moved from the community learning center to accommodate the Head Start program,” Sellars said. “This is an opportunity to provide more pre-school services in Cherokee County.” School trustee Lindley Auton said she wants to see a written contract with Head Start before a final decision.

“It just sounds too good to be true,” Auton said.