1990: West River Head Start became a program of HIT Inc. when they took over the Head Start grant with 4 classrooms in Mandan.
1991: The grant was expanded to include a home base program that provided Head Start services to 20 children throughout rural Morton County.
1992: A community survey indicated a need to provide Head Start as a center based option rather than home based. The first New Salem center started with 20 children in the basement of the city auditorium and also expanded the Mandan center to 5 classrooms totaling 100 Morton County children and their families. The New Salem Head Start center moved three times until 2009 when they moved into the New Salem Public Schools keeping the same number of children and families.
1998: Head Start expanded once again to Grant County opening centers in the Carson and Elgin Public Schools with a total enrollment of 134 children. With expansion beyond Mandan area, the HIT Board of Directors approved to change our name from Mandan Area Head Start to West River Head Start.
2000: A center was started in the Hebron Public School increasing the enrollment to 152.
2003: West River Head Start expanded into Mercer County where a center was opened in each Beulah and Hazen Public Schools increasing our enrollment to 168 children and their families.
2010: Due to a decrease in population, Grant County combined into one classroom in Carson. Enrollment in West River Head Start was decreased to 160 children.
Video
The Dream Lives On: Celebrating 45 Years of Head Start
