Despite years of aggravation, roof and building problems continue to plague the Thompson School Head Start program on North Union Street. The school, which serves about 500 newborn to preschool-age students, has been operating under a probational license from the Mississippi State Board of Health since June 1999. The license must be renewed by May 31 if the school is to remain open.

According to AJFC CEO Lamar Braxton, students may have to be moved to a temporary location while repairs are done at Thompson. AJFC Community Action Agency operates Thompson Head Start and other federally-funded programs in a nine-county area.

For Braxton, the state of Thompson School is an ongoing burden.

&uot;The building is almost 40 years old and there has not been any major changes to the building since it was built,&uot; he said.

The biggest problem now is the roof. Despite attempts by the Adams County Board of Supervisors to do &uot;patch jobs&uot; on the county-owned school, the roof is still leaking.

The board spent $40,000 in 1994 and $16,000 in 1998 to fix about 8,000 square feet of the roof.

But Braxton said he does not expect the county to pay for a new roof for the school. &uot;(The board has) done what they can do,&uot;&160;Braxton said. &uot;I think they acted in good faith.&uot;

Braxton and Head Start Director Mamie Mazique both said they have been looking for temporary class sites in Adams County. Natchez College on North Union Street or a local church may be a possibility for some students.

&uot;I have to believe that the community will come together and do what it has to do to keep us in business,&uot; Braxton said.

In addition to its problem with the health department, AJFC is also dealing with a poor evaluation from its regional office, the Administration for Children and Families in Atlanta. In a 1999 evaluation, AJFC, which depends on ACF for federal funds, was found to be under par in 14 of 17 evaluated areas. It has until the summer to make improvements.

But Danny Osburn, public information officer with ACF’s Atlanta office, said the condition of Thompson may be a bigger issue than the items cited in the evaluation – most of which were management issues.

&uot;These things are a lot easier to correct than the renovation of a dilapidated facility,&uot; he said.

Braxton said AJFC is working to improve on the evaluation findings and is looking for sources to fund a new roof.

AJFC will meet with an engineer this month on its building problems, Braxton said.

But Mazique remains optimistic.

&uot;I don’t really believe (the health department) is going to disrupt this group of children,&uot; she said.