PRESCHOOL FOR ALL DIRECTOR RESIGNS: Leslee Barnes, now the former director of preschool and early learning at Multnomah County, resigned July 31. Her resignation came less than two days after a WW story revealed Barnes’ preschool had collected $833,494 from the state to serve just nine children (“No Children,” July 30). Barnes owns North Portland preschool Village Childcare Enterprises LLC, which was funded by the state Preschool Promise program through the 2022–23 school year to serve low-income children. WW reported that the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office had flagged her preschool in an investigation of “wasteful” Preschool Promise spending. Preschool Promise is a different program than the county’s Preschool for All, which Barnes oversaw, but the revelation raised questions ab
Murmurs: Preschool for All Director Resigns

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