HomeMy WebLinkAboutEarly Learning Minutes 04 03 24Page 1 of 2
Childcare Ad Hoc Committee
Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, April 3, 2024
In attendance: Lisa Verner, John Love, Paula Hyatt, Dylan Bloom, Alissa Kolodzinski, Kerrick
Gooden.
Guests: Marshall Doak from Southern Oregon University Small Business Development Center
(SOU SBDC)
1. Q & A with Marshall Doak, SOU SBDC
Service with SOU can help childcare businesses in their operations, not necessarily in
licensure, but in business. Can provide tools and classes such as accounting help, as well as
referrals to additional related support. Post-covid Preschool Promise tagged SBDC to work
with applications. Currently assisting 24 businesses, due in two weeks to go out for funding.
Applied for money with state, on third delay but is structured as cooperative with Rogue
Community College (RCC) to train new childcare providers on technical and business
aspects. This will have one year lifespan, then assessed.
Hyatt mentioned to the committee grant funds awarded to YMCA and Children’s World
Montessori - nearly 40 seats at the YMCA and nearly 20 children at Children’s World. This
grant program was piloted to bridge the gap for children between Preschool Promise and
self-pay.
Doak said while the SBDC has the grant, it is awaiting funding and will administer with their
RCC group as a co-op program depending on how and when funds are dispersed. Looking
at fall for delivery of classes. Clarified co-op program is to help childcare centers start or
help ones that are struggling. Unique in they have three funding sources: federal, state, and
SOU. Aimed to help with financial understanding such as the Shoebox Accounting class to
literally turn loose receipts into accounting system. Regular SBDC services are still available
to assist businesses while awaiting this additional/special funding stream. To qualify for
service, simply need to qualify as a small business: 500 employees or less--97% of all
business. Programs can be flexible to address special needs in Ashland, such as special
language translators, etc.
2. Grant Review Next Steps
Reviewed funding report and grant parameters. Hyatt asked if program is good as structured
or does it need changing. Childrens World, and YMCA both have recommendation for
changes: YMCA feedback was rollout was late, knowing earlier (now) is preferable. Also
feedback for opening to more providers. Getting word out publicity was limited. Served over
35 families. The City gave YMCA permission to distribute funds through the summer. Unsure if
they will have a toddler program. Scholarships at YMCA were $440 per month for half day
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and $900 per month for full day. YMCA offers a sliding scale, and this brought on 31 seats.
Childrens World families received $300 for full day or $208 for part day. Unsure if this affected
total number of children served. Childrens World limits waitlist to 20 seats. YMCA commented
presence of funds allowed other monies to be freed for other work within early learning.
Bloom expressed the benefit of the program as a game changer for families.
3. Prioritize progress report short term goals / next steps
Love mentioned long term / 12-month report should reflect benefit of this program and how
35 families is indeed significant. Bloom mentioned expressing as percentage helps better
reflect progress, and suggested a metric that reflects how these seats strengthen
community’s early learning infrastructure.
Short term goals:
o Review Preschool Promise
o Engage local businesses to identify need
o Improve local awareness
o Work with providers to make them aware of grant opportunities
o Engage with community development department
o Explore strategies for co-locating childcare and affordable housing
Committee will come before Council on May 6 to report progress and provide committee
recommendations, and Council will decide how to fund moving forward such as
infrastructure vs. operating funding etc. Overall, the last year of this committee has been a
success.
Hyatt requested each member review and give their top two goals and thoughts on the
grant program to help her develop findings from the report and this committee. Waiting for
more anecdotal feedback from pilot program to include in findings. Will connect Cynthia
Salbato from Science Works with Marshal Doak at SBDC to support these plans moving
forward. Good example of work that has immediate impact. Difficulty is communicating
benefit to entire population.
4. Adjournment
Next Meeting May 1, 2024 – 1:30 pm 51 Winburn Way