HomeMy WebLinkAboutEarly Learning Minutes 04.03.2025ASHLAND GENERAL,
EARLY LEARNING AND AFFORDABLE, CHILDCARE AD -HOC COMMITTEE,
MINUTES
April 3, 2025
Ad Hloc Committee on Affordlable Childcare and Early Learning
I. Call to Order
Meeting called to order at 1 1:04am
Members present: Lisa Verner, John Love, Lynn Ransford, Nancy Seward
Council liaison absent: Dylan Bloom
Staff liaison present: Kerrick Gooden
Giuiest:Anne Sebanc - Associate Director of Faculty Scholarship Development
Confirm quorum present
confirnred
2'. Approval of draft minutes from 3.6.2'5 (see agenda packet)
Motion made to accept the minutes.
Motion: Love Second): Seward
Vote: all ayes Motion passed.
3. Suggested additions to today's agenda
4. Brief announcements
Budget constraints will likely prevent funding the City's childcare grant program, for the next biennium.
11. Public Forum
Visitor Anne Sebanc, SOU administrator, attendledl at the request of SOU's Provost - introductions exchanged.
Ill. Continuation of Busiiness from March Meeting
1. Final approval of article for the Southern Oregon Business Journal (see agenda packet)
The committee discussed final updates to the article.
Motion made to send the final version of the Southern Oregon Business Journal to City Council with a
recommendation to publiish., Motion: Verner; Second: Seward; Vote: All ayes - motion passes
2'. Business engagement work plan (see agenda packet)
• Committee discussed the need to develop a questionnaire to assess local businesses' childcare needs.
• Goal is to develop a questiionnaire and)/or script so members are on the same page when approaching
businesses.
• Goal to collect 25-35 responses (about 5 by each committee member) by end of summer.
• Committee discussed approaching Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, and Kiinwaniis.
• Questions will aim to understand local iimipact of lack of childcare.
• Other programs discussed: https://www.fam,iliesfii-stchiildcairecenter.com/abbout and https:/`/miitrishare.or.q
3. Cultivating future funding beyond June 202'6
Providers were contacted suggesting letters of support for the committee to Council.
Discussion of other funding possibilities, such as an endowment or dlonor-advised fund such as through the Oregon
Community Foundation (OCF) - OCIF will be iinviitedl to May 1 meeting.
Rogue Credit Union and SOU's Institute for Applied Sustaiinability are also willing to meet with the committee to
discuss optiions. Other suggestions included approaching Mountain Meadows and/or Ashland Food Coop with their
,round -up' program.
IV. Nlew Business
1. Revisiting committee's progress by priority (see agenda packet)
Committee discussed progress.
2'. Presentation of progress report to City Council
Discussed logistics and how to prepare content for future presentation of progress report to Council - likely
scheduled for sometime in July.
3. Items from committee members
V. Adjournment to May I Meeting
For next meeting:
• finalize work plan with list of businesses and informatiion on what commiittee does with information received.
• meeting with the Oregon Commiuinity Foundation
• progress report can move until June meeting - John will suggest updates
Meeting Adjourned at 12:03pm