HomeMy WebLinkAboutEarly Learning Minutes 08.07.2025 ASHLAND GENERAL
AD HOC COMMITTEE ON AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE AND EARLY LEARNING
SISKIYOU ROOM -51 IN BUR WAY- 10:30 AM
MINUTES
August 7, 2025
1. Call to Order
Meetingwas calle,d to,o�rder at 1 0:35am
Member IPresent: IPauia Hyatt John IVLove, Lynn Ran ford,AnnieSelbanc, Nancy,Seward, ,anid LisaVerner(by
ZOOM)
Council Liaison IPre �nt:IDy'lan IElloom
,Staff Liaison IPre �nt:Kerrick Go,oden
1. Confirm quorum present
confirmed
2. Approval of draft rninutes-of 7-3-25 meeting (see algenda packet)
Hyatt moved to approve the minutes of the'7.3,21025 mleeting.,Sebanc sec onded,thie motion.All!ayes.,Motion
paissed.,
3. Suggested additions totoday If s,,agenda,
no addifions
4. Brief anniouncements
A. RB 3560 passed (see agend ket)
The committee discusse,d 1-1133560,vita expan,sion of apIprovedl,chiiill,dcaire,siiitin�g,and the Gregon Depaft men t of Early
Learning and Care's(DELG)Every,Ghildl Belongs Programas,support for it hider ineeding behavioral support.
Discussion also,included existing(anid expected)challenges to IHea,dll Start that imay impact up to,4700 child[care
slots, budget cuts to DEL C that imay result in the loss of Pr school Promi,se§lots, an,d Business Gregion ann,ounce,d
its third roun,d of funding for its'Chi l d Care Infrastru cture nn wi���l�l�,o�p,,e� ,o� ,oir,a, unit
Sejptember'1 7,2025, an,d that u lid atedll,giui ildelI i in e,s,wiIlIII beavaila awl e by,Septembeir 3, 2025.
11. PuNic Forurn
none
III., Contin iation of'Busi ins ess,frorn,duly Meeting
1. Status of t1hethiree grants voted tio award iinl uly— Kerrick
GRio,oden lupdate,d thecommi-ttee that that mntracts have been cornplete,d with the threeawardees selecte,d from thie
last meeting�-award ,checks are schedlluled to,,sendl
2. Revisit fUndingdecision about Ella I s Classroom/ABC Ulontes,sori
A. What we've learned about licensing
Love lupdate,d thecommi-ttee regarding his,site v[sitan,d conversatilon with Ella's Classroom LLC.The committee
discussed that con cernsover Ili censure have been alleviated anid refiectedl on the,scar c-fty of,childcareseats in the
community.
�B. Vote ongrantinig funds,
The committee discusse,d that f iiini Ihas been confirme,d t: Ibe in 1place arid clarifie,d that, lif awardedl, grantfundls
shouldonly be use,d for playground in�frastr,uc-tuireii"iimproveimenr ts,, in&ludin ha,de treesand irelatedll expein,ses, rathier
than ki-tchien improvements
Hyatt moved to award EllasClassrolom LLC$35K in graint Wndsi to support the development of pIll aygroFund
in,frastruc tau re in the 25,126 flu nding cyc1e. IMotion wasseconded Iby Riansi,ford. II lIII,Cafl'Vote: Hyatt,,,Love,,
Verner,S,6banci,, Ransif'ord,Seward YES.,IMotion Passed.
3. B,uisiiness,,,eni,giag,eim�,e n��t,work lan�f"iiinali,z,e,ques,,,tioin��naire and pl a ni Lisa (see agenda packet)
The committee discusse,dworking on this between now andll theye,ar's end for reporting to th,e Council. Fufther
discussionwas po,stponed for othier i-tems.
GRio,odenwilIII send the Ashlandl Family YMCKs yea r-endl repoft to mm itt impembers for review.
A. Questions,asked
�B. Business,es to,be apprioacfted
C. Key iiiinformation that can bedisserninated after analysis-of itesponses,
�D. Plan for completing interviews,
4. Update chart,about progress onthie committee 1),sgoals.i (seeagenda packet)
The committee discussedworking on t1his between now and theyear's end for irep rtiiing to the Council. Fufther
discussionwas postponed for offier items.
I'V. New Business,
1. Strategies,for filling gap in childcare slots duieto closinig of'Ghildren's World Montessori—
Paula
The committee discussed the anniounceddosure of Ch Bill drein's'World Miontessori and how to,conniect interested
providers in the pace and/dr hard assets that will result.
A. First Presbyterian Church,
The committee discussed that the IBoaird of t1hie First Presbyterian Church liis interested in rnaintainliinigi a childc,are
provider in theirspace and will meet the following Wednesday for a decision. Love and IHyatt will imake connections
witlh a provider that may be interested.
�B. Rogue Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
The committee discussed that the IBoaird of Rogue Valley UN'tarian Universalist FeIllll wshiil liis in the epurl ystages of
considering the viabili-ty of Ihiousing a preschool 1program.
V. Adjournment t�io September 4,,Melefing
1. Any neededfollowup an Business Enga gar nent Wark Plan
2. Discussion ,&progress-on the commiffee's goals
I Continue discussilan of cultivating futurefunding
4. Committee members' suggestions of'a,ddiiiit'iional 'topilii"cs
Various topics weire suggested for future discussion, including:
• Checking in on the Oregon Ghi Development Centevat the IBriscoe location
• Changlesat the Ashland School District,due to declining enrollment
• Thy Ipolential for co-locating childcare at a proposed sfenior Ihiola&inigi pro sect at,Sou'tlhern Oregon University
• Thy Ipolential for an Economic IDevelopment Advisory Commi-ttee to Coluncil and/br makIng t1he Affordable
Childcare commi'ttee peirmanent rat1hier than a,&hioc,and;
• Drafting a cha�rter for such a committee for Co,uin,ciilll, ��iid,era-tiiio,n
5. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 1,1:36,am