HomeMy WebLinkAboutEarly Learning Minutes 10.02.2025 ASHLAND GENERAL
AD HOC COMMITTEE ON AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE AND EARLY LEARNING
MINUTES
October 2, 2025
Siskiyou Room - 51 Winburn Way - 10:30 AM
I. Call to Order
Present:
Committee members- Paula Hyatt, Lisa Verner, Joanie Keller-Hand,Anne Sebanc, Lynn Ransford, and John Love.
Staff liaison- Kerrick Gooden
1. Confirm quorum present
Confirmed
2. Approval of draft minutes of 9.4.25 meeting (see agenda packet)
Verner moved to approve the minutes. Motion was seconded by Hyatt.All Ayes. Motion passed.
3. Suggested additions to today's agenda
none
4. Brief announcements
a. SOU budget cuts eliminate Early Childhood Development major
b.But RCC still graduating prospective ECE teachers
c. Business Oregon's Child Care Infrastructure Fund grant program application period is
open; closes December 16
d. Other?
Sebanc clarified that it is SOU's Early Childhood Development Minor that was removed, not the major. The
committee discussed RCC's early learning program that can prepare students for SOU's major, and the importance
of regional collaboration and coordination for preparing professionals in the field.
The committee discussed having heard that not many families are applying for the YMCA scholarships available
through the City's grant, despite actual enrollment at the YMCA having increased, and discussed following up to
support access to funds.
II. Public Forum
none
III. Continuation of Business from Previous Meetings
1. "Mind the Gap": Strategies for filling gap in childcare slots due to closing of Children's
World Montessori
a. Status of Presbyterian Church and UU Fellowship
The Presbyterian Church found a renter: Rogue Valley Educational Services,which operates Nature Kids Academy
and Rogue Valley Preschool and Aftercare. The committee discussed reaching out to this provider regarding the
committee's work and offerings and to add them to the committee's childcare program census. John gave info about
CCIF to UU Fellowship but has not heard back.The committee discussed recent interest from a local developer in
acquiring a City-owned property for building a children's theater with the hope that plans will include childcare
offerings.
2. Business engagement work plan
a. Grants Pass: Oregon Center for Creative Learning
The committee discussed the recent news that Dutch Brothers donated its headquarters in Grants Pass to the
Oregon Center for Creative Learning (OCCL)—the umbrella organization for the Southern Oregon Children's
Museum and the Ivy School.The committee discussed how the committee's business engagement plan might
support similar collaboration in Ashland. Successful operating strategies were discussed, such as how the Ivy school
uses locations provided as in-kind contributions—they bring value to space, but aren't paying rent. This is similar to
how the YMCA holds space in the Ashland School District(ASD)at the Walker and Heiman school sites.The
committee discussed exploring with ASD regarding other space that might be available for more preschool offerings
in Ashland, and the concept of a community learning hub.
3. Cultivating future funding
a. Oregon Community Foundation—Endowment?Or?
b.Model of Ashland Parks Foundation
The committee discussed its limitations as an advisory body and the potential for an endowment with the Oregon
Community Foundation and other options that might be able to offer financial support for affordable childcare in
Ashland after the ad-hoc committee winds down. Options would require a non-profit entity and about$3 million in
seed funding to do the type of grants that have been offered through the City. Hyatt and Love have a meeting
scheduled with the Parks Foundation to better understand how that is working.
The committee discussed how a group might form outside of this ad-hoc committee to continue this work and either:
1)create its own non-profit;
2)come in to support under the umbrella of something like the Parks Foundation; and/or
3)come in to support through the school distirct and/or Ashland Schools Foundation
IV. New Business
1. TBD
The committee discussed having been focused on increasing the supply of affordable childcare and considered
reassessing the current local need with the news of decreased applications for the YMCA scholarships.
V. Adjournment
1. Rescheduling first Thursday in January(New Year's Day)
The committee decided to not meet in January of 2026.
2. Continuation of today's business
Love and Hyatt will update the committee after meeting with the Parks Foundation, and will look into meeting with
the Ashland Schools Foundation.
3. Committee members' suggestions of additional topics
4. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 11:31 AM