The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutEarly Learning Minutes 11.06.2025 ASHLAND GENERAL AD HOC COMMITTEE ON AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE AND EARLY LEARNING MINUTES November 6, 2025 Siskiyou Room - 51 Winburn Way - 10:30-1 1:3,0AM 1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order apt '1 0.34am. Preseintwere Committee Members Lisa'Verner,AnneSebanc, Nancy Seward, Lynn IRansrord,John Love,and Jessica Therkelsen (by Zoom) Ais 1present:Council Liaison Dylan Boom anid Staff Liaison Kerrick Gooden. 1. Confirm quorurn present Confirmed 2. Approval of draft rninutesof 10.2.25 rneefinig (see agenda packet) Seward im Deed to approvethie imiinutes.i Ransford)seconded the imotion.All ayes-motion passecli. 3. Suggested additions totoday III s agenda Request to cud dan item to d i u iteglular repofts from grant re&ipiients-will Ibe added to New IEusin,ess. 4. Brief anniouincernents nonle 11. Public Forum nonle Continuation of'Busibi ,from Previous,Me,etings, 1'. "Mind the Giap""': Strategiesfor fifling,gap ii iu hildcare slots due to closing of Children's World Montessori a. Status of Presbyterian Church and UHU Fellowship b. Siskiyoui School The committee discussed th,e recent closing of a&hildc,are Iprogram at t1he Presbyterian Ghurch,and t1ha,t a pr i o u ll iiinterested provider decided not to rent t1hie space. Seward will readh out to ILittle Sprou-tsdirectly to sfee if they would Ibe interested,asthley previously aftended a committee meetinganid expressed iiiinterest,in expanding into AsNanid.The committeedisciussed various educational impodels,tlhlelii ir,org,a,inizationa,Ill,stiructuire ,and what might qualify,for future funding unider t1he City's,grant pro,gram The Siskiyolu School had expressed interest in expanding with 1prekindergaftein program, Ib�u-t Ilias not imade any decisions The committeeconsidered how to,reassess local supply and demand. Rene IEranidon wit h SGESD' Early Learning Hub milght Ihave t1his data,,and the committee considered reviewing Ashland School District 1projections regarding enrollmeint. itecent reviewof this da-ta for kinidergarten en�roflment was 136 for 2,022, 150 for 2023, 11,50 for 2024, and 1131 for 2025 with low-level fu-ture Ipro�ectiions for this enrollment number to,remain below 140.These nlumbers m Ibe useful as the number of children at eadhagle in ffilecolupleof years before kinderga rten is likely to be similar to the kindeirgartein enrollment 1.11 2. Buisiness, Engagernent work plan� The committee discussed ideas for reaching out to employers regarding chilldcare needs, including the committee-� developed survey. 'Tlhie committee reviewed its removal of survey items,asking forsensi-tive liinformation from employers(such as number of&hildren in a household),and there was a suggestilon to shift the focus to be more anecdotalL The commi-ttee discussed whether toexplore the possibility of a wide-reaching push with something like Survey Monkey through the Gity's communic,ations ch,annels or t: ite,ach out directly to,blusiniesses anid./or families after the holidays and de&ided to reengage t1his topic at Decembeir's meeting 3. C ui I ti vat n g futu re'fui n d iiii n g a. Meeting with Ashland Parks Foundation Love shared that Ihe and Hyatt met wit Gardiner and Jensen t: Ilearn from their experiencewith the Parks Folu rid ation in exploring the idea of establishing an endowment fund managed by'something like the Oregon Communi-ty Folundation. Such an endowment would ineed a nonprofit to receive and manage funidsandwolulid require between$3-4 Million tocontinue the commiftee'scurrent grant Iprogram offerings.The commi'ttee considered the AshlandSchools Foundation as an established resolurce that Ihasdiscussed co-locating emplioyee holusing wit h 6hildc,are as another resource to,explore this with. Southern Oregion Il ional Economic Development Inc(SORED III wasalso discussed 1potentially having dllata,oin,elmpIlIoye,e/employ,er,a,cces�s t: Ihousing and childcare —Councilor IDahle is liaison to,SOREIII and might know orcolulid ask- I'V. New Busibess, 1. What actually isthe need for preschloollchildcare seats,in Ashland? The II item was discus:sed unider thle'II "in d the Gap"discussion. The 2nid item added to the agendawas to request reports from,grant pro,gram recipients.The committee revil ewe d grant reporting requirements outlined liin the grant inarrative and reflected that strict quarteirly reporting might not be warranted with theschool year just t:h liin full swing.Goodenwillcheck with the Gil y Manager's Office and Love as Committee Chair regarding necessary reporting requirements and send the request out to,grant recipi'ents.A ireport deadline of impid-January was suggested so thle committee can revilew responses at its February meetingl. V. Adjournmen�t to December 4,20215 Melefing 1. Committee members' suggestilons oftopics in�additionto confinuafion� of today's discussions The committee agreed that:one focus of thle inlext imeefing wool Ibe finalizinig and pll �nnin liimplementation ofthle business interviews. 2. Adjournment The committee was,adjourniedal 111 34am