HomeMy WebLinkAboutEarly Learning Minutes 12.04.2025 AS..[A;wD GENERAL
AD-HOC COMMITTEE ON AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE AND EARLY LEARNING
REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
December 4, 2025
10:30 am Sisk' U R000n - 51 XViDbU[n Way
|. Call to Order
Present were Committee Members John Love' Lynn Ramsford, Nancy Seward, Jessica Therke|aem.Anne 8ebano.
Paula Hyott, Joomie Keller-Hand, and Lisa Verner.
Also,present were Council Liaison Dylan Bloom and Staff Liaison KeniokGooden.
1. Confirm quorum present
Confirmed
2. Approval of dnsft rninubas of 11.8.25 nneeting (see agenda packet)
RacsYord moved to approve the minutes.Seward seconded the motion.All ayes. The motion passed.
3. Suggested additions to todoy^s agenda
none
4. Brief announcements
Bloom spoke of the potential ao|e of surplus City property and proposed an idea to request future funding for the
Affordable Childcare Grant Program from revenues received from such sale.The committee could recommend to
Council that this revenue be restricted for such use in the next biennium.
11. Public Forum
none
Continuation of Business.from Previous Meetings
1. Reports requested from affordable childcare grant recipients.
Goodem spoke of having sent out reporting reminders to the four grant recipients requesting o report book by
January 15, 2028.
2. "Mind the Gap" : Strategies for filling gap in childcare slots due to closing ofChi|dren'oWorld
Montessori
a. UUFellowship
b. E||a`s Classroom (ABC Montessori)
o. Little Sprouts
d. SisNyou School
Love spoke with leadership o/the U'U Fellowship. Discussion included clarifying timelines for the Business Oregon
CC|F Infrastructure Grants. The committee 600usoed the suggestion forputtingtheUU Fellowship back incontact
with the previously interested party(Rogue Valley Educational Services)to apply.
Love spoke with ABC Mortessori and will assist them in applying for the same Business Oregon CCIF Infrastructure
Grants.The committee discussed the suggestion that they include having received City support through its
Affordable Childcare Grant Program in their application.
3. What actually is the need for preschool /childcare seats in Ashland?
e. What information does the Southern Oregon Early Learning Hub have?
The committee discussed the availability ofpreschool slots.Availability appears tohave grown to meet Ashland's
need through the work of the committee'as evidenced byunfi||ed s|ots. but there remains o need for more
infant1todd|oroone The committee discussed business challenges to imfonbfodd|eroona programs, including liability
concerns and costs associated with operations, and that typically such programs are'subsidized' through other
programs for older children.
The committee took mptwo questions:
1)What role could the committee take in supporting infant/toddler programs?and;
2)How can the committee foster connections between programs to help meet this need?
Discussion included that these are typicallynno municipal fu oti 'ondthaoommitteowmu|dmeedo|arity from
Council regarding what is expected from the committee beyond its charge as an advisory body. Discussion also
included the committee's priodty of improving affordability and access to quality childcare, and the potential for the
City to pivot by|avenaging the umused$1O0K(slated f onChi|doonaGren1s during the next year cf the bienmi um)oa
seed money for a new fund and/or program tobe picked up and carried forward by community partners.
The committee discussed moving forward with the idea of approaching the Ashland Schools Foundation to explore
potential collaboration,and reviewed numbers provided by the Oregon Community Foundation for what am
endowment fund might pmvidle for sustainable giving. (A minimum of$2 million of seed funds would yield around
S90K/yr at OCF's current endowment rate of 4.5%interest, or the same seed funds could be used to give out less
per year to increase the fund's principle and allow increased sustainable giving in the futuro )
The comm itieoo|ao discussed diffiom|ty with oormmmmicatiom back from the Southern Oregon Early LearmingHub.
and considered exploring resources from Zero to Three,a non-profit that serves the infant/toddler population,as its
national conference will beim Portland this year.
4. Business engagement work plan (see agenda packet)
e. Suggestions for final changes inquestions.
b. Decide on businesses to include in our sample.
c. Strategies for conducting the interviews: who will do them and on what schedule?
d. Analysis plan.
The committee discussed that it was not ready for business interviews yet,and considered ifit would ask businesses
if they would be willing to contribute to an endowment fund if it was established.The committee discussed forming a
working group tofocus on an endowment fund plan and 'elevator pitch'prior to discussing with businesses.
The committee identified two action items prior its next meeting in February and before business interviews:
1 Love will initiate the'exploratory'conversation with Ashland Schools Foundation.And;
2)Therkelsen and Hyatt will develop endowment fund options and/or'road-map'for recommendation to Council
IV. New Business
V. Adjournment tc February 5, 2828Meeting
1. Committee members'suggestions oftopics.
none
2. Adjournment
The meeting was adjournodat11:4Oonn