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Home My WebLink AboutEarly Learning Minutes 02.05.2026 AS..[A;wD GENERAL AD HOC COMMITTEE ON AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE AND EARLY LEARNING MINUTES February 5' 2026 SiskiVOU RDODl - 51 WiDbU[D Way - 10:30AM i Call toOrder The meeting was called bo order at1O:35am. Present were committee members Paula Hyatt, Nancy Seward: Lynn Ramsford'John Love,Anne Gebomc'and JeasiooThorko|son. Present also were council liaison Oy|amB|oomand staff liaison KorriokGoodon. 1. Confirm quorum present Confirmed 2. Approval of draft minutes of 12-4'25 meeting (see agenda packet) RanaYord moved to approve the minutes.Seward seconded the motion.All ayes. Motion passed. 3. Suggested additions to today's agenda no additions 4. Brief announcements Hyatt thanked Verner for assisting the Siskiyou School to connect with senior planning staff to explore early learning options under new zoning/planning rules. Bloom reported on the first meeting of the oity^a strotegio p|amnimg aeries: breakout groups seemed to recognize that early learning is a priority for the future ofAshland, and that quality childcare is an ongoing need to attract families. Love shared that BDL| has anew im collaboration with the Oregon Business Development Department that offers financial assistance for registered apprentices or new journey workers. Seward shared an upcoming conference sponsored by the Southern Oregon Chapter of the Oregon Association for the Education of Young Children(an affiliate of the National Association for the Education of YoungChildren, membership organization committed to the advancement of the early childhood profession).The 2026 Together for Children Winter Conference- Eve[y Child Belongs(Fobruory28 202Oot the RCC/8OU Higher Education Center)will feature a group of local and state panelists speaking on the upcoming Oregon initiative Every Child Belongs, previously known as the Early Childhood Suspension and Expulsion Prevention Program which will be implemented fully in 2828- 11. Public Forum none Ill' Continuation of Business from Previous Meetings 1. Reports received from affordability grant recipients (see agenda packet) o. Committee approval of reports ' all b. Suggest schedule for next and final reports 'all The committee reviewed the reports as included in the agenda packet, reflected on the accomplishments of all grant reoipiemta'and noted the positive impact for the community through increased number and quality of childcare slots actualized by the grant. The committee asked Gooden to send out o notice to grant recipients in May for o final roport, and noted thane may be no substantial update from recipients who had already completed their project(infrastructure-focused grant recipients). 2. Cultivating future fundinQ, aka the future of our adhocoornmittee o. Report on choir's meeting with Mayor Graham 'John b. Endowment scenarios for moving forward—Paula o. Potential for working within Ashland Schools Foundation—John & Paula 1. Pipeline from babies to kindergartners d. Using $100.000 remaining in Affordability Grant funds as seed money? e. Presentation to City Council—April? A)Love reported on his meeting with Mayor Graham: a The Council values promoting Ashland asogreat place for kids,and is encouraged by increased housing options and recent improved flexibilityimzomimgilplammingrules related tochildcare; meanwhile,the projection ia for for decreased K-12enrollment. a Graham anticipated th i |d decrease its grant programsand suggested the committee reach out to the League cf Oregon Cities(LOC)for support cf its efforts. The committee discussed presenting to the L[)Cor inviting key contacts to attend a regular meeting. The committee also discussed a potential opportunity to present to Council regarding its impact om the local economy. Grant reports include testimony that could be used,and the committee considered approaching providers for in-person testimony. B through D): Hyatt and Therkelsen provided their research findings on establishing an endowment in Oregon. Discussion included the importance and cost of required administrative tasks, insurance considerations, and the need for tight by-laws and accounting systems as essential due to liability(which falls to the board of directors). Non'profitsaro reporting difficulty in obtaining insurance in the current economic climate ato cost of about$15O0 per million. The committee discussed operating as a project under an existing foundation (such as the Ashland Schools Foundation -ASF)as om option for defmayimg costs vvhi|e beginning the work while sourcing o seed fumd that vvi||toketime. The cornmitteediscussed the idea of broadening its scope from just providing childcare grants to supporting a greater vision for Ashland as a place for babies and young families. Resource navigationfor families and business coaching for providers could grow this vision with programming and/or services not provided by other local organizations. Existing programs such os Ashland Reads, Ashland Family YMCA, 8OEGD programs, Science Works,SOU Preschool, and others may all benefit from an organization focused on connecting families with and between them.This type of work could begin immediately.,while concurrently sourcing the$3 million needed for an endowment fund of sufficient size to issue childcare grants.The committee considered it could take three to five years tosource such an endowment given the current economic climate. The committee discussed its strengths, expertise,and value it would add to ASF, such as increased enrollment and percentage of any grants received,etc. The committee discussed how to approach the Ashland Schools Foundation to explore if it would consider such a project under their umbrella, and if so, recommending that the council approve the remain ing$1O0K(currently eannorked for child coregronta)to|omnoh it. Thmcomnm|uemd*c|dadtoprepanaaora^pmgedraDpropcaa|w|thxVh|ohtoapproachASFtoba in this discussion. Love will prepare adrmft and distribute to the committee for feedback through the staff liaison before the March meeting. 3. Business engagement work plan (see agenda packet)' all o. 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 and report schedule. The committee discussed briefly it was not ready for this given the previous discussion.All were in agreement to put this onhold. IV. New Business V. Anti c iipedionzf March 5, 2O28Meeti nga ndAcjo~rnncent 1. Report on business engagement progress 2. Report on discussions with the Ashland Schools Foundation 3. Committee members' suggestions for other topics 4. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at11:54onn