HomeMy WebLinkAboutEarly Learning Minutes 03.05.2026 AS..[A;wD GENERAL
AD HOC COMMITTEE ON AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE AND EARLY LEARNING
MINUTES
March 5' 2026
10.30AM - SiskiVOU Room - 5' WiMbUrn, Way
1. Call to Order
The mneeting was co|led to order otlO:34 a
Present were oornnnittae mnembers Pou|o Hyatt'Jesoioo Therke|nen'Joonie Ke||erHond,Anne Sebomc'
and John Love
A|oo present was staff liaison KeniokGooden
1. Confirm quorum present
Confirmed
2. Approval of draft minutes of2-5-2O meeting (see agenda packet)
Therke|sen moved to approve the minutes.The motion was seconded by Keller-Hand.A||oyem-The
motion passed.
3. Suggested additions to today'o agenda
4. Brief announcements
Hyatt will not be able to attend the next rneetimQ The issue of pre-K childcare was taken up by the
governor,who convened an Early Childhood Care and Learning System Roundtable.
11. Public Forum
None
Ill. Continuation of B~einoea from previous meetings
1. Cultivating future funding, aka the future of our ad hoc committee
e- Further discussion of partnering with the Ashland Schools Foundation
b. How best to use the $1001000 remaining inAffordobi|ityGnentfund s desiQnatedfor
2O26-2D27
Love approached Erica Thompson, Executive Director of the Ashland Schools Foundation (ASF),
regordim8 the oomnrnittee'o recent disouaaiono.Thornpoom exp|oined ASF'sChortorhoso K-l2foouo'
whloh could om|y be ohonged by the As h|ond School District (ASD), but oou|d act oa o/i000| sponsor of
on existing non-profit and/or help get the word out through their newsletter.The committee discussed
not having the capacity to stand up o dedicated non-profit^ but how its work could join 48D efforts io
lobby In So|enn for ongoing State support.The committee also discussed models of ohi|dooro support
in ot her states'ouoh on NevvYork,ond the potemdo| bemefitto A8D of imoreosed |000| pre-K programs
that would feed ASD.Hyatt agreed to approach Joseph Hottrlok to explore further.
The committee discussed recommendation options for the remnoimlm8 $lOOK allocated for the Childcare
Affordobi|ity Grant progrorn for the 2026/27 nohoo| yeor.Dlsous siom lno|uded positive innpacts
demonstrated from pervious distributions and the importance of clear and early comnnnumloodom to
potential applicants regarding the expected closure of the program after the next award.The
committee decided on making only minor/required edits to the program narrative and application to
align with program year,etc.and will coordInate with Gooden regarding suggested edits before the
next rneedm8.
2. Business engagement work plan (see agenda packet)
a. Let's decide what we actually can do, are going to do—while our ad hoc committee sU||
exists--or not do.
The committee discussed the purpose of the business engagement work plan as a template for
engaging the business community in the exchange of experiences and ideas regarding childcare,or
lock them of, rather than a curve on ly aimed to gother data.con ersat[on s and/or the con ven i ng of
local business leaders including Aso nte, SOU,ASD,the City,OSF and the Chamber of Commerce could
inform the group as it winds down its existing form as a n ad-hoe advisory committee to council a nd
co nsiders a pivot to a not her f o r m i n su ppo t of I oca I p re-K ea rly ed u action.The Com m ittee co nsidered
a kic koff gathering of key local leaders i n Ma y a nd a larger summit of regional stakeholders towards
the fall.The committee also discussed working with Mayor Graham on this as a regional issue prior to
the Oregon Mayors conf ere ncein August.
a Therkellser agreed to begin a draft invitation for what is being proposed for a larger gathering
in the fall
a Hyatt agreed to tall with Hattrick regarding ASF,and to meet with Rooklyn and Love regarding
the potential for an initial gathering in May
e Love would like to revisit the ad hoc committee's original charge at its April meeting,and will
d raft a progress report in pre pa rat!on f o r a potentia I p resentation to Co u nci I I n M ay o r J u ne.
IV. New Business
V. Anticipation of April 2, 2026 Meeting and Adjournment
1. !Continue d iscussion of future funding
2. Business engagement progress
3. Committee members' suggestions for other topics
4. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 11.34 am