HomeMy WebLinkAboutEarly Learning Minutes 06.30.2026 ASHLAND GENERAL
AD HOC COMMITTEE ON AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE AND EARLY LEARNING
MINUTES
June 30, 2026
Siskiyou Room - 51 Winburn Way - 9.30 a.m.
I. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 9:30am
In attendance were committee members Paula Hyatt, Lisa Verner,John Love,Jessica Therkelsen,Nancy
Seward,Joanie Keller-Hand,and Anne Sebanc (via zoom)
Also present were staff liaison Alissa Kolodzinski and council liaison Dylan Bloom.
1. Confirmation of quorum present
Confirmed
2. Approval of draft minutes of 6/4/26 meeting (see agenda packet)
This item will be reviewed at the next meeting.
3. Suggested additions to today's agenda
None
4. Brief announcements
None
II. Public Forum
No speakers
III. Continuation of Business from Previous Meetings
1. Discussion of proposed recommendation to City Council for granting a portion of remaining
affordability grant funds to the Ashland Community Health Foundation for establishing a
"named fund"to support early learning/childcare programs (see agenda packet).
Discussion of proposed recommendation to City Council for granting a portion of remaining
affordability grant funds to the Ashland Community Health Foundation for establishing a"named fund"
to support early learning/childcare programs (see agenda packet).
Love moved that the committee recommend that the city council create a named fund with the
Ashland Community Health Foundation and grant ACHF the amount of$25,000 to initiate its grant
making process.Verner seconded the motion.All in favor.Motion passed unanimously.
(Note:the committee approved a recommendation to rep/ace this one later in the agenda under'vote
on allocation of the$100,000 remaining of the Childcare Affordability Grant funds)
The committee discussed a suggestion to Council to end its formation in June 2027 so that in the
coming year it can review final reports of current grants. Further discussion included the group's
transition to non-city related work,related timing,and how to best place these items on the Council's
agenda.
2. Review of the four submitted applications for Childcare Affordability Grants (see agenda
packet).
Love provided a summary of the applicants'requests.Committee discussion included requested
amounts,available funding,and how awards might provide the best long-term impacts.
Considerations included that while scholarships would provide direct immediate benefit to individual
families,staffing and infrastructure support can provide longer-term community impact.
After extensive discussion,committee consensus arrived at allocating$20K to the YMCA for staffing
resources,$17.8K to Ella's Classroom for infrastructure(contingent on a second bid),$25K to Avery
Street for staffing resources,and$7.2K to Mountain Star for scholarships.The committee discussed
how this allocation would allow an additional$5K to go along with the previous recommendation of
$25K for a total of$30K to recommend to Council for a named fund with the ACHF.
3. Vote on allocation of the $100,000 remaining of the Childcare Affordability Grant funds.
Hyatt moved to award grants for the FY27 Childcare Affordability Grant Program as follows:
Mountain Star-$7,200 for sliding-scale scholarships;Avery Street Montessori-$25,000 for staffing
support;Ashland Family YMCA-$20,000 for staffing support;and Ella's Classroom-$17,800 for
room enlargement contingent on a second bid;for total of$70,000.Verner seconded the motion.All
ayes.Motion passed unanimously.
The committee then reviewed the memo dated 6/30/26 to the City Council providing background,
context,and rationale for recommending that$30,000 be awarded to the ACHF.
Love moved that the Ad Hoc Committee on Affordable Childcare and Early Learning unanimously
recommend that the Ashland City Council create a named fund with the Ashland Community Health
Foundation(ACHF)by granting ACHF the amount of$30,000 to initiate its grant-making process.
Hyatt seconded the motion.All ayes.Motion passed unanimously.
IV. Anticipation of August 6, 2026 Meeting
Hyatt agreed to draft the council communication for the August 18 City Council meeting,and will
provide to Kolodzinski by August 11 for inclusion in the Council Agenda Packet.
Items for review at the next meeting were discussed as:
• Status review of grant funding recommendations
• Minutes
• Memo to Planning Commission regarding inclusion of childcare in the Ashland Mills
development,
• Updating data on existing early learning slots in Ashland (Seward)
• Love will work with ACHF on how to create the named fund in anticipation of Council approval
• Suggestions for names for the named fund
1. Approaching the Planning Commission about childcare in the Ashland Mills development.
2. Updating data on existing early learning/childcare slots in Ashland
3. Suggestions for other topics.
V. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 10:55am