HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes.KFAB.20201009.RegularKids First Mission: Promote the availability of quality, affordable early childhood care &
education, and provide access to early childhood information and resources.
Kids First Advisory Board Meeting Minutes
Friday, October 9, 2020
In attendance: Stefan Reveal, Sue Way, Chad Schmit, Beth Cashdan,
Rebecca Pascal, Shirley Ritter, and Nancy Nichols
Guests: Dawn Ryan, Leslie Bixel, Carrie Tippet, Robin Sinclair
Meeting outcomes:
• Understand Kids First Advisory Board ordinance
• “See” childcare programs
• Understand continued programming for childcare recovery
• Understand capacity planning – including community outreach
Minutes from 9/11/2020: Beth moved to approve, Sue seconded, motion passed unanimously (MPU).
“See” childcare programs
Dawn/Aspen Mountain Tots:
*thanks to the board *winter shelter is up *enrollment is still low *open 4 days a week *connections with
families on Friday and book club with families *new employee she is working PT
Robin/Little Red:
*thank you for the support *enrollment is good *increased enrollment from families from out of state who did
not return to their homes after the summer *toddler room is full at 9 or 10 *two (split) preschool rooms one
upstairs and one downstairs *each preschool room is enrolled at 10 *staying with 10 children in each group in
case something else happens with Covid *has enough staff ratios are 1:5 *working on her rating *video parts for
rating are due by the end of October *documents for rating due by the end of November
Leslie and Carrie/Early Learning Center:
*have been dealing with lots of variables *working closely with Public Health *Public Health has been a big
help and great to work with * Public Health makes the decisions around covid exposures, this offers a great
buffer with parents *moral is good with staff and families *everyone has been very flexible *families are
thankful for Kids First supports *working on filling the infant and toddler rooms *infant and toddler enrollment
is low, no one interested from their waitlist *asking for help purchasing outside structure and fencing
Videos from NJS Hobby Farm, and Woody Creek Kids
Mary Wolfer at NJS Hobby Farm – https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rKZhec8U--VOEq_9Ye2VVZQSyf-HjGeZ/view?usp=sharing
Christina Holloway at Woody Creek Kids – https://youtu.be/7FSK1Vi3Bh8
Tina Person at Wildwood - https://youtu.be/yh7fuSkNkZQ
Understand continued programming for childcare recovery
Funding for outdoor Structures:
Kids First Advisory Board discussed funding of winter outdoor structures. It was decided that schools would be
offered the opportunity to look at their Quality Improvement Grants from earlier this year and if they wanted to
change the grant to ask for an outdoor structure instead of items they had asked for previously. This ask would
be considered and evaluated by Shirley and the Kids First Coaches on a case by case basis while making sure
that critical quality improvement or safety items are not being eliminated in exchange for a structure.
Understand Kids First Advisory Board ordinance
Kids First Advisory Board Ordinance and City Council approval:
The ordinance that authorizes the Kids First Advisory Board is on the agenda for City Council, Tuesday, Oct
13. The main thing to discuss is that Kids First Advisory Board is an “advisory Board” and if they are an
advisory board, rather than a managing board, the City Charter requirement that members be residents of the
City of Aspen does not apply. The Kids First Advisory Board wants to be able to include members from our
service area which include locations outside the city limits. The Kids First Advisory Board will be made up of
7 members and 2 alternates. Alternates will attend meetings and will be available to vote if a member is not
present.
Once City Council approves this, they will appoint the current Kids First Advisory Board members and approve
the bylaws. Shirley asked current Kids First Advisory Board members to be available to attend the October 13th
meeting so that City Council can ask questions or share concerns.
Shirley proposed that current Kids First Advisory Board members begin to think about new board members.
She wanted them to consider any perspectives that we may be missing in the board members. What are the gaps
and who should be recruited? What areas are not represented including backgrounds, careers and ethnicity.
Stefan directed staff to create a google document that can represent areas that we have, areas we might need,
and any other perspectives we may be looking for. This document would be available to discuss and review
when the Kids First Advisory Board is looking at recruiting new members.
Next meetings: - Kids First Advisory Board
Friday, November 6
Friday, December 4
Friday, January 8
Friday, February 5
Friday, March 5
Friday, April 2
Friday, May 7
Friday June 4
Friday July 9
Friday August 6