HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes.KFAB.20211105Kids 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
Friday, November 5, 2021 – 11:30 AM
Zoom meeting
Attendees: Beth Cashdan, Stefan Reveal, Rebecca Paschal, Michaela
Idhammar, Chad Schmit, Jessica Garrow, Diane Foster, Shirley Ritter, and Nancy Nichols
Approved Minutes from October 1st, 2021 meeting: Jessica moved, Beth seconded, MPU
DESIRED OUTCOMES:
• Understand next steps to achieve council critical goal
CMC update: Thank you to Diane Foster for assisting with getting approvals from Pitkin County for
the improvement to the CMC space. If you get the chance to reach out to Pitkin County folks, please
thank them as well.
- Fencing and shade structure are on order and fencing will be installed soon
- Advertising (informal RFP) for an operator is open
- Information is on the Kids First web page – www.cityofaspen.com/childcarebusiness
Burlingame Childcare:
- RFP for the architecture and design is posted and closes 12/14/2021
- The RFP is being advertised in the paper, if you would like to share the link please do –
https://cityofaspen.com/DocumentCenter/View/7875/Burlingame-Daycare-RFP
- We plan to go to City Council with a contract for approve in Jan/Feb 2022
- Shirley wrote a grant and accepted for TA to be part of the Design Lab, hosted by EPIC, they
are helping the City of Aspen and about 10 other employers to design facilities, funding, and
staffing.
- The City of Aspen was given the opportunity to apply for State Grant funds of up to
$800,000. This application was extended to 11/12/2021 which will give Shirley additional
time, we have the application ready to go.
• Yellow Brick items
Kids First Advisory Board reviewed the Yellow Brick lease items including: 2023 lease change in
operations days, capacity numbers, and clarifications.
Kids First Advisory Board reviewed Aspen Mountain Tots, Playgroup Aspen and The Early Learning
Centers Sept and Oct capacity numbers. Capacity numbers were reviewed and understood. Kids First
staff will follow up with the programs to verify understanding and ask for plans for bringing enrollment
into compliance with the lease where needed.
• Understand programming/funding to support early childhood workforce
Work force interviews and summaries are being reviewed. Kids First staff will be prepared to discuss
program support needs at the next Kids First Advisory Board meeting. We know that housing is the
number one concern and hurdle for hiring.
Kids First is also experiencing this and has 2 positions available to be filled as soon as possible.
• Future funding support for childcare
Federal and state funding for childcare continues to be defined. We are pleased to see legislation and
funding focusing on the needs of children and childcare programs.
The Federal Build Back Better Bill continues through negotiations. Two things that are to be included
in this bill (at this point) are Universal Pre-K and Cost supports for childcare families and programs.
The numbers are looking good and there is hope that some families will not have to pay for childcare,
other families will pay a much smaller amount. This would be a game changer for many people.
Shirley will share additional documents for Kids First Board Members to read and further understand
the bill.
Next meetings: - Kids First Advisory Board
Friday, December 3
Friday, January 7
Friday, February 4
Friday, March 4
Friday, April 1
Friday, May 6