HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes.KFAB.20220506.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
Friday, May 6, 2022 – 11:30 AM
In attendance: Chad Schmit, Beth Cashdan, Rebecca Paschal, Jessica Garrow, Sue Way, Mimi Hauenstein,
Logan Hood, Shirley Ritter, Nancy Nichols, and Dawn Ryan.
o Rebecca moved to approve meeting minutes for 3-4-2022 and 4-8-2022, Chad seconded, MPU.
o Chad moved to approve Jessica Garrow as a regular Kids First Advisory Board member (moving
from an alternate), Mimi seconded, MPU.
DESIRED OUTCOMES:
● Understand Capacity goal next steps
Yellow Brick – No response to the original Request for Proposals (RFP). A new RFP will be issued
through Bidnet. This release will reach a broader target audience. The new RFP includes additional
incentives for occupancy of the Yellow Brick rooms.
Playgroup will end their program on June 3rd with use of the space until July 1st to vacate the space.
CMC – The work is nearly complete; we are waiting on the outside shade structure and some outdoor
rubber mats. Space is still unoccupied. Kids First will follow up with some previously interested parties
and the business opportunity will be advertised.
Burlingame – Land and Shelter design team is under contract. We have had several committee meetings
and an open house at Burlingame. There are many meetings scheduled for May and June to review and
discuss design elements and needs. Kids First will share the revised timeline with the Kids First
Advisory Board members.
City Manager Sara Ott will be in Washington DC, to discuss federal funding for community economic,
needs for our area, including childcare capital funding.
● Supporting Work Force in childcare programs
Kids First has rolled out the VIP award to staff in childcare programs. This program was designed to
support individual teachers in all the programs. The VIP program offers many opportunities for staff to
earn points and increase their own professional development. Each area on the application offers
points that add up to a potential bonus of $2,400, paid in 2 installments, twice a year.
Kids First has asked programs to also support their teachers in new ways to encourage retention,
recruitment, and employment satisfaction.
● Professional Development for Program levels 1 and 2
Kids First Advisory Board discussed offering Professional Development financial support for staff in all
programs. It was agreed that all staff in all programs should have access to professional development
support from Kids First.
o Jessica moved that Kids First offer professional development reimbursement funding to staff in all
programs, Rebecca seconded, MPU.
● Funding capital projects in childcare programs
The Kids First Advisory Board members agreed that they need to develop a policy for funding capital
improvement projects for childcare programs. The funding will need to have a fund ceiling and will
require competitive bids. This policy will also offer to fund up to 50% match. Kids First staff will
develop the policy, request board approval, and add the policy information to future quality
improvement funding applications.
● Staff Update
Shirley shared an official announcement with the Kids First Advisory Board of her plans to retire at the
end of this year, 2022. She will share more details and her planned timeline with the Kids First
Advisory Board as it is developed and approved by The City of Aspen.
Next meetings: - Kids First Advisory Board
Friday, June 3
Friday, July 8
Friday, August 5
Friday, September 9
Friday, October 7
Friday, November 4
Friday, December 2