HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes.KFAB.20220708.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, July 8, 2022 – 11:30 AM
In attendance: Stefan Reveal, Chad Schmit, Jessica Garrow, Mimi Hauenstein, Michaela Idhammar-Ketpura,
Beth Cashdan, Sue Way, Logan Hood, Shirley Ritter, Nancy Nichols Guest: Pete Strecker and 1 Public visitor
➢ Approved minutes from June 3rd, 2022: Stefan moved to approve, Sue seconded, MPU.
DESIRED OUTCOMES:
● Understand Capacity goal next steps
Proposed funding split – Shirley shared documentation and lead the discussion on the history of the
childcare/housing tax split. Aspen City Council suggested changing the split at the work session with
Kids First staff. Pete Strecker presented financial information discussing the pros and cons and his
recommendations about the proposed split. He also shared financial numbers.
Shirley discussed areas to be considered for workforce support: housing stipend, hiring bonus, additional
early childhood teacher interns, buying down housing to rent to childcare staff, and a possible
partnership with CMC for workforce development.
Members of the Kids First Advisory Board discussed the merits of all the programs and they reviewed
ideas and parameters that would need to be figured out with recommendations from city staff, the
childcare programs, and the Kids First staff.
Based on a positive Kids First Advisory Board discussion they agreed that Kids First should support all
childcare staff and programs. The Kids First Advisory Board agreed on several programs that would
increase the income of childcare staff helping to make living and working in the area more affordable.
➢ Stefan moved to recommend support workforce support in the following areas, with city
council approval:
To increase the Kids First Early Childhood Teacher Intern program by 2 additional employees,
To offer a hiring bonus to new employees in a childcare program
To offer a housing supplement paid monthly to full-time childcare employees to part-time childcare
employees, full-time being defined as 30 or more hours a month and part-time being 16-29 hours a
month,
To offer business development training and coaching to childcare directors and board members,
To continue the VIP award program separately,
To support college level ECE classes for childcare staff,
To set aside capital funds for Burlingame Early Childhood Center,
and to allocate reserve funds for housing buy down at The Lumber Yard. Sue seconded, MPU
Stefan suggested that The Kids First Staff work on getting some specific numbers for amounts to be
directed to Burlingame and the Lumber Yard to better support the larger tax % split with housing. Staff
was directed to get numbers that will help Aspen City Council to understand the need and to justify the
highest split amounts.
● Understand and agree on next steps to support early childhood workforce recruitment and
retention
During the discussion of the funding several additional work items were suggested for the Kids First
Staff.
➢ A document summarizing all the programs that are currently being offered to childcare programs
along with the requirements for each program.
➢ Development of a survey for the childcare staff to collect better data about financial needed by
individual staff, what keeps them working in the childcare field, and what would make working
in childcare better for example.
● Capacity Updates:
CMC – previous proposal is withdrawn but we will move ahead with a previous individual with needed
support to open a stand-alone infant room.
Burlingame - An open house is scheduled for July 13th with design information and community input.
The Design Action Group will be meeting July 14th and review the feedback from the open house.
Kate Kalstein, our consultant – will have a retreat for community stakeholders to have a discussion of
her report on childcare capacity related to the Burlingame early childhood center. Kate will present this
information to the Kids First Advisory Board at the August 5th, 2022 meeting.
Regional items of note include:
The continued work on a Regional Taxing District – currently Kids First is waiting for more information
and to better understand the benefits to our area.
There is a new Department of Early Childhood at the state level!! One of the current items at the front
of their work is the new Universal Pre-K funding. They are in the process of choosing local
coordinating organizations. In our area RMECC has presented a proposal to administer this program.
● Kids First Advisory Board update:
We are sad to see Beth Cashdan resign from the Kids First Board after her 13yr commitment. She will
be moving down valley. We appreciate her support for quality childcare and young children.
➢ Stefan moved that Mimi Hauenstein, an alternate Kids First Advisory Board member, be
moved to a regular Kids First Advisory Board Member. Sue seconded, MPU.
Advertisement for one alternate board member will be posted from the City Clerks office.
Kids First Mission: Promote the availability of quality, affordable early childhood care &
education, and provide access to early childhood information and resources.
Next meetings: - Kids First Advisory Board
City Council Work session, critical goal updates August 2, 2022, 4 pm
City Council Work session, Burlingame design direction, August 16, 2022, 4 pm
City Council Work session, childcare capacity critical goal update, Sept 19, 4 pm
Friday, August 5
Friday, September 9
Friday, October 7
Friday, November 4
Friday, December 2