HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes.KFAB.20230405.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
Wednesday April 5thth 11:15am-12:45pm
Red Brick Conference room and Zoom
In attendance: Stefan Reveal, Sue Way, Mimi Hauenstein, Katherine Coleman, Chad Schmit, Michaela
Idhammar-Ketpura, Nancy Nichols, Megan Monaghan
Approves Minutes from March 8th, 2023: Sue motioned, Katherine second, KFAB approved.
DESIRED OUTCOMES:
● QI Grant review and approvals
2023 Quality Improvement Grants were submitted by The Early Learning Center, Aspen School
District, Growing Years and Wildwood programs.
All grant requests were presented and discussed with final approval of grants funded as follows:
Aspen School District - Grant funds approved $18,858.00
The Aspen School District funded grant includes funding in work force – professional development,
family partnerships, leadership, administrative, management, learning environment and child health.
Early Learning Center – Grant funds approved $17,206.99
The Early Learning Center funded grant includes funding in work force-professional development,
family partnership, leadership, administration, management, learning environment, and bus passes.
Growing Years – Grant funds approved $8,330.00
Growing Years funded grant includes funding in work force-professional development, leadership,
administration, management and learning environment.
Wildwood – Grant funds approved $5,944.00
Wildwood funded grant includes funding in work force-professional development, learning environment
and quality improvement. Wildwood has two additional grant request that will be presented to the Kids
First Advisory Board when bids and evaluations are complete. Funding will be reviewed for capital
project – playground safety and door/security needs.
Motion to approve Quality Improvement Grants as presented: Sue motioned, Michaela second, QI Grants
for 2023 approved.
• Council Update – City Council Critical Goal - Childcare Capacity April 24th, 2023
Kids First staff discussed the up coming City Council Goal Update. Staff will report on the current
successes of the Operational Subsidy funding that was awarded in 2022 to support the childcare
workforce and growth through the new Wage Supplement, Rent Waiver, VIP, Hiring Bonus, Capacity
Expansion programs.
Kids First staff also reviewed the Burlingame Early Childhood Education Center memo and change
order presented to Aspen City Council. At this time the proposal is to fund the Burlingame project
through land use entitlements and approvals of plans for the childcare center. Aspen City Council will
be asked to approve the change order and additional cost for Land and Shelter to complete this part of
the project. Kids First Advisory Board strongly supports continuing the plans and development of a
childcare center at the Burlingame location. It was suggested that further discussion with Aspen City
Council be planned to encourage support of this project.
• Staff Updates
o Director Training have been scheduled to support leadership and financial understanding.
o Kids First Advisory Board was reminder of board member application process. One alternative
advisory board member will be interviewed in April. Two current board members will need to
reapply to maintain their seats in June 2023
o Month of The Young Child events are being planned to celebrate the smallest members of our
community. Kids First Advisory Board members were asked to participate in these events.
o Kids First continues to seek additional staff. The Administrative Specialist and Program
Coordinator jobs are currently posted, and candidates are being interviewed.
o Kids First staff reviewed the request for childcare enrollment data and will begin to work on
collecting data to share with the Kids First Advisory Board members.
o Kids First staff reported to the Kids First Advisory Board recent changes at the ELC, events at
Growing Years School and the desire for the Roaring Fork School District to merge programs
into one childcare center. Further supports for Growing Years has been requested. Kids First
Advisory Board will provide support and funding for efforts to support the best solution for the
future.
NEW TIME, DAY, AND DATES FOR KIDS FIRST ADVISORY BOARD MEETING
The First Wednesday of the month (except March 2023) 11:15 – 12:45
Next meetings: - Kids First Advisory Board
Wednesday – May 3rd
Wednesday – June 7th
Wednesday – July 5th
Wednesday – August 2nd
Wednesday – September 6th
Wednesday – October 4th
Wednesday – November 1st
Wednesday – December 6th
City Council work session – April 24th, 2023, 4:00pm