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Kids First Advisory Board Meeting
Tuesday December 19th, 2023, 11:15AM-12:45PM
Yellow Brick lower-level training room and Zoom
In attendance: Nancy Nichols, Megan Monaghan, Logan Hood, Chad Schmit, Mimi Hauenstein, Natalie
Eudaly, Sara Lowe, Stefan Reveal, Katherine Coleman, Jessica Garrow, and Sue Way
Director Conversation:
Christina Holloway director of Little Red Schoolhouse, Woody Creek Kids, and Tiny Pines
reporting on Tiny Pines.
Little Red Schoolhouse teachers have been coming to Tiny Pines to staff the classrooms. Because
Christina has been pulling resources from Little Red Schoolhouse and Woody Creek Kids, Tiny Pines
is open and hopes to be fully staffed and to serve 18 children soon.
Teachers from the three programs have been taking advantage of Boulder Journey School for
obtaining trainings and/or their master’s degree and all teachers are working on goals for the Kids
First VIP incentive.
Christina is participating in designing a new building with The Town of Snowmass for her programs,
which is set to begin construction in 2025. The building will have 5 classrooms, 8000 sq ft, and a
65-75 child capacity.
Infant and toddler room will be interchangeable as well as the toddler room being interchangeable
with the preschool room, etc.
Christina will start looking into housing for staff after being inspired by Ajax Cubs.
Christina also mentioned that she’s been receiving great feedback from kindergarten teachers
regarding Woody Creek Kids, and Little Red Schoolhouse students.
Christina said KF funding made it possible to open Tiny Pines. She is requesting more funding for
start-up costs.
Upcoming Director visits:
Kids First has directors lined up to join the January KFAB meeting for more director conversations. Liz and
Julie (who are part of the Roaring Fork Literacy Project) would also like to join one of the KFAB meetings in
the future.
Updates:
Burlingame: There are no current updates regarding the Burlingame project. The land use application is
complete and once the hearing is scheduled there will be a two-step review with planning, zoning, and
city council. Kids First will investigate hiring a third-party capital fundraiser. From Jen Phelan on 1.2.23: we
will be asking for 10 years of vested rights to provide the most flexibility with timing to submit a building
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permit. The land use code allows a max of 10 years to rely on your approvals (without having to follow any
changes in land use requirements) and submit a building permit application.
Lumberyard: Kids First spoke with Jen Phelan who reported from Chris Everson regarding the Lumberyard
project, and he said that they are not definitely proposing an early childhood facility at this time simply
because adding this would further complicate the approvals, they are trying to get for the housing piece.,
He further suggested that the childcare proposal be a future amendment.
VIP: Total current amounts paid: $69,600. Sixty-eight applications were submitted this deadline, while
fifty-nine were submitted in the spring. On average the typical applicant will be awarded $1000 per
deadline. The next deadline for the VIP incentive will be in June.
Basalt: Blue Lake Preschool director Michelle Oger, in Basalt will be opening the Stotts Mills space in
September, and since Basalt is in Pitkin County Kids First can provide funds.
Staff: Kids First hired a new intern (Lissette), she is bilingual and has been spending a lot of time in
different programs/classrooms. Welcome Lissette!
Discussion items:
Strategic Planning: Kids First will discuss funding and process/policies in the coming weeks and develop a
strategic plan. The January KFAB meeting will include more brainstorming; now that Kids First is fully
staffed, we can look at the bigger picture and will look to the board for a conversation around the
emerging strategic plan.
Program Staff childcare benefits:
Aspen Mountain Tots shared an article emphasizing the importance of providing childcare for employees
and how much it motivates employees to show up for/continue to show up for work. Kids First Co-
Director Nancy gathered the data regarding what each program offers. The Information is as follows:
• Aspen School District has a sliding scale for staff based off poverty level, income, and lunch
program.
• Ajax Cubs does not have assistance in place yet, they may have staff apply for Kids First
financial aid and then cover the difference.
• Early Learning Center offers discounted tuition.
• Growing Years has staff apply for Kids First financial aid and then covers the difference.
• Tiny Pines, Woody Creek Kids, and Little Red offers free childcare for the first child and 50%
off for the second child.
• Little Steps College offers 50% off for staff who need childcare.
• JCC does not have assistance in place yet.
• Wildwood offers 50% off for staff who need childcare.
Kids First would like to discuss whether any funds should be allocated to assisting with staff childcare.
Chad asked about available funding. Kids First staff can look more closely at Workforce funding however
those funds are earmarked for other items. Sue Way brought up discussing the equity and equality of this
benefit.
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Tiny Pines Fencing/Flooring Funds Request
Christina requesting $4200 for new fence/flooring at Tiny Pines. Pitkin County gave twenty
thousand dollars toward the project, $4200 is the difference. Sue motioned to distribute the funds;
Jessica seconded; motion was approved.
Streamlining Infant/Toddler Funds
Nancy Nichols suggested that funds be rounded to an even amount for the quarterly infant toddler
program pay out. KFAB will check the program’s enrollment as opposed to having directors send
everything in to simplify the process overall. Jessica motions to streamline process, Logan
seconded, motion was approved.
Extending Start Up Funds
Kids First currently funds new providers up to ten thousand dollars in addition to infant/toddler
funding without having a rating for up to one year. However, Colorado Shines process takes over a
year. Nancy Nichols suggests that start-up funding be 2 years allowing programs the time needed
for the Colorado Shines process. Providers will be required to show that they are involved in the
Colorado Shines program during this time. Jessica motions to extend, Mimi seconded, motion was
approved.
Open discussion items:
• UPK pays for all 4-year-olds that attend 10-30 hours of childcare. At the state level they’re
hoping to increase enrollment for this program, but requirements may be added. It’s
unclear what those requirements may be, but it’s a possibility that creative curriculum or
other curriculums will be a component for receiving the funding.
Kids First is still funding financial aid and supports for UPK, however, are we going to stand
behind the state and require programs to participate in funding streams and be CO shines
rated? Many programs follow Reggio, the hope is that Reggio will be included for
curriculum requirements.
• The Bridgecare company Kids First was using with RMECC for the waitlist is not giving
what’s needed as far as data goes and providers are not participating. Kids First will
potentially move toward gathering their own data or switching third parties.
• Multiple programs are having issues with enrollment even outside of ECE. 62 children
enrolled in kindergarten when the enrollment is normally in the 90’s.
• KFAB meetings will now occur quarterly instead of monthly. Because there are so many items
to discuss in January, the January will be two hours instead of one hour.
• Discuss if meetings should be longer moving forward.
Kids First Advisory Board Meeting
from 11:15am until 12:45pm unless otherwise noted
January 16th – Tuesday 11:15-1:15
April 16th – Tuesday 11:15- 1:15
July 16th – Tuesday 11:15- 12:45
October 15th - Tuesday 11:15- 12:45