HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes.KFAB.20250715.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 Meeting Minutes
Tuesday July 15, 2025, 11:15 am -1:15 pm
In attendance: Nancy Nichols, Megan Monaghan, Chad Schmit, Mimi Hauenstein, Sue Way, Michaela Idhammar-Ketpura,
Katherine Coleman, Diana Esquivel.
Desired Outcomes:
• Vote to move Sara from alternate to regular member
Vote to move Sara from alternate to regular Chad motioned, Mimi second, Kids First Advisory Board Meeting
approved. Sara was nominated for co-chair. Vote delayed until next meeting.
• Meeting Minutes from 4.15.2025 approved. Motioned Chad, Mimi second, Kids First Advisory Board
approves.
• Co-chair nomination and election
Board Discussed the open position and nominated Sara to this position. Sara was not present so this will be
discussed in October.
Discussion Items:
City Council requests:
• Update on Community Needs Assessment and Survey progress. The consulting team is currently analyzing all
quantitative and qualitative data collected from surveys, focus groups and interviews to date. Key findings will
be included in a final, publicly available report to be completed before the end of August. Findings will be
presented to the Aspen City Council at a work session later this fall at a date to be determined.
CECE Update:
• CECE Update on the Ballot measure going to the voters in Nov. 2025, election of board members from each
county
Policies Revised:
• Kids First policies- revising policies- a goal for 2025
Basalt Preschool Discussion:
• Basalt Preschool – Basalt Preschool building is cut in half by county line. One half is in Pitkin, the other is in
Eagle County. Discuss if Kids First Programs can be made available to other half of classrooms and families
outside of Pitkin County.
This situation has posed challenges for families, not just recently but over the years. The core issue is that in
the Basalt area, financial aid options are extremely limited, making it nearly impossible to find support that
aligns with the community’s needs. This is an opportunity to analyze the needs and opportunities, including
sharing information about support resources.
Board topics
• How does the board see the housing initiative plan moving forward?
o Kids First included a housing interest survey in their VIP Bonus Registration, collecting data on who
would be interested in housing if it were offered. Approximately 43% were interested in housing in
Pitkin County.
o New Plan:
▪ Identify Contacts: Each board member will identify 2–3 individuals who have experience,
expertise, or connections related to housing (e.g., development, financing, policy, or community
partnerships).
▪ Initiate Conversations: Board members will reach out to those individuals for an exploratory
conversation. The goal is to gather insights and ideas related to potential housing opportunities
for early childhood educators.
▪ Document Outreach: record key takeaways and any relevant information from conversations in
a google spreadsheet to help track outreach efforts and avoid duplicating contacts.
▪ Next Meeting: We will review and discuss the insights gathered during our October KFAB
meeting.
• Additional items from the board:
The Program Coordinator resigned. We will be working on the job description for this position so
we can move forward with posting the vacancy, along with the open Coach position. In the
meantime, we have just posted the position for an Early Childhood Teacher (Substitute).
Quarterly on the Third Tuesday of the month from 11:15am – 1:15pm
October 21, 2025
January 20, 2026
April 21, 2026
July 21, 2026