HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes.KFAB.20220909.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, September 9th, 2022
In attendance: Stefan Reveal, Chad Schmit, Mimi Hauenstein, Michaela Idhammar-Ketpura, Sue Way, Jessica
Garrow, Shirley Ritter, Megan Monaghan, Nancy Nichols Guest: 5 public visitors.
➢ Approved minutes from August 5th, 2022: Chad moved to approve, Michaela seconded, MPU.
DESIRED OUTCOMES:
UPDATES:
• Waitlist – Rocky Mountain Early Childhood Council (RMECC) will be the lead on this project moving
forward. They have chosen the provider BridgeCare. The State of Colorado will be using this platform
to administer the new Universal Pre-K (UPK) program enrollment and information. This platform will
allow parents to access availability and waitlist information, and data can be collected by zip code for
better reporting. We expect this to take about 2 months until launching the platform. The first step will
be for childcare programs to add their information. More to come as this begins to rollout.
• New Parent Hub – Kids First has been working with Aspen Family Connections on development of a
parent web site resource. We had planning grant money and held several focus groups to collect
information on what information families needed and how they accessed that information. The group
also had a drawing at the recent Community Picnic where people could enter a name for the webpage
and tell us what they would like included.
The group will apply for another state grant that will help to fund the implementation of the site. Kids
First will contribute $5,000 and will ask Pitkin County, Great Expectations, and Aspen Family
Connections to contribute as well.
• Aspen City Council Memo discussion and review –
Below is a brief summary of the memo: (the memo is being developed)
Purpose – The purpose of the memo it to provide an update for achieving City Council’s Critical 2-year
childcare capacity goal.
Summary and Background – Information on the items that have happened and been discussed during
previous work sessions.
Planning and Childcare information –
o Burlingame Early Childhood Center continued discussion and direction
o Yellow Brick Building RFP is still open. There have been many inquiries and conversations
o Town of Snowmass has received their report on expanding childcare in Snowmass Village
o Town of Basalt has two projects underway. One project is being managed by the developer and
Blue Lake is working with the design and development for the project in Willits
Discussion- Staff Recommendation
City staff is recommending a new split of the Housing/Childcare tax to better support the early childhood
community including families and programs. Shirley shared information that gave a comparison and numbers
for the different levels of splitting the tax.
The Kids First Advisory Board reviewed and discussed each of the funding items with most of the focus on
purchasing housing for childcare staff. Kids First Advisory Board members suggested that the childcare
housing item be more specific with a long-term goal. Purchasing housing for childcare staff is essential,
members suggested that we need to start now, investing in housing.
The Kids First Advisory Board supports the suggested programs that were outlined in the memo. Kids First
Advisory Board recommends the tax split would be as much as 100% of the tax. It was pointed out that
City of Aspen Housing is being funded by other sources beyond this tax. Housing receives funding from the
RETT and will receive funds from the new Short-Term Rental tax if that measure passes. The Childcare fund
does not have additional funding sources and an increase in funding would allow for a large porti on to be used
for childcare staff housing.
Kids First Advisory Board directed staff to include a Kids First Advisory Board recommendation in the City
Council Memo. This recommendation will include the support for all the programs and funding to be used to
purchase childcare staff housing.
Jessica moved that the Kids First Advisory Board recommends that the sales tax be reallocated to 100%
for childcare or 95/5% split if there must be a split. This request is based on the childcare needs and
knowing that housing has funding from multiple funding source s. Sue seconded, MPU.
• Financial Aid discussion
Shirley opened a discussion and shared information about the current financial aid program. At this time, Kids
First is serving a smaller number of families than we would like. Many families have received wage increases
however, everyday expenses have also increased. Families are struggling to afford most of the day-to-day
expenses and childcare is a large chunk of their spending. Shirley suggested that we increase the income
percentages and that we lower the percentage that families are expected to pay for childcare costs. These two
shifts will allow for families with higher incomes to receive childcare financial aid, and families with lower
incomes will receive a higher amount of financial aid. This revised model would also support childcare
programs as they increase their daily rates and charge families a higher tuition in order to raise staff
compensation.
Kids First Advisory board agrees with the changes and asked staff to work with the calculator and test the new
calculator. Kids First Advisory Board would like to see an analysis of the impact for families and our budget.
Staff will provide this information at the October meeting and Kids First Advisory Board will review the
proposed changes in the Financial Aid calculator to be in effect before the November 1 financial aid application
deadline.
Next meetings: - Kids First Advisory Board
City Council Work session, childcare capacity critical goal update, Sept 19, 4 pm
Friday, October 7
Friday, November 4
Friday, December 2