Suffolk Early Childhood Development Commission Meetings

Date: Dec 07, 2022 Time: 2:00 to 4:00pm Location: City of Suffolk City Hall 442 W Washington St Conference Room 3 December 2022 Commission Meeting Members Present Members Absent Mark Furlo Henry Dixon Marie Baker Bonnie Maki Gin Staylor Catherine Pichon Shawna LoMonaco Sarah Townsend Carol Wilson Terrance Johnson Tamie Rittenhouse Guests Present Melvin Bradshaw Lisa Milburn Stacie Prine I. Introductions/Welcome– Marie Baker called the meeting to order. II. Review Minutes-The commission reviewed the minutes from Nov 2, 2022. Henry Dixon made the motion to approve the minutes, Gin Staylor seconded the motion. The vote to approve the minutes was unanimous. III. Coordinators Report: A. Child Care Numbers: Shawna reported Child Care numbers have remained the same. Marie mentioned a new family day home in Suffolk, Bizzy Bees. B. ECDC Update – Shawna shared the following: 1. All centers and day homes have been contacted and offered the Tech kits. All requested kits have been distributed. YMCA has not responded after repeated attempts and Unique Little Hands has declined. There is a remainder of 31 tech kits which will be distributed between SPS Early Care, The Children’s Center, and Children’s Harbor. 2. The supply drive has ended with a great turnout. Supplies will be distributed with the tech kits to SPS Early Start and The Children’s Center.  3. Care Packs are open for reservation and will be distributed next week. A decline in request for masks was noted. 4. VAAEYC Scholarships are open with little interest so far. Transportation may be an issue. Shawna will increase promotion. 5. The new hire for the ECDC pt position accepted a full-time government position and the position has been reposted. 6. ECDC is a recipient of the OBICI Healthcare Early Childhood Grant. III. Other Business: A. Finance Report: Shawna LoMonaco provided the most up to date budget. She explained the current remaining budget is 52,159.55. An adjustment to educator training and the early learning library was made due to the additional funds from the Obici grant. B. Partner Update: Suffolk Public Library – The Family portrait studio has been postponed. Busy babies will take place dec 17th and gives young children an opportunity to engage in messy play. Kits for children during the winter break will be offered starting Dec. 12 and can be picked up from library branches. The Winter Reading Challenge is open for registration online with a goal of reading 7000 books as a community and Explore Suffolk-Blizzard Blitz is a city-wide Scavenger Hunt with kits available starting Dec. 19. Suffolk Public Schools – Mr. Bradshaw reported 313 participants for Virtual Virginia Living Museum with highest attendance from FBES, the next event will take place January 9. He shared an updated flyer for December Family Engagement in all Title 1 schools which has been shared on social media and peachjar. There is a growing concern for attendance with SPS and Tamie said The Children’s Center has noticed the same. A discussion took place about raising awareness of the attendance concern, how it impacts learning, and providing support to help keep children attending regularly. Stacie Prine shared the Feedback Survey for stakeholders on spending funds. Hillpoint Elementary is looking for one Early Start Teacher and Nansemond is looking for one teacher assistant. They are in the beginning stages of planning 23-24 screenings of families and students for the Early Start Pre-K program and are looking to revamp the screening process. Suffolk Social Services – no report Children’s Center – Holiday themed activities have started at the centers. Tamie shared there has been an increase in homelessness and extra holiday support is being given, 350 families were provided assistance for holiday support. Obici – Lisa reported 124 deliveries in November and that childbirth classes are going well. . There are new OBs coming into Suffolk and Ready Set Grow packets are still being created and distributed. Parks and Rec – Mark shared the Holiday Parade is scheduled for Dec 10. East Suffolk Rec Center is offering a Santa Pottery Workshop for ages 7-11. Winter Break Camp is offered to students with disabilities ages 6-17 and will take place Dec 21,22, 27-30 at Creekside Rec center. VQB5 – Carlo reported that Heather is no longer with VQ, CLASS trainings are coming up and CLASS observer meeting will take place on January 12. Henry inquired about teachers receiving a stipend for being observed and Carol offered to connect Henry with Ashley Stoddard, teachers must be  observed by Dec 15, 2022, there is concern for CLASS observations and a lack of observers. IV. New Business: A. Obici Grant o Awarded ECDC $22,659 o Program Title: Suffolk Early Childhood Educator CLASS training and Curriculum Support o Provide CLASS training and STREAMin3 curriculum support o Goals: Breakdown barriers in accessing quality materials and training in support of VQB5 o Carol mentioned that training on instructional support would be a good starting point. o Gin-Building partnerships with daycares, public schools, The Children’s Center to provide teachers opportunities to observe in strong CLASS classrooms. o Shawna will begin an in-person Directors & Family Day Home Owner group to meet, observe, eat lunch, discuss. B. Mini Grants o Review previous year outcomes o Goal-rollout in January o A few members suggested setting a financial limit and focusing on smaller items rather than larger items o Total of $10,000. How to split it based on limitations? o A subcommittee was created to work through the details. Gin, Henry, and Lisa volunteered for the subcommittee. Lisa available to assist after January 20, 2023. C. Code and Bylaws discussion: o Marie proposed creating a subcommittee for the bylaws. o Tamie will lead the subcommittee o Marie, Henry, Tamie volunteered for the subcommittee. o The subcommittee will meet from 12-2pm on Tuesday January 4, at City Hall, prior to the regular monthly ECDC meeting o Groups of two members or more is considered a commission meeting, all are welcome to attend the meeting, and the meeting will be posted and open to the public. V. Adjourn: Our next meeting will be January 4, 2022