Joint Entities Meeting on October 16, 2023
Agenda
Iowa City Community School District, Educational Service Center, 1725 N. Dodge Street, Iowa City, Iowa 52245
- Opening
- Call to Order
- Welcome and Introductions
- Childcare Initiative Update – City of Iowa City
- Update from ICCSD on Preschool Initiative
- Updates from those involved in local childcare coalition
- Update from Johnson County Public Health
- COVID-19 Update
- Implications of a potential government shutdown
- Other Business
- Discuss schedule and hosts for upcoming Joint Entities Meetings
- January 15, 2024 – Coralville
- April 15, 2024 – Iowa City
- July 15, 2024 – North Liberty
- October 21, 2024 – University Heights
- January 13, 2025 – Johnson County
- Adjournment
Minutes
Joint Entities Meeting Minutes ICCSD Educational Services Center 1725 N. Dodge Street
Iowa City, Iowa 52245 Monday, October 16, 2023
Present at Meeting:
Iowa City Community School District (ICCSD): ICCSD Board Members President Ruthina Malone, Vice President Lisa Williams, Molly Abraham, J.P. Claussen, Charlie Eastham, Jayne Finch, and Maka Pilcher Hayek, Superintendent Matt Degner, Executive Director of Elementary Schools Eliza Proctor, Preschool Program Administrator Heather Stevens
City of Coralville: Mayor Meghann Foster, City Council Members Hai Huynh
City of Iowa City: Mayor Bruce Teague, Council Members Laura Bergus, Pauline Taylor, Megan Alter, Eric Sittig
City of North Liberty: Mayor Chris Hoffman
University Heights: Mayor Louise From
Johnson County Board of Supervisors: Lisa Green-Douglass, Royceann Porter, John Green, V Fixmer Oraiz
Clear Creek Amana Schools: Superintendent Corey Seymour
State Representative Elinor Levin
Johnson County Public Health: Danielle Pettit-Majewski, Director of Johnson County Public Health , Sam Jarvis, Community Health Manager
A. Opening
Call to Order
ICCSD Board President Malone called the meeting to order at 4:30 pm.
B. Welcome and Introductions
President Malone welcomed everyone and introductions were made.
C. Childcare Initiative Update – City of Iowa City
Update from ICCSD on Preschool Initiative & Updates from those involved in local childcare coalition
Matt Degner reported that the most extensive work has been done with the child care coalition group and collaborating with community partners. Cady Gerlach of the Child Care Coalition group provided a childcare solutions update.
Childcare Solutions: A Johnson County Community of Collaboration ICCSD Collaboration
ICCSD and Childcare Solutions team started meeting in late April and early May
Three opportunities identified: School Readiness Summit, Data Collection, Funding – long term School Readiness Summit
Saturday, November 4, 2023
Training topics: various speakers Panels
Education panels Resource panels
Robust panel discussion Partners
ICCSD administration GWAEA administration 4C’s
Johnson County Social Services Head Start
Childcare center directors private providers Additional Johnson County programs
Infant and Toddler Scholarship Program – $600 per month for families under 250% of FPL Child Care Assistance (CCA) Incentive Program – $100/month
Starting Strong Expansion Wage Enhancement Program
Fundraising Update
Program Branding
Challenge: Budgeting cycles of larger businesses FY24 and FY25 are targets
Private fundraising and outreach campaign 48 employees – 8 partner businesses
State Funding
Limited time match of only private funds
Our program is one of the primary models, along with Hamilton County Iowa Women’s Foundation facilitated with the State
IWF is hosting an All Call for Johnson County businesses October 19 at 2:00 pm
Better Together 2023: A Shared Future for Johnson County What we need
Share the opportunity Make connections
Champion the public-private partnership
Ensure all neighborhoods have affordable child care
4Cs opportunity at Oddfellows – Affordable and Accessible Childcare for Neighborhoods The Location
Child care “desert” Bear bus line
Between City and Tate High Schools
Zoning allows for this building to be a single family home, a church, or a childcare center The Scope
120 children
51% (or more) of children on Child Care Assistance High proportion of slots specifically for infant care
The Vision
Credentialed teachers are paid a wage commensurate with education and experience This school becomes a training ground for future early childhood educators
Collaboration between area school districts and Kirkwood for internship and other training opportunities
Matt Degner reported that the district currently has half time funding preschool programs at several elementary buildings as well as a few pilot sites for full day experiences. Heather Stevens provided an update on the district’s preschool current state of affairs and work she has been doing.
Met 1:1 with administrators regarding preschool
Would like to meet with families, preschool teachers and the community for similar discussion Surveyed all preschool teachers regarding instructional materials and furniture
Want equity among programs across the district Visits to two other districts
Common theme is funding Currently 481 preschool students
mostly 4 year old students but some 3 year old students with IEP’s WRAP care is with Champions at Wickham, Shimek, Borlaug and Kirkwood
40 slots in each building
Parents pay for WRAP care
Construction at Horn will allow for two preschool rooms
Matt Degner stated the district will continue to work on existing pilot programs and make them accessible. There is a cost barrier inhibitor for some and the desire it to eliminate as many barriers as possible. The vision is a full day experience at no cost. He stated he would like to partner with municipalities for one site in Iowa City, one site in Coralville and one site in North Liberty to see if the model works. The cost would most likely be a per pupil cost.
D. Update from Johnson County Public Health
COVID-19 Update
Sam Jarvis provided a COVID-19 update.
Updated COVID-19 vaccine available How has vaccine changed?
Commercialization of vaccine – now a cost
Bridge access program provided to uninsured and underinsured Walgreens, CVS, Johnson County Public Health
Partnering with pharmacies in program for testing No charge for testing
Encouraging folks to get vaccine along with flu shot August and September saw uptick in illness
Trending back downwards Entering respiratory virus season
New tools, vaccines and antibodies available Implications of a potential government shutdown
Danielle Pettit-Majewski provided information regarding implications of a potential government shutdown.
32 days to November 17 when current resolution ends Conversations with state partners
Can’t tell if any back stock or additional funding for WIC program to continue services Preparing for there not to be
Conversations to do a drive for diapers and formula Looking at different resources
There is a lot of need Want to be prepare
Planning to do the drive regardless of shut down or not
E. Other Business
There was none.
F. Discuss schedule and hosts for upcoming Joint Entities Meetings
The next Join Entities meeting is scheduled to be held on January 15, 2024, which is Martin Luther King Day. Coralville is scheduled to host the meeting and will find and communicate an alternate date.
Future meeting dates include:
April 15, 2024 – Iowa City
July 15, 2024 – North Liberty
October 21, 2024 – University Heights
January 13, 2025 – Johnson County
G. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 5:10 pm.
