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| | 1. | | Review and approval of minutes from the July 21, 2017 meeting.
Minutes note: Mr. Miller moved, seconded by Mr. Randall, for approval of the minutes. There were no objections. | | | |
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| | 2. | | Review and approval of the final report and recommendations of the body.
Minutes note: Ms. Davis led the subgroup that created the recommendations. She thanked the writing team which did a yeoman's work in creating these recommendations and she also thanked staff for their work. Among the recommendations is the creation of a city office of early education initiatives to implement these recommendations in quantities enough to make a difference. This will not just be a city initiative, but also must involve the county, state, philanthropies and hospitals/clinics. This individual's daily focus would be on this coordination and attempts to get additional funding. The appendices have links to attachments in the Council file which will remain online indefinitely.
Ms. Lyday said that part of her problem is the creation of a city office that should coordinate with the county which provides services for children birth to age 3. Currently the county coordinates these activiies, as directed by the state, so she is concerned that the city would also be coordinating those activities with which the county is charged. She also had some concern about advocating for children who need assistance, which the county is already tasked with through the state and offers specialized programs aimed at children with specific needs. Ms. Sparrow said that a lot of the recommendations are around the fact that the funding is less than ideal to support these children. The language will be changed to make it more clear that they are talking about working across groups and not supplanting county authority. Mr. Miller supported changing the language to note collaboration and cooperation and specifically mention the county and the state.
Ms. Kiely wondered if the subcommittee discussed the new office, who it would be accountable to, the size and how it will function. Ms. Davis said the recommendations are a wish list as there is no budget for these. Ms. Clementi said she is curious if the subgroup discussed this not being a government office and its being within an existing body? Ms. Davis thinks that Boston has an Office of Early Childhood Education and Ald. Johnson thinks the city is the appropriate agency and it can be determined in the future who this office will report to.
Ms. Cronn would like to have a timeline created for the recommendations to ensure this isn't shelved. Mr. Izard also sees the need to keep the momentum going and see if there is a way to support the current providers, such as Milwaukee County, so it is hopefully less of a political issue. Mr. Izard said that once creating a tax is mentioned, people would question why a position is created that has no authority over the agencies actually supplying the work. Mr. Izard thought maybe a public-private partnership might be better than creating a tax. Ms. Kiely wondered if a new tax is feasible rather than lobbying the state for more funds as a lot of the agencies are already funded by the state. Ms. Deacon saw the office as activating a city-wide emphasis on early childhood education. Mr. Miller said he sees that a new tax is necessary.
Chris Thiel, Milwaukee Public Schools, said there will be a study committe looking at early education and this report could be used as part of a lobbying effort. Ms.Lyday also encouraged lobbying at the federal level as those funds have also decreased and every community is feeling this lack of funding for birth to age 3. Mr. Thiel said that he sees a more positive environment for funding than we were 10 years ago.
Ms. Clementi said that she saw the need to add more health-related aspects of the recommendations; not to add more, but to refine the language more, such as home visitors in #3, early education and health care services in #4, Ms. Cronn agreed and might also add in lead or toxic environments.
Mr. Miller said that having a tax does not exclude other potential funding.
Ald. Johnson and Ms. Norfolk will create the final language to get out to the full task force.
Mr. Izard would like to see the final recommendations before he agrees to it. Ms. Norfolk will make the changes and then send it to all members who can respond with specific changes they want to see.
Mr. Miller supports the tax while Mr. Izard supports a public-private entity rather than a government entity Mr. Izard would support a tax as an option but not as the sole funding source. Pres. Hamiilton suggested using the term "revenue stream" rather than tax.
Pres. Hamilton thanks members for their service and hard work. He is going to dedicate himself to getting local support for these recommendations. He has already asked budget people from MPS and the county to look at the collaborative MOUs for a way to collaborate with rersources and personnel and to measure the outcome of this collaboration. He guarantees that this body's work will not be in vain.
Mr. Randall said there is a program, Leading Men Fellows, to hire young men of color to be reading tutors in day cares and this is seen as a funnel to the workplace. The funding for the initical phase if just over $500,000. Baltmore is currently launching the program with 15 young men. Mr. Randall is pursuing getting this going locally and he is very enthusiastic about this program. He also noted that 4 of the individuals involved in the program are going into the field of early childhood education.
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| | 3. | | Wrap-up and acknowledgements.
Minutes note: Ms. Davis thanked Ms. Norfolk for her work on the final recommendations. Ms. Clementi will provide Ms. Norfolk with her specific recommendations and the hope is that it will be finalized within two weeks. The specific focus is on the office and the lobbying pieces of the document.
Ald. Johnson thanked members for their service and thinks the actions of this body will make a difference in kids' lives.
Meeting adjourned: 1:32 P.M.
Linda M. Elmer
Staff Assistant | | | |
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