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Home My WebLink About2017-02-28 YMPC Minutes Caldwell Youth Master Plan Committee APPR ED February 28, 2017 cc s f /1 Meeting Minutes Present: Fiona May (Caldwell Public Library), Ron Bonneau, Denise Milburn, Brian Billingsley, Ken Wien, Steve Jenkins, Kelly Emry, Marisa Erickson, Debbie Geyer, Angie Point Meeting began at 10:04 am. Ken motioned/Steve seconded the motion to approve the minutes from October 25, 2016. Motion passed. Special Presentation: Fiona May, Caldwell Public Library Let's Read – Promoting Reading Among Children Fiona represents the Library's early reading and youth programs. Developmental learning ties in well with the YMP goals for promoting reading. • Every child ready to read: twice yearly, 3 workshop series, 1 week apart (Idaho Commission For Libraries) 5 essential early literature practices: sing, read, write, talk, play. Kids and parents attend together. Fiona wishes more people knew about it; she and Marisa will get together about the possibility of partnering with WIC to promote this program. "Free stuff' incentives for consistent attendance. • Fun with math and science– non-fiction, twice yearly. Targets early math skills. If parents attend, there are 'free stuff' incentives for attendance. • Summer reading—all are welcome to participate. Held through all of June and July. Object is to minimize/defeat "summer slide". This summer, three school libraries are also staying open 3 days a week so kids can do summer reading in their neighborhood. • Read to a therapy dog– Kids read to the dog, Skye • And of course . . . story time • Who comes? Daycares, children with PSR workers, language learners, families. Programs feature music, dance, and hands-on activities. Not `just' reading o Story kits : themed sets: pirates – books, DVD, things to do related to pirates. Can be checked out for 1 week. o Maker programs–create something, tinker with something. The Library received a grant that also allows them to include materials for environmental programs in their maker projects. Bottom line: encouraging reading in every way possible. About 90% of the youth programs focus on reading goals and encouraging reading. Encouraging learning, and thereby reading to learn, accounts for about 75% of the teen programs. Biggest challenge: they need help getting the word out. Reports: Ken Wien –grants Union Pacific denied grant request (Youth Forum funding was primary purpose). Ken is having trouble identifying grants that fit our programs–grantors are pretty specific about requirements. If anyone knows of any possibilities, please contact Ken. Brian Billingsly: Caldwell received honorable mention for the High Five grant that we wanted primarily for the Let's Move Caldwell program. Which means we have $15,000 as matching funds—but we have to receive another primary grant to supplement with the matching funds. • We were selected for a TAP grant to extend the Indian Creek pathway from Densho Gardens to Centennial Way; starts in 2019. By the end of the decade, there will be a 1-mile pathway between Indian Creek and the Greenbelt. We also received $4,000 from Treasure Valley Clean Communities to create a bike path along Indian Creek to encourage college students to visit downtown. Ron Bonneau - Youth Forum: Our last meeting was in January at Gem State, following up on last year's Forum, and the projects the schools are doing that came out of the Youth Forum day. Vallivue has started a Youth Forum club and did a mini-seminar with presentations to the Freshman, Junior, and Senior classes on October 19th. They are continuing to think through and promote ways of improving the school atmosphere. Gem State began by establishing student advocates, and are working toward addressing cliques—their goal is to 'speak life' — make a more inclusive atmosphere and dialogue with all students. Next meeting is at Caldwell High School in March. Canyon Springs sat out this past year, and Atlas Alternative school (Middleton) is sitting out this year, though they want to remain on the list to reevaluate participation next year. Vallivue Academy and Ridgeview will be joining the Forum in September, and Centennial Baptist School is considering participation. City council meeting April 17th designated for Youth Forum presentations to show `outcome' for Youth Forum, and it helps keep everyone accountable. Messaging has been staying essentially the same because the challenges are the same. Student input is the driving force behind the Youth Forum messaging. Marisa Erickson — Let's Move: The City of Caldwell has reached Gold Medal Status in all goals; great accomplishment! Last year's Family Fun Day in Whittenberger Park was in conjunction with the Caldwell Rotary Club. We are planning to Partner with them again on June 10th for a Family Fun day this year. June 10th is free fishing day, and we know Rotary Ponds will be stocked. Hope's Door could possibly do a fun run that day as well, dog park is there, look at bike rodeo again, etc. Brian: repaving project is around Rotary pond —will try to get it done before this day. Bike project will be a part again, though we will restructure how and when bikes are given out. Denise and Marisa — 'Meet Me Monday' is expanding to Caldwell. This is a weekly walking outreach to encourage residents to get outside and walk. Launch date May 8th. They are currently deciding on a temporary starting place until the downtown renovations are complete. Boise has seen a lot of successes with their program —families, individuals, and other groups getting together every Monday to walk. We want to include historical walks for the Caldwell program. Brian has 4 walking tours already done. Can create a new one if needed. as well. The one thing that is needed: one person there every Monday night after work to be the `champion' and get everyone going. Caldwell Saves 1st: Debbie and Carol: February is National Financial Literacy Month. Feb 9th was the kickoff event for Caldwell Saves 1st. Nineteen participants were scheduled and 15 showed up. All of them started a savings account. The earlier pilot program, only 11 of 17 participants signed up for savings accounts. To get started, families are required to attend 2 programs, 2 weeks apart for 1.5 hours. The third meeting is a family fun financial day on May 9th at the Caldwell Airport. There will be representation from different agencies, with informational booths. Activities for children are planned -- (working with Women's and Children's Alliance Group) —Deborah Sousa is main contact. Maybe have a Library booth, safety services, and Health Department disaster preparedness. Object is to grow program so that more 1st graders can participate. Grants and such will be needed to keep this going. Once a student's savings account hits $1,000, the accounts shifts to a 529 college savings account. Whittenberger and Republic Services provided funding this year, and the Golf Scramble awarded $1,000. End goal is an endowment to keep this going. Every August, the kids bring `proof' of activity (deposits to accounts, community service, and passing grades), then they get bonus of$15.00 every August through the 5th grade. We want kids to get into the habit of saving. If they meet all goals, students get an additional $50 at the end of 5th grade. Ken motioned/Steve seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting at 11:16. The next meeting will be on April 25th. Special Presentation is planned: Community School Pilot Program and the progress of the P-16 program. Respectfully submitted, Angie Point