March 27, 2023 at 3:33 PM
Location of Meeting:
Hybrid In Person / Virtual (GoToMeeting): https://transcripts.gotomeeting.com/#/s/84642ad8403fc53d5bc93ac176e732cca70a0fa0172b22e66ed486d97ef8482e (recording expires 4/27/23)
In Attendance:
Board:
Joseph Tomchak Boys & Girls Club Newport
Rebecca Compton Dr. Day Care
Tracy Martin-Turgeon Cadence Academy
Amy Vogel Dr. Day Care
Members:
Becky Madden Acorn Academy
Susan Rachette Kinderdance
Andrea Engle YMCA Pawtucket
Cheryl Tella The Learning Journey
Meeting began at 3:38pm
Agenda:
Guest Speaker Claire Kokoska, RISE Engineering: implementing cost saving energy measures and available incentives
Next steps for grant – are members interested in pursuing further?
Early Childhood job fair with SkillsRI update
BOCA Board Member – opening
Legislative and lobbyist updates
Upcoming meetings:
- April 24, 2023
- May 22, 2023
- June 26, 2023 – in person
Meeting Notes:
- Members introduced themselves
- Claire spoke about RISE Engineering
- RISE has done home energy audits
- Lately big push is energy efficiency for businesses, incentives available for child care employees
- Has slides with more details – will be sent to members
- Energy upgrades – HVAC upgrades, ventilation, air flow, air quality, solar, battery storage, lighting
- Child care centers: making sure temps where children are playing are right temp, more stringent than a typical building
- If older lights, there are more efficient options, give off less heat, etc.
- EV charging stations, weatherization, building controls
- Automations available, gather data on energy/electricity usage
- Work through RI Energy programs, first initial audit is usually free, to determine potential savings, what upgrades there are to reduce long term costs
- If you go with “stretch codes” instead of just meeting minimums, it can help you stay in compliance longer
- Portable/not permanent upgrades are also available (ie businesses that rent their space)
- Can go over incentives & grants available, state rebates, utility rebates
- RISE was selected to give out $10,000 to small businesses & nonprofits ($1 million or less) towards indoor air quality upgrades
- See the slides for more information
- Joe went over survey results summary & next steps for grant:
- We can’t compete with wages elsewhere
- People are leaving the industry
- We have the data now, so we can go to DLT to determine a solution
- Next stage is funding for pilot project
- Proposal to submit would entail a Real Jobs RI application, CCRI, Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs – person goes through training and then after, you have access to extra funding. Intention is to, long-term, you have skilled employee who has a more equitable wage, better aligned with your actual needs
- Pilot would only be available to BOCA members the first year – ie, you have up to 2 people work for you that go through the program, you get $10,000, give feedback
- CCRI already has TA training for RIDE and an ECE field program that is well received
- DLT has an incumbent workers program already, this could be a minor change to benefit us. Tracy said they had a similar program in the past
- Concern is that people are not going into the field, still worried we won’t find the people to enter this program
- Another concern is keeping them, after it’s done – would they still go to schools? Maybe stipulation for them to stay, similar to TEACH
- Can it be possible to make a pathway/room for them to grow? IE – hit certain measures, you’re eligible for xyz goal
- Could be a hybrid model. They leave with a credential. 40 hours of training.
- Acorn Academy, YMCA Pawtucket, Kinderdance would be interested
- Recruitment – that’s why partnering with Real Jobs RI / Skills RI – they’re responsible for committing to finding people
- Grant proposal must be finished by end of June
- Early Childhood Job Fair – board is doing a pilot to see how this job fair would work and what next steps are for next job fair
- See how it works and then scale up
- See what the demand is from the employees
- Hybrid/virtual/in person? What works better
- BOCA member opening – please come forward if you want to sit on the board. Now is a good time! Let us know your focus and what role would work best
- Put out an interest form in next email
- Amy went over bills that have been proposed that could effect child care businesses
- Kids Connect / mental health
- Attorney General – trying to keep child care employee fingerprints to be free (have been free due to COVID)
- Expand eligibility for families to get CCAP, tiered reimbursement rates increased
Next meeting:
April 24, 2023
May 22, 2023
June 26, 2023 – in person
Minutes submitted by Rebecca Compton