# Early Childhood and Development Committee Meeting: Nov. 4, 2025 **Body:** Buncombe County Government — Early Childhood and Development Committee **Date:** November 4, 2025 1:07 PM EST (2025-11-04T13:07:59-05:00) **Link:** https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/562 ## Summary The Buncombe County Early Childhood and Development Committee convened on November 4, 2025, to review recent site visits and host a roundtable panel of experts to discuss the current state of early childhood education in North Carolina. The primary objective of the session was to gather insights from state and local partners regarding workforce challenges, funding mechanisms, and disaster recovery efforts within the early care and education system. **Key Decisions** The committee’s only formal vote was to approve the minutes from the previous meeting held on October 7, 2025. Martin Moore moved to approve the minutes, and Carol Steen seconded the motion. The minutes were unanimously approved. **Discussion Highlights** The meeting featured a roundtable panel with representatives from the NC Department of Commerce, the NC Division of Child Development and Early Education, NC Child, the Western NC Early Childhood Coalition, the Buncombe Partnership for Children, and Buncombe County Health & Human Services. Panelists discussed the growing recognition of child care as a component of workforce and economic development, citing a $5.65 billion return on investment for North Carolina. They highlighted significant workforce challenges, noting that 43% of child care teachers in the state receive public assistance. Funding and subsidy issues were a central topic of debate. Panelists explained that current subsidy rates, based on 75% of 2021 market rates, cover only 50-70% of the cost of care. Consequently, significant funds remain unspent due to a lack of available slots; specifically, $1.7 million in subsidy funding went unspent in Buncombe County last year, while $56 million went unspent statewide. In response, panelists recommended establishing a subsidy floor, particularly for infants and toddlers, creating a statewide WAGES program to supplement teacher salaries, and providing child care benefits for teachers. The discussion also touched on disaster recovery, with panelists sharing lessons from recent events and emphasizing the need for a more proactive approach to preparedness. **Community Input** During the public comment period, Stephanie Jones, a child specialist for Hope Brindley, spoke in support of early childhood investments. She inquired about potential frameworks for disaster recovery efforts. The transcript summary does not record a specific response from committee members to her comment. **Follow-ups** Staff members indicated they would compile feedback from committee members regarding recent site visits and share it at the next meeting. Committee members who have not yet completed their site visit feedback forms were encouraged to submit them by the next meeting. **Impact and Next Steps** This meeting provided the committee with data-driven context on the barriers to workforce participation and the financial gaps in the current subsidy system. The committee is scheduled to hold a special meeting on November 18, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM to continue these discussions and develop action plans, specifically to discuss the draft project plan for focused investment. The next regular meeting is scheduled for December 2, 2025, at 1:00 PM. ## Agenda - [Approval of minutes from October 7, 2025](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/562/item/24710) - [Site visit updates](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/562/item/24711) - [Roundtable Panel](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/562/item/25765) - [Amy Barry, Buncombe Partnership for Children](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/562/item/25766) - [Announcements](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/562/item/24713) - [Candace Witherspoon, NC Division of Child Development & Early Education](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/562/item/25767) - [Erica Palmer Smith or Neil Harrington, NC Child](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/562/item/25768) - [Greg Borom, WNC Early Childhood Coalition](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/562/item/25769) - [Next Meeting](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/562/item/24715) - [Phillip Hardin, Buncombe County Health & Human Services](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/562/item/25770) - [Samantha Cole, NC Department of Commerce](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/562/item/25771) ## Votes - Motion to approve by Martin Moore. Seconded by Carol Steen. The minutes were unanimously approved. — Passed ## Video & Transcript - Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NngnpQK-tOY - Transcript: https://sunshinemeetings.org/transcript/218/segments ## Documents - [supporting_2025-11-04_2.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/562?document=15357) - [minutes_2025-11-04.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/562?document=15354) - [supporting_2025-11-04.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/562?document=15355) - [agenda_2025-11-04.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/562?document=15356) ## Sources - [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NngnpQK-tOY)