Taking a Closer Look at Childcare

The Town Council voted to approve the preliminary budget and funds necessary to hire a childcare consultant at their meeting on June 21st, and took a major step towards accomplishing their strategic goal of evaluating and expanding early childcare education resources in Snowmass Village. 

The study, which will be done in close partnership with the Little Red Schoolhouse, will begin by analyzing the current capacity and future demands on the Little Red Schoolhouse's facilities. The current campus is leased from the Town for $1 / year. The Town is hopeful the study will provide a road map for the community to plan, prepare, and build for the future of early childcare education. The budget request was submitted to Town Council in tandem with the childcare needs assessment survey results, which was conducted earlier this year. It received 125 responses from residents up and down the valley. To no one's surprise, the survey results showed that childcare is a big concern for local residents. 

"We know the demand is there. The question is how do we best meet those demands," said Travis Elliott, Assistant Town Manager. "Early childcare education plays a major role in our community, our workforce, and for families that are making life decisions. We want to make sure Snowmass Village is one of the best places to raise a family."

The second reading of the ordinance and final approval for the funds is scheduled for the Council meeting on Tuesday, July 6th. The Town Council is also scheduled to take a tour of the current Little Red Schoolhouse facilities on July 12th. After further conversations with the Little Red Schoolhouse Board of Directors, Town staff then hope to begin the assessment and community engagement process in September of this year. 

Meet Brandon Hawksley

New Parks, Open Space, and Trails Manager

Meet Brandon Hawksley, who was recently interviewed by Kaya Williams at the Snowmass Sun. The following is an excerpt from that article, and the entire interview can be found online at www.snowmasssun.com.

Spend enough time on the trails and slopes of Snowmass Village and you’ll probably see Brandon Hawksley at some point — or his handiwork, anyway.

The village local has worked on the summer trails crew for nearly a decade in the Parks and Recreation department — he spends his winters as a ski patroller on the mountain — and will now spend even more time thinking about trails and open space as the Town’s Parks, Open Space and Trails manager.

He started the new full-time position about four weeks ago, filling the role previously held by Starr Jamison. The Snowmass Sun met Hawksley in Town Park for an interview on June 10.

Find the complete interview online...

Ready, Set, Go.