►
Description
Early Childhood Education is one of the industries most affected by COVID-19. New regulations and operation standards have restricted access to early childhood education providers like daycares, corporate child care, exceptional needs programming, and even crisis nursery care. In this conversation we will discuss how county leadership, early childhood care providers, and public health are working together to support and improve access to early childhood education for Buncombe County residents.
Speakers include:
• Al Whitesides, Buncombe County Commissioner
• Susan Creede, Communicable Disease Nurse with Buncombe County Health and Human Services
• Jonathan Williams, NC Statewide School Age Program Coordinator for Southwestern Child Development Commission
• Rev. Spencer Hardaway, Reverend at Rock Hill Baptist Church
• Chrissy Wolfe, Child Care Health Consultant for Mountain Area Health Education Center
• Jenny Vial, Director of Child Care Resources for Buncombe Partnership for Children
B
Kicking
us
off
today
will
be
commissioner
al
whitesides
of
buncombe
county,
followed
by
jenny,
byle
chrissy,
wolf,
john
williams,
the
reverend
spencer,
hardaway
and
suzanne
creed.
So
with
that
I'd
like
to
open
up
the
floor
and
have
each
of
them
introduce
themselves
and
share
a
little
bit
about
what
they'll
be
discussing
during
our
let's
talk
covet
early
childhood
education
discussion.
E
Hi,
my
name
is
chrissy
wolf
and
I'm
a
child
care
health
consultant
employed
at
mayheck
our
mountain
area,
health,
education
center
as
a
direct
service
provider
through
a
grant
from
the
buckingham
partnership
for
children.
Today,
I
will
share
my
role
as
a
child
care
health
consultant
in
assisting
child
care
facilities
and
family
child
care
homes
in
providing
a
healthy
and
safe
environment
for
children
and
staff
in
child
care.
Settings.
A
Hey
my
name
is
john
williams:
I'm
the
project
manager
for
the
north
carolina
school
age
initiative.
We
are
directly
funded
by
the
division
of
child
development,
early
education
and
today
we
are
going
to
talk.
I'm
going
to
talk
a
little
bit
about
after-school
programs.
How
covet
has
impacted
after
school
programs
and
summer
camp
programs
and
a
little
bit
about
the
workforce
issue
that
we're
seeing
with
this
pandemic.
F
B
It's
great
to
have
you
and
and
reverend
you
are
always
on
time,
so
never
a
minute
too
late,
and
so
with
that
I'd
like
to
now
open
up
our
discussion
and
we
will
begin
with
commissioner
al
whiteslides.
So,
commissioner,
can
you
please
start
off
by
sharing
with
us?
Why
is
early
childhood
education
important
to
you
and
then
also?
Can
you
also
share
with
us?
You
know
what
special
connection
you
have
and
the
connection
that
this
resource
has
for
our
community
as
part
of
our
covid19
response.
C
I
found
out
early
on
that
the
foundation
for
education
in
this
country
is
pre-pre-k
early
childhood
and
unfortunately
we
leave
it
out
too
often
and
we're
trying
to
correct
that
here
in
buncombe
county
and
when
I
came
on
early
on
as
a
commissioner
in
2018,
we
decided
and
we
voted
to
establish
the
early
childhood
fund
with
3.6
million
dollars
and
to
increase
it
two
percent
a
year
going
forward,
but
hopefully
we'll
be
able
to
do
more
than
that
in
the
future.
Because
of
the
need
we
already
see
and
buncombe
county
in
2025.
C
We
put
400
000
into
the
child
care
subsidy
program
so
that
more
families
can
get
help
paying
for
care,
and
we
were
able
to
do
that
from
some
of
the
covert
19
funding
and
we
even
increased
the
eligibility
so
that
people
making
up
to
300
percent
the
federal
of
the
federal
poverty
level
can
now
qualify
and
we
continue,
like
I
said,
to
hear
from
different
parts
of
the
county.
No
matter
what
the
economic
level
is.
C
C
B
B
C
You
mean
how
has
covet
affected
the
facilities?
Yes,
yes,
yes,
that's
been
a
problem.
We've
seen
you
know
with
some
facilities.
It's
not
been
easy
parents.
A
lot
of
parents
are
working
at
home
now
so
they're
keeping
their
kids
out.
Some
are
fearful
well
because
of
the
pandemic
to
let
their
kids
come.
Other
facilities
are
having
problems.
B
Well,
it's
certainly
great
to
see
that
even
our
commissioners,
you
know
that
you're
still
in
that
place
of
relationship
building
and
connection
with
those
centers
and
really
using
technology
as
a
bridge
just
like
we
are
here
today.
So
thank
you,
commissioner,
with
that.
I
think
that
we,
this
was
a
fine
time
for
us
to
transition
to
jenny,
vile,
who
will
share
a
little
bit
more
about
the
connection
of
her
work
and
her
role
with
the
buncombe
partnership
for
children.
Jenny
welcome.
D
D
I
mean
just
like
commissioner
whiteside
says:
every
program
is
a
completely
different
story:
right,
there's
a
lot
of
common
themes,
but
financially
and
in
terms
of
staff
and
in
terms
of
families
and
attendance.
Every
every
program
has
a
little
bit
different
story
and
trying
to
trying
to
keep
up
and
trying
to
shift
our
work
from
more
long-term
kind
of
teacher
teacher
practice,
development
and
looking
at
best
practices
in
classroom
best
practices,
which,
of
course,
are
still
really
important
to
day-to-day.
D
D
So
we
have
been
really
working
working
with
the
state
working
with
programs
like
like
christie's
to
to
monitor,
who
who
is
open,
who
is
able
to
be
open
and
who
has
not
to
kind
of
keep
tabs
on
how
many
slots
are
available
in
the
in
the
community.
So
the
most
recent
count
is
there.
Are
we've
got
about
3
000
children
across
the
across
the
county
in
in
licensed
child
care?
Right
now,
so
programs
that
are
licensed
by
the
division
of
child
development
and
early
education?
D
D
This
is
as
many
children
as
we
can
safely
serve
and
and
some
we've
had
a
lot
of
teachers
that
have
stepped
out
of
the
classroom
either
to
because
of
their
own
health
or
to
care
for
their
own,
their
own
children
at
home,
especially
at
another.
Another
group
of
teachers
that
were
have
been
unable
to
return
due
to
school,
not
being
in
session
full-time
and
in
that
that
aspect
of
it,
which
I
know
john,
is
going
to
talk
about
more
in
a
little
bit,
and
so
for
as
far
as
our
services.
D
We
have
really
shifted
our
technical
assistance
and
coaching
and
and
training
from
in-person,
which
is
you
know.
Our
staff
spend
a
lot
of
time
in
classrooms,
directly
supporting
teachers,
doing
trainings
in
person
both
in
our
office
and
and
on-site
to
doing
all
of
that
online
and
also
shifting
to
looking
at
looking
at
stress
and
resilience.
And
how
can
we
really
support
teachers
and
acknowledging
that
this
is
a
crisis,
and
this
does
not
feel
like
normal
work
and
that
expecting
teachers
to
show
up
every
day
requires
some
extra
extra
support.
D
And
what
does
that
look
like?
And
how
can
we
help
them
get
training
hours,
while
also
being
really
realistic
that
this
is
really
hard
and
that
they,
you
know
real
life,
keeps
going
in
the
background
whether
or
not
they're
at
work
so
offering
as
many
opportunities
to
learn
about
the
impact
of
stress
and
how
can
we?
How
can
we
just
be
supportive,
well
also
offering
required
trainings
right
that
the
state
the
state
we
have
to
have?
So
how
can
we?
How
can
we
do
that?
D
You
know
we're
doing
cpr,
for
example,
we're
doing
cpr
outdoors
in
a
covered
space
with
in
very,
very
small
groups,
so
that
people
can
get
their
certification
but
stay
more
than
six
feet
away,
have
their
own
mannequin.
So
just
a
lot
of
creative.
How
do
we,
how
do
we
shift
and
and
offer
give
people
what
they
need.
B
Yeah,
it's
great
to
hear
how
nimble
you
all
are.
So
how
is
the
training
the
virtual
transition
for
our
adult
students?
You
know
we
hear
a
lot
about
this
for
the
our
young
ones,
all
the
way
up
to
high
school
and
even
university.
So
within
this
as
a
continuing
education
or
workforce
development,
how
are
our
early
childhood
education
educators,
making
that
transition?
D
It's
it's
been
a
surprising
mix.
Actually
we
have
had
some
people
that
it
has
been
really
hard
for,
and
you
know
it's
it's
been,
it's
been
a
tough
shift,
but
they
have
been
able
to
figure
it
out.
We've
had
some
other
people
that
have
said
you
know
what
I'm
just
gonna
wait
till
I
can
do
it
in
person
and
then
we've
had
some
others
where
it
has
opened
up
a
really
great
opportunity
like,
for
example,
program
directors
that
don't
like
to
leave
the
center
in
the
middle
of
the
day.
D
Who
can
join
us
virtually?
You
know
for
an
hour
at
nap
time
and
we've
had
a
really
active
director's
community
at
practice
where
they've
been
coming
together
and
really
connecting
with
each
other
and
sharing
same
thing
with
our
family
childcare
home
providers,
who
are
family
childcare
homes
there.
They
it's
a
license
where
they're
at
home,
in
their
own
home,
with
five
to
eight
children,
and
it
can
be
kind
of
isolating
and
they
have
been
meeting
once
a
week
together
to
do
some
training
and
some
connecting
and
really
troubleshoot
what
has
come.
D
B
B
So
I
thank
you
for
sharing
that
and
it's
great
to
know
that
the
other
half
of
the
educators
education
component,
at
least
the
workforce,
is
still
able
to
continue
in
that
enrichment,
and
so
I
thank
you,
jenny.
I
think
this
is
a
perfect
time
for
us
to
also
hear
from
chrissy
wolf,
who
does
also
support
some
of
that
so
chrissy.
Can
you
please
at
least
reflect
from
your
role
in
your
work.
E
Yes
and
thank
you,
jenny
for
including
some
of
the
trainings
that
I
do
come
through
the
partnership,
and
so
we
collaboratively
work
together
throughout
the
whole
year.
But
since
1999
21
years
ago,
the
childcare
health
consultants
have
worked
with
buncombe
county
early
childhood
and
education
programs,
and
we've
done
this
by
assessing
and
planning
and
implementing
and
evaluating
strategies
to
achieve
high
quality,
safe
and
healthy
child
care
environments.
E
B
E
Better
known
as
cchcs
to
the
child
care
community
provide
trainings
technical
assistance
and
coaching
in
all
areas
of
health
and
safety
relevant
to
child
care.
A
few
of
the
trainings
that
we
do
offer
are
medication
in
child
care,
safe
sleep
to
reduce
sudden
infant
death
syndrome
and
emergency
preparedness
and
response
in
child
care,
but
cchcs
also
collaborate
with
programs
and
families
to
care
for
children.
Inclusion
of
children
with
special
health
care
needs
as
cchcs.
E
We
also
observe
the
health
and
safety
practices
in
child
care
classrooms
to
provide
coaching
and
preventing
and
managing
infectious
diseases
in
child
care.
We
assist
programs
to
use
current
evidence-based
criteria
for
identifying
caring
for
and
excluding
children
who
are
ill
or
also
for
identifying
staff
who
are
ill
and
should
not
be
working
at
that
time.
E
E
The
cchc
focus
has
not
changed
despite
our
operational
changes
resulting
from
cobit
19.
consultation
and
group
trainings.
Our
general
resource
sharing,
with
an
emphasis
placed
on
cobia
19,
has
continued
through
remote
instruction
of
real-time
virtual
trainings
outdoor
physical
distancing
consultations
and
providing
on-site
consultations
to
meet
the
needs
of
children
with
medical
action
plans
providing
required
in-person
trainings
with
hands-on
skills
at
child
care
facilities,
and
this
too
has
been
accomplished
through
remaining
outdoors
and
maintaining
a
physical
distance
and
the
use
of
face
masks.
B
Wow,
it
sounds
like
you
all
continue
to
be
busy,
and
so
you
know
you
did
mention
that
you
know.
Even
before
kovid
there
was
a
you
know,
rigorous
culture
and
reinforcement
of
hand
washing.
Can
you
speak
a
little
bit
about
any
new
policies
that
have
come
out
of
covid
and
then
also
besides
that?
What
happens
when
a
center
is
not
diligent
about
implementing
those
policies.
E
Well,
there
have
been
many
child
care
facilities
that
have
remained
open
to
care
for
children
and
have
never
closed
their
doors
during
this
co-dependent.
So
I'm
so
grateful
for
them
to
do
that
and
having
received
many
trainings
from
us
before
on
how
to
eliminate
illnesses
and
virus
and
to
manage
those
in
child
care.
E
Each
topic
in
that
child
care
strong
kit
was
developed
to
protect
people
in
the
child
care
facility
to
minimize
the
spread
of
cobin
19.,
the
cchc
we
have
been
reviewing
and
assisting
in
the
implementation
of
that
child
care.
Strong
toolkit
that
provides
the
requirements
and
the
recommendations
for
children.
E
But
the
toolkit
also
addresses
that
daily
health
screening
for
cobin
19.,
which
we're
all
doing
these
days,
but
that
is
for
staff
and
children
or
for
anyone
entering
the
child
care
facility.
And
at
this
time
it's
recommended
to
only
allow
those
to
enter
the
child
care
facility
who
are
needed
to
maintain
that
child
ratio.
E
If
we
encourage-
and
they
are
required
to
follow
that
toolkit.
If
that
is
a
lack
in
some
of
that,
then
that
is
licensed
by
the
division
of
child
development
and
early
education,
and
there
is
a
possibility
that,
if
they're
not
following
that,
they
may
lose
or
it
may
impact
their
funding.
But
each
of
us
on
the
panel
today
we
work
together
we're
collaborating
in
order
to
give
them
our
best
so
that
they
don't
have
to
suffer
any
of
those
consequences.
B
B
Can
you
just
give
us
top
line
for
some
of
those
folks
who
may
not
necessarily
be
leaving
home
every
day?
What
does
that
initial
assessment
that
daily
overview?
So
what
what?
What
are
some
of
those
things?
Is
it
temperature?
Is
it
the
symptoms?
So
can
you
just
give
us
top
line?
You
know
a
couple
of
examples
of
what
that
you
know
day-to-day
well
check
for
students
and
then
also
for
your
instructors.
What
does
that
look
like.
E
B
A
Exactly
thank
you
again
for
having
me,
I'm
so
happy
to
be
here
and
a
group
of
like-minded
individuals
who
acknowledge
the
the
importance
of
early
education,
and
I
think
one
thing
that
this
pandemic
has
done.
It's
really
shown
us
how
important
early
education
is
not
only
to
students
but
to
the
greater
community
and
into
the
workforce.
A
A
Education
has
done
a
great
job
of
really
expanding
resources
to
early
education,
centers,
expanding
resources
to
school-age
facilities,
offering
grants,
and
things
like
that
to
help
this
issue,
because
we
want
our
students
to
be
safe.
One
thing
that
we
kind
of
talk
about
in
the
school
age
field
with
after-school
care
is
risky.
Behavior
things
like
teenage
pregnancy,
things
like
drug
use,
things
like
alcohol
use
that
increases
when
students
don't
have
access
to
proper
after-school
programs.
A
You
know,
and
so
if
I
can
encourage
anybody
legislatively
wise,
really
advocate
for
these,
because
these
programs,
because
it
really
provides
a
space
for
students
to
grow,
it
closes
the
inequality
gap
that
we
see
statewide
and
it
really.
It
fosters
success
for
these
students,
and
on
top
of
that,
it
really
helps
our
parents
in
our
workforce.
You
know
a
lot
of
jobs
extend
past
three
o'clock
when
school
ends.
You
know
from
three
to
six.
A
D
B
Policy
level-
and
you
know
thinking
a
little
bit-
you
know
further
out
of
just
the
classroom
or
the
child
care
center,
and
you
know
I
think
I
I
would
ask
because
you're
thinking
big,
can
you
tell
us
a
little
bit
about
the
numbers
so
you're
talking
about
the
impacts
or
the
outcomes?
In
terms
of
that
this
service
is
laying
a
foundation.
Can
you
tell
us
a
little
bit
more
about
the
numbers
that
you
see
and
connecting
it
to
this
early
childhood
education
resource,
big.
A
Time
I
mean
when
we
think
of
the
before
the
covid
pandemic
happened.
We
had
over
3
000
sites,
statewide
that
were
providing
licensed,
school-aged
care
for
students,
age
six
to
twelve
five
to
twelve.
If
you
include
kindergarten-
and
we
saw
a
rapid
reduction
of
that,
the
national
after-school
association
is,
is
crunching,
some
numbers
federally
and
and
they're,
showing
up
to
a
40
decrease
in
the
number
of
facilities
that
provided
after
school
care,
and
that's
because
of
funding.
You
know
federal
funding
that
that
was
not
able
to
trickle
down
to
to
support
these.
A
The
continuation
of
these
programs.
We
also
saw
in
in
the
state
of
north
carolina
a
large
majority
of
after-school
and
summer
camps.
Services
are
provided
by
the
school
systems.
So
when
these
school
system
buildings
close
these
students,
don't
get
the
services
that
they
need.
You
know
so
we
saw
close
to
eighty
percent
of
schools
during
the
during
the
peak
of
the
covet
crisis.
Probably
around
may
close
their
services
for
these
students
and
that
left
a
tremendous
hole
in
summer
camp
education
extension.
A
You
know
we,
we
talk
a
lot
about
the
summer
slide
and
a
lot
about
how
students,
during
the
summer
time,
regress
academically
and
school
age
programs
help
to
bridge
that
gap.
Well,
with
the
school-age
system
or
school-age
programs
not
being
able
to
function,
I
think
we're
going
to
see
academic
regression.
That's
going
to
last
years
down
the
road
you
know
just
because
of
one
summer,
that's
missed
same
thing
with
virtual
learning.
A
B
Well,
you
remind
us
of
some,
you
know
very
clear
and
candid
truths.
I
thank
you,
john
for
sharing.
All
of
that.
I
think
that
I'm
certain
that,
with
a
collective
approach,
that
these
major
challenges
that
we
face
can
be
addressed
and
that
we
together
can
get
all
of
our
students
and
scholars
back
on
the
path
to
the
healthy
education
story,
and
so
with
that
in
terms
of
unsung
heroes
and
those
that
are
filling
in
some
of
these
gaps.
I'd
like
to
welcome
spencer,
reverend
spencer,
hardway
part
of
me
pastor.
G
G
One
of
the
things
I
think
we've
hopefully
learned
here
is
that
education
should
be
given
to
everyone,
but
also
as
a
community
fans
that
understand
and
realize
we
cannot
outsource
or
contract
the
education
of
our
children.
Somebody
else
there
is
a
responsibility
that
parents
have
to
say.
I
need
to
teach
my
child.
I
need
to
be
involved
in
the
education
of
my
children
so
that
I'm
on
top
of
what's
going
on
in
their
lives,
so
that
again
and
make
sure
that
they're
doing
their
part
of
it.
G
Then
the
system
has
to
be
accountable
to
saying:
hey,
we're
trying
to
reach
everybody
just
as
they're
making
efforts
to
reach
every
child.
Now,
since
we're
going
virtual,
they
should
use
that
same
kind
of
determination
and
effort
to
say
once
we
go
back
to
some
kind
of
normal
or
whatever
that's
going
to
look
like
that,
we're
going
to
use
that
same
kind
of
passion
and
determination
to
make
sure
that
every
cow
has
an
opportunity
to
receive
education.
G
So
again
our
applause,
the
county,
applaud
everyone
here
was
involved,
and
hopefully
we
learned
some
of
those
things
that
again
we
can't
outsource
education,
our
children.
We
can't
contract
it
out
that
we
need
everybody
and
those
words
which
says
it
takes
a
village.
Now
we're
seeing
there's
a
lot
of
players,
not
an
involvement
of
people
around
the
community,
that's
going
to
ensure
that
children
have
an
opportunity
for
education.
G
The
2000
days
as
john
was
saying
you
know
we
we
we
look
at
saying.
We
want
to
impact
the
next
two
thousand
day
beyond
with
our
summer
camp.
It's
designed
to
shorten
achievement
gap
by
preventing
summer
learning
loss.
So
we've
been
doing
this
since
2012
and
again
our
camp
is
unique
because
it
blends
education
and
recreation
into
daily
activities,
so
they'll
go
through
reading.
G
They'll
go
through
math,
because
the
stats
say
that
kids,
children's
students
lose
two
grade
levels
of
reading
and
math
during
the
summer,
and
so
we
focus
on
those
and
reading
incorporates
comprehension,
incorporates
spelling
and
so
incorporates
a
lot
of
other
things
so
again.
Reading
math
personal
development
we're
trying
to
help
them,
develop
good
self-esteem,
good
images
of
themselves,
arts
and
crafts
and
enjoyment,
piece
and
recreation.
At
the
same
time,
thursdays
would
be
our
occasional
field.
Trips,
they've
gone
to
wls
they've
gone
to
unca
at
one
time.
G
In
the
years
previous
they've
actually
went
out
to
unca
and
our
middle
school
kids
actually
built
a
hoverboard
out
of
plywood
canvas
and
a
vacuum
and
a
vacuum
cleaner
and
it
really
worked.
So
those
are
some
things
that
we
offer
program
which
we've
done
in
the
last
about
the
last
three
years.
We
realized
that
we
wanted
to
extend
not
just
for
the
summer,
but
we
also
wanted
to
provide
something
for
families
in
the
school
you
do
in
your
school
year.
G
So
we
shifted
some
of
our
resources
to
do
the
to
do
the
after
school
program
and
it's
set
up.
So
it's
not
just
remedial
help,
but
not
all
kids
need
remedial
so
there's
some
enrichment
opportunities.
We
follow
a
stem
program
where
there's
stem
projects
that
they're
that
they're
involved
in
we
do
the
tutoring.
We
do
the
mentoring.
G
We
try
to
make
sure
that
that
they
have
good,
sound,
start
academically
and
we're
we're
trying
to
ensure
that
when
they
hit
start
this
year
that
next
year,
they'll
be
they'll
be
further
ahead
than
they
were
when
they
started
this
year
and
then
with
the
with
the
virtual
with
the
pandemic.
Again,
we
had
to
do
another
pivot
and
shift.
So
we
shifted
saying
we
want
a
virtual
learning
academy.
G
It
was
an
easy
move,
an
easy
transition
for
us
because
we're
doing
the
after
school
program
and
so
working
with
the
county,
the
county,
bum
county
board
of
education,
saying:
okay,
we
know
that
there's
parents
out
there
who
cannot
be
at
home
they've,
got
to
work,
whether
they're
low
in
feds
or
middle-income
families
that
have
to
work
on
a
place
where
they're
safe
and
get
some
quality,
mentoring
or
monitoring
and
then
also
low-income
families.
So
what
we
do?
G
G
We've
had
to
make
adjustments
through
the
kovic
we
had
to
follow
cdc
guidelines.
We
can't
have,
as
many
couldn't
have
as
many
students
for
the
day
camp
as
we
did
last
year.
Normally
we
would
have
a
hundred,
so
we
had
to
cut
down
to
25
once
we
got
that
notice
that
we
could
do
that,
we
have
to
have
the
daily.
This
building
has
to
be
disinfected
on
a
daily
basis.
There
has
to
be
the
screening.
We
do.
G
The
five
question
screening
hand
washing
mask
wearing
and
and
it's
a
challenge,
getting
five-year-olds
seven-year-olds
eight-year-olds
to
remember,
put
your
mask
on
put
your
mask
on.
I
lost
my
man.
Look,
here's
another
mass,
and
so
those
are
some
of
the
challenges,
but
but
at
the
same
time
it's
when
people
say
there's
some
things
that
they
can't
do
for
whatever
reason:
they're
they
move.
G
We
found
that
other
people
in
the
community
it
spurred
them
into
some
activity,
they
said.
Well,
what
can
we
do?
And
so
we've
got
volunteers
that
we've
got
to
send
to
background
tracks.
We've
got
to
make
sure
that
they've
got
tested
negative
on
the
covet
19..
So
we
try
to
get
you
make
use
of
them.
If
you
can
come
one
day
or
one
hour,
that's
fine!
Just
as
long
as
we
take
all
those
cdc
precautions
to
make
sure
our
kids
safe
and
our
staff
is
safe.
G
B
That's
like
that
is
such
a
an
amazing
and
dynamic
program
that
you're
offering
reverend
I'm
so
happy
to
hear
that
you
all
are
doing
it
so
much
I
well.
You
know,
I
think
that
it's
important
for
the
community
to
hear
about
a
small
local
program.
That's
also
serving
our
you
know,
students
of
color
and
as
we
are
thinking
about
the
ways
in
which
our
communities
populations
are
uniquely
impacted.
B
I
commend
you
for
giving
lyft
in
introducing
your
students
to
science,
technology
engineering
and
math
or
stem
as
you
did
mention,
and
then
also
another.
You
know
takeaway
that
I
heard
from
you
is
that
you
are
also
supporting
and
reminding
us
all
of
providing
a
social,
emotional
and
learning
component
to
all
of
this.
So
thank
you
so
much
one
final
question:
before
we
move
on
and
hear
from
susan
creed
with
our
communicable
disease
nurse
team.
B
G
Well,
yeah
we're
we're
coming
from
five
to
kindergarten
to
eighth
grade
they're
resilient.
Again,
it's
a
challenge
to
keep
the
mask.
You
know
it's
just
reminding
them
because
they're
really,
you
know
it
kind
of
hinders
them
from
talking
and
speaking
they've
got
to
work
on
their
pronunciation.
So
that
hinders
that.
But
we're
working
through
that.
If
that's,
if
I
understand
that's
the
question
but
again,
they're
resilient,
you
know
they're
cooperative,
but
they'll
get
ass.
You
gotta
have
one
form
the
mass
will
come
down.
G
G
G
B
So
we'll
so
happy
to
hear
that
even
in
kova
that
we
can
still
find
a
way
to
make
some
memories
and
really
be
able
to
celebrate
some
of
those
key
milestones
like
a
100,
you
know
a
plus
grade,
and
so
in
thinking
of
a
plus.
I
would
love
to
now
invite
susan
creed
and
she
is
with
the
buncombe
county
communicable
disease
nurse
for
all
those
who
may
not
be
aware.
Our
buncombe
county
communicable
disease
nurses
have
been
at
the
helm
of
this
covid
response.
F
Hi,
thank
you
so
much.
That's
very
nice,
though.
First
I
would
like
to
bow
to
all
of
you
guys,
because
the
continuing
education
of
our
youth
is
the
basis
of
all
of
our
future,
and
so
I
understand
all
these
challenges
and
can't
imagine
the
detailing
that
has
to
go
in
on
a
day
in
and
day
out
basis.
So
I
applaud
you
all.
Thank
you
very
much.
F
F
F
Beyond
our
wildest
dreams
of
how
we
have
to
pull
things
together,
but
we,
you
know,
have
a
system
that
we've
worked
with
for
years.
It's
typically
a
10-step
approach.
The
highlights
would
be
you
know,
focus
on
identifying
your
source
and
then
to
develop
a
strategy
to
mitigate
that
spread
of
infection.
F
F
F
Our
five-year-olds
find
that
a
challenge,
but
also
we
can
kind
of
maybe
play
with
the
superhero
thing
with
those
guys
you
know,
and
so
each
age
group
has
a
its
own
unique
set
of
challenges,
and,
thank
goodness,
we
have
you
guys
as
experts
with
growth
and
development
and
all
of
that
I'll
have
to
echo
strongly
what
chrissy
said
is
about
hand.
Hygiene,
the
single
most
effective
way
of
preventing
disease
is
washing
your
hands
sing
in
the
alphabet.
It's
a
20-second,
take
down,
you
know,
wash
your
hands
sing.
F
It
is,
and
it
always
has
been
yeah
it
always
has
been,
and
so
we
we,
we
kind
of
forget
how
simple
some
things
are.
You
know
washing
your
hands
is
the
oldest
remedy
that
we
have,
but
this
new
distancing
and
mask
wearing
it's
tricky.
I
mean
it's
fatiguing,
you
know
I
feel
suffocated
after
a
while
from
wearing
a
mask
for
a
long
time.
You
know
I
have
a
history
of
asthma,
and
so
I
can
imagine
how
little
children
are.
F
You
know
they're,
so
excited
and
they're
they'll
talk
until
they
run
out
of
breath.
Sometimes
you
know-
and
I
can't
imagine
doing
that
you
know
like
with
the
mask
day
in
and
day
out,
but
it's
so
important,
and
it's
so
important
too,
that
I
think
we
make
children
a
part
of
it
and
just
not
dictate
to
them.
Let
them
know
that
they
are
part
of
this
solution
that
them
wearing
that
mask
and
then
washing
their
hands
and
them
reminding
people
and
six
feet.
B
And
so
at
this
point
I
would
say
I'd
like
to
open
up
the
floor
and
just
ask
you
know
everyone,
some
questions
and
the
first
one
that
I'd
like
to
put
out
there
and
jenny.
You
actually
may
be
able
to
start
us
off
with
a
response
in
terms
of
you
know
that
what
are
we
seeing
in
terms
of
our
students
capacity,
and
can
you
reflect
a
little
bit
on
how
our
educators,
as
you
may
be
aware,
with
the
buncombe
count
with
the
bunker
partnership
for
children's
centers
or
through
verner?
D
You
know
I've
seen
some
really
great,
like
playfulness
around
mask
wearing
and
some
really
great.
Well,
just
even
I'll
talk
about
my
own
two-year-old,
so
my
my
two-year-old
was
in
full-time
child
care
and
we
didn't,
she
did,
did
not
go
back
after
her
center
opened
up
and
I've
been
really
you
know
to
like
most
parents
right
really
stressed
about
like
how.
How
is
this
impacting
her
and
how
is
she?
D
You
know
like
all
of
these
things
and
she
sees
masks
all
the
time,
and
you
know
she
can't
hug
her
grandma,
like
all
these
things
right
that
we're
all
thinking
about.
She
misses
her
teachers
and
and
then,
a
couple
weeks
ago,
she
brought
me
she's
got
a
tiny
mask,
it's
so
cute
and
she
brought
me
her
mask
and
she
said,
like
aunt,
sarah.
D
And-
and
I
went
she's
not
seen
her
aunt
without
a
mask
for
six
months
and
she
and
it
wasn't
stressful
to
her-
it
wasn't
a
big
deal.
She
just
wanted
to
be
like
the
adults
that
she
loved
and
she
wanted
to
put
on
that
mask
right,
like
my
thing
is,
I
think
kids
are
less
stressed
about
it
than
we
think
they
are
and-
and
if
we
just
are
kind
of
this
is
just
what
we're
all
doing
to
keep
each
other
safe.
D
You
know
like
most
preschool
classrooms
have
maybe
two
or
three
rules,
and
one
of
them
is
always.
We
keep
everybody
safe,
and
I
think
that
for
kids
for
especially
preschool
kids
and
younger
elementary,
it
is
really
easy
for
them
to
slot
that
in
to
the
rest
of
what
preschool
is
about
right.
It's
about
keeping
each
other
safe,
it's
about
keeping
each
other
healthy,
and
I
just
I
think
it's
less
stressful
than
we
think
it
is.
D
It's
just
kind
of
what
we
do
right
and
teachers
are
resilient
and
children
are
resilient,
and
I
think
that
as
frustrating
as
the
length
of
the
pandemic
has
been
for
everyone-
and
I
think
the
initial
rules
and
the
changing
of
the
rules
a
lot
especially
early
on.
I
think
that
most
programs
have
fallen
into
well.
It's
really
hard-
and
I
hate
to
say
the
phrase,
but
a
new
normal
right.
A
new
normal
looks
like
each
kid
has
their
bag
of
masks
and
the
teachers
have
them,
and
we
just
we
just
roll
with
it.
B
C
I
think
one
of
the
good
things
that's
come
from
this.
Is
it's
bringing
us
together
as
a
community.
You
know,
in
spite
of
what
we
hear
from
some
politicians,
it's
not
the
fact
that
we
see
things
coming
together,
a
lot
quicker
than
you
think,
and
especially
when
it
comes
to
early
childhood.
You
know
this
is
exceeding
the
commissioner's
expectations.
I
can
speak
for
all
of
us
when
I
say
that,
because
we've
come
together
so
much
quicker
than
we
thought
we
would
and
part
of
that,
I
think,
is
a
pandemic.
G
Yeah
I
was
going
to
and
concur
with
both
john
and
and
county
commissioner
and
whiteside
that
just
the
community
involvement
with
churches,
we've
got
individuals
and
businesses
who
have
began
to
come
together
and
say
well,
what
can
we
do
and
just
the
general
concern
saying
we
need
to
be
concerned
about
the
education
of
our
children
from
the
from
the
from
the
least
to
the
from
the
highest
to
the
lowest
and
all
that's
in
between
so
just
is
generated
some
thoughts
and
ideas.
How
can
we
be
creative?
G
How
can
we
do
some
things
differently
and
how
can
we
ensure
that
everybody
all
of
our
youth,
all
of
our
students,
all
our
kids,
have
an
equal
opportunity
for
education.
So
again
it
pulls
people
together.
People
put
some
differences
aside
and
say:
let's,
let's
sit
down
talk
about
how
we
can
make
it
happen.
B
B
Well,
thank
you,
and
I
would
say
for
chrissy
and
susan,
you
both
mentioned
some
positives,
including
parents,
being
more
attentive
to
some
of
those.
You
know
micro,
symptoms
that
you
know
on
a
daily
basis
to
hand
washing
what
else
in
terms
of
a
positive
have
either
of
you
seen
since
covid,
whether
it's
in
health,
behaviors
awareness.
F
I
feel
like
there's
just
been
this
flood
of
creativity.
You
know
from
the
awareness
being
stuck
at
home.
You
know
you
get
your
chores
done,
then
what
you
know
so,
then
you
have
these
opportunities
to
talk
about
the
bird
in
the
window
or
this
opportunity
to
go
outside
and
do
chalk
art
on
the
street.
I've
seen
phenomenal
art
around
the
neighborhood.
Just
when
I'm
out
walking
my
dog
and
it's
not
by
the
adults,
it's
every.
You
know
it's
it's
everything.
F
You
know
right
down
to
the
political
things
with
racism
and
all
that
kind
of
stuff.
It's
you
know,
but
it's
the
children
out
there
who
are
participating
in
expressing
themselves,
and
I
think
that
that
comes
from
spending
more
time
with
your
parents.
You
know
we
don't
we
spend
eight
hours
a
day
away
and
now
we're
in
a
sense,
forced
to
be
creative,
become
more
aware
and
share
those
moments
of
conversation
and
stuff.
You
know
they're
so
important.
They
really
make
the
world
go
round.
F
B
E
I
just
want
to
say
how
proud
I
am
of
our
early
educators
in
child
care
programs.
They've
been
resilient,
they've
been
flexible
and
adapting
to
these
changing
times.
They've
proven
you
know
that
they
can
do
this
and
they're
providing
the
service,
and
the
cchc
program
is
proud
to
be
able
to
support
them.
They've
called
us
for
many
different
reasons.
Some
of
it
was
to
answer
questions,
and
some
of
it
was
that
they
just
needed
someone
to
talk
to
to
say
you're
doing
this
and
you're
doing
it.
E
Well,
so
please
continue
for
our
families
and
our
children
in
the
community,
but
yes
they're
always,
you
know,
welcome
to
call,
because
all
of
us
are
out
there
to
support
them
to
make
sure
that
they're
able
to
provide
services
to
our
family.
So
I
just
thank
our
child
care
providers
and
our
child
care
community
to
make
all
of
this
continue
for
the
best
of
our
children.
E
F
F
The
vaccine
may
come
out
soon
and
and
be
helpful
as
well,
but
this
isn't
forever
we're
learning
right
now
and
we
will
never
forget
what
we
learn,
but
we
have
to
be
gentle
and
persistent
with
each
other
and
that
social
distancing
that
six
feet
is
crucial
that
hand.
Hygiene
is
crucial.
That
mask
is
crucial.
G
I
would
say
that
where
what
we
see
is
that
we're
stronger
together,
we
can
make
america
stronger
together
and
that's
what
it's
going
to
take.
It
takes
collective
effort
from
all
of
us
to
ensure
that
we
do
the
right
thing
for
everyone
and
that
our
education,
our
children,
which
will
which
is
our
link
to
the
future
and
they
will
help
shape
tomorrow,
but
we
have
to
begin
to
shape
them
today,
as
we
are
looking
for
them
to
shape
tomorrow.
B
A
One
thing
is:
I
want
to
highlight
the
importance
of
licensed
child
care,
high
quality
licensed
child
care
in
north
carolina,
especially
in
buckingham
county
and
in
western
north
carolina.
If
you're
looking
for
good
licensed
child
care,
I
advise
you
to
go
to
mountain
child
care
connections
and
they
can
connect
you
to
a
statewide
database
of
all
facilities
that
are
licensed
by
the
division
of
child
development
and
early
education.
E
Prevention
and
control-
and
please
call
the
cchc
program
at
mayheck,
so
that
we
can
help
you
implement
that
in
your
programs,
according
to
that
childcare
toolkit,
and
I
have
taught
a
lot
of
hand
washing-
and
I
have
now
joked
jokingly,
said
to
a
lot
of
our
providers
that
I
don't
know
if
I'll
ever
have
to
teach
hand
washing
again
everyone's,
they
seem
to
get
it.
They
know
that
it's
got
to
be
20
seconds
and
to
use
soap
and
water
and
turn
that
water
off
with
a
paper
towel.
E
B
D
For
your
neighbors
right
like
ask
right
the
health
department,
you
can
call
chrissy,
you
can
call
us,
you
can
talk
to
john
and
we
are
answering
all
sorts
of
questions
that
I
think
people
feel
like
are
really
bizarre
and
I
might
have
the
same.
I
might
have
six
people
call
me
and
say:
I've
got
the
weirdest
question
and
I
I'm
like.
I
guarantee
you,
you
don't
right
so
just
ask
and
we
will.
There
are
people
who
help
you
figure
it
out,
whatever,
whatever
it
is,
but
there's
a
there's
a
lot
of.
C
We
have
everybody
working
together
in
the
community
from
the
chamber
of
commerce
which
I've
never
seen
before
an
initiative
like
this
to
the
school
systems
and
everybody
in
between
and
the
pound.
Today
I
would
like
to
thank
all
of
you
and
all
of
the
people
who
are
working
to
help
make
this
a
success
as
a
matter
of
fact,
you're
causing
a
big
problem
for
us,
because
we've
got
to
figure
out
how
to
put
more
funds
into
it.
That's
gonna
be
a
challenge
going
forward
because
we
knew
starting
off.
C
It
was
not
enough,
but
now
we're
finding
out
as
we
get
it
going.
We
didn't
know
how
low
it
actually
is.
Even
though
3.6
million
is
a
lot
of
money,
but
let's
keep
up
the
good
work
and
working
together,
that's
the
key
as
a
community,
because
that's
the
only
way
we're
gonna
solve
this
problem
and
thank
all
of
you
for
what
you
do
and
any
help
we
can
give
you
from
the
commission.
Please
don't
hesitate
to
call,
and
of
course
you
don't
do
that.
B
The
archive
of
the
recording
of
this
is
will
be
available
on
buncombe
county's
facebook
page,
as
well
as
our
youtube
channel
and
you'll
be
able
to
access
both
the
english
as
well
as
the
spanish,
as
was
provided
with
simultaneous
interpretation
today
by
cinzotlag
language
justice
cooperative.
I
think
all
of
our
panelists-
and
I
thank
all
of
today's
viewers
who
joined
us
in
this
community
conversation
and
we
invite
you
to
continue
tuning
in
follow
the
three
w's
and
until
next
time
be
well
and
stuff
and
stay
safe.
Thank.