The 2023 Resident Proposal Review Board
Deciding how the Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage funding is spent is no small task. Supported by Kent County taxpayers, it is important residents have a key voice in how the Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage money is allocated. Those important decisions fall to the Resident Proposal Review Board (RPRB) — a diverse group of nine community members from across Kent County. The Resident Proposal Review Board is a neutral entity that reviews proposals from service providers and makes recommendations about which programs and services should be funded.
Four seats on the RPRB are reserved for parents, as they are central to the decision-making process. In April 2023, First Steps Kent put out a call for involved, passionate parents of children aged five and younger from all corners of Kent County. Nearly 40 parents responded, submitting applications in which they explained their background, their children, their experience using early childhood services, and why they would be an excellent addition to the group. The parents who served on last year's RPRB selected the new parents. The three new parents come from different parts of Kent County and represent the community's diversity. We include six parents in total on the RPRB, in case something happens and we need a parent alternate during the process. The six parents to serve this summer include Taniah Ingram, Millie Martinez, Rachelle McKissick-Harris, Tanya Simonis, Cara Sutliffe, and Monique Vasquez.
Other members of the Resident Review Board include:
- Kate Pew Wolters, representing the First Steps Kent Commission;
- Sandra Ghoston-Jones, Management Analyst with the Kent County Administrator's Office;
- John Robinson, Parent, Family & Community Engagement Manager at Head Start for Kent County, representing our Early Childhood Expert;
- and Kent County Commissioners Monica Polk-Sparks and Lindsey Thiel.
Members of the Ready by Five Early Childhood Resident Proposal Review Board will serve terms of up to two years.
