The Daycare Center's Board of Directors

There are many Special Interest Groups that operate within the early childhood program. All these Special Interest Groups, and their needs, eventually end up at the center director's office. The director you see, acts like a traffic cop, and guides a program toward realizing its Mission Statement. It's imperative that the director understands who serves in each special interest group and how these interest groups function and how they interact with other interest groups at the center.

The experienced director has learned to identify these various groups, learned how to interface with all of them, and learned how to interact with all of them. Hopefully the director has developed this skill early in her career because it is usually the Board of Directors who hires, and terminates the director. Developing a strong and positive line of communication with the Board of Directors as well as all other interest groups will help the program runs smoothly.

The Board of Directors is made up of people who generally have been invited to serve on the board for various reasons. The invitation may have come from the daycare center owner, another board member, or the director. Board members bring unique expertise from their professional field and apply it to the child care situation. They come with valued experience and connections. For example, a pediatrician can advise on health care issues at a center, an attorney can advise regarding legal issues, a tax accountant can advise on tax issues, and an educator can advise regarding curriculum. Board members often come with "deep pockets" or money they willingly contribute to the program to make it a success. A well-balanced board will have complementary members so that their decision making process can draw on many disciplines.

This broad base of experience is important for it is usually the board that is legally responsible of ensuring that the center operates within the law and remains financially solvent.

While some board members may receive payment for service, most do not. Members serve on a board as an expression of their civic interest. At child care facilities, most board members have made it in their career. They no longer need child care but they remember when they did need child care. Now they want to improve child care for others. In return for serving on a board, members receive public recognition for their work while having an opportunity to shape a program.

Board members usually have little day-to-day contact with the child care facility, its staff, or its children. Their interests in the program and influence over the program can be long reaching and must be respected. A great and dedicated board can make a strong child care center program.