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Lincoln day care center to remain open despite money problems
By Kevin Barlow
kbarlow@pantagraph.com
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LINCOLN -- Financial problems at Christian Child Care have not gone away, but the Lincoln facility has decided to remain open after all as it looks for ways to pay off thousands of dollars of debt and taxes.

The center, 721 Wyatt Ave., elected a new board of directors last week. The first order of business was to reverse a decision made by the previous board to close its doors if it could not raise $250,000 by March 31.

Most of the back taxes and bills still have to be paid, but the new center director, Cheryl Tatum, said volunteers will continue to be out in force working to raise money. She said she hopes a new direction will provide enough confidence for donors to contribute to the effort.

The board will meet April 25 to re-evaluate the center’s financial status.

“We’re really just walking a tightrope,” Tatum said. “Everyone is working so hard, yet we are so far away from getting to where we need to be and we can’t take a break or slow down. We are paying as many bills as we can as funds come in.”

Even students are helping with the fundraising efforts by making posters and art.

“It’s a day-by-day thing, but we have to always remain positive and believe that we are going to keep this going,” Tatum said. “We have to prioritize and continue to take care of things one item at a time, but never forget that the children we care for are the reason we are working so hard.”

Jennnifer DiPasquale was the only member of the former board not to resign. She will retain her position as board president. New to the board are George “Bill” Martin, Jr. and Jason Carter. Several other candidates are in the process of applying for seats.

The center is a nondenominational ministry with 71 children enrolled. It faces substantial debts after what officials call a series of unwise management decisions.

The center told parents and others March 13 the center owed more than $75,000 for federal payroll taxes that went unpaid from fall 2006 until fall 2007. Another approximate $100,000 was owed for supplies, food, equipment and rent.

Since then, the staff was cut from 37 down to 16.

The IRS continues to monitor the efforts of the center, but it has allowed it to stay open in an effort to pay past bills.

Among those that have offered assistance is Nancy Cunningham, the director of the Community Child Care Connection, an agency funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services and part of the Illinois Network of Childcare Resource and Referral Agency, Tatum said.

The board is expected to meet with Cunningham to discuss options. She has been at the center on several occasions to assist with the effort.

“This is something that is unfortunately, too common, particularly when you have a center like this which helps so many families in low-income situations,” Cunningham said.

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