Board

Allen Creek Board Of Directors
Allen Creek Preschool has an active volunteer board that sets policies and oversees the carrying out of the school’s mission and its role in the community. The Board recruits members from our alumni parent body, the community and interested professionals. (Who We Are: Staff & Board Biographies) The Allen Creek Board meets every other month on the 2nd Monday, and members of the school community are welcome to attend, except when the Board is meeting in executive session. The Board’s Executive Committee, consisting of the President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary, meets in the alternate months. An Allen Creek Parent Council member serves as parent liaison to the Board of Directors.

The Board appoints various committees to conduct the business of the school.

Allen Creek Board Committees
Executive Committee
Members: Board President, Board Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Executive Director as ex officio
Meeting Times: Second Monday evening of alternate months, 7:30 pm.
The purpose of the Executive Committee (comprised exclusively of board members, typically the officers of the board and committee chairs—sometimes one and the same—and the executive director, ex officio) is to…

  • Operate in the place of the Board of Directors during those times when the board does not or cannot meet, reporting to the full board any actions taken.
  • Assist the Executive Director of the school as sounding board and council.
  • Set the policy, agenda, coordinating committee agendas and the agenda for the full board.
  • Develop the means for evaluation of and goal-setting for the Executive Director of the school.
  • Oversee a strategic planning process.
  • Oversee the work of the board secretary in the compilation and approval of board and committee minutes, the maintaining of the by-laws, the advance notice of meetings, and the updating of the Board Policy Book.
  • Review and recommend the Executive Director’s compensation and benefit package to the board, as well as review the compensation recommendations for the major administrators of the school.
  • Plan social occasions and events to show support to the school’s faculty and staff.
  • Form Ad Hoc Committees on an as-needed basis.

Development Committee
Meeting Time: Thursdays, 1 to 2:30, monthly
Membership: Board, staff, parents, community
The purpose of the Development Committee is to…

  • Set annual goals for fundraising, orchestrate the Board directors’ leadership and participation in the fund-raising program, and oversee all fund-raising activities by the school (including coordinating fund-raising by the Parent Council).
  • Develop, coordinate, monitor, and establish leadership for the periodic capital campaigns of the school.
  • Plan and coordinate the ongoing planned giving programs of the school.
  • Assure stewardship to facilitate continuing cultivation of the friends and patrons of the school among alumni parents, past donors, and community friends.
  • Ensure that accurate and secure giving records are maintained by the development office of the school and that appropriate acknowledgment and recognition for gifts are offered.

Marketing Committee
Meeting Time: Monthly
Membership: Board, Staff, Parents, Community
The Allen Creek Marketing Committee was created to…

  • Help promote the program’s mission in the community with all its stakeholders.
  • The main responsibility is to create a positive and understandable image of Allen Creek Preschool.
  • The committee’s goal is to increase Allen Creek’s visibility and to communicate the program’s mission, philosophy, and approaches to families, professionals, and potential donors and foundations.
  • A primary focus is to assure full enrollment.
  • Develop a creative and cost effective marketing plan and calendar.
  • Develop and disseminate material and publicity packets that describe Allen Creek’s mission, goals, and objectives for children and families.
  • Develop efficient family recruitment processes.
  • Cultivate collaborations with other Early Childhood Development groups and programs, such as direct service providers, higher education faculty, early childhood training organizations, public policy organizations, and advocates.
  • Develop opportunities for Allen Creek’s visibility within the community, include media opportunities.
  • Promote special events such as teacher and parent workshops, fundraising events, and Open Houses.
  • Develop monthly progress report for Board of Directors and implement Board approved action items.
  • Evaluate plan and actions annually.

Governance Committee
Members: Board, Staff, Parents
Meeting Times: As needed
The purpose of the Governance Committee is to…

  • Review the distribution and expertise needs of the board in anticipation of future vacancies and work to enhance the diversity of the board.
  • Solicit nominations for anticipated vacancies, share with potential nominees expectations (financial and otherwise) of trustees, and maintain a file of potential board members.
  • Prepare an annual slate of new officers and directors for approval and election by the board.
  • Evaluate annually the effectiveness of the board, board chair, and individual trustees.
  • Plan board retreats/board education activities to develop the board and clarify its functions.
  • Assist in the orientation of new directors and officers, conveying to them expectations of the office they may be asked to fill and determining availability of candidates for service if elected.
  • Select the top executive (the Executive Director) and assess his or her performance, review and authorize plans and commitments, ensure compliance with legal and contract requirements, and evaluate the organization’s work.

Finance Committee Board Treasurer as Chair
Members: Board, staff, parents, community
Meeting Times: 3rd Friday of alternate months, 1:30pm.
The charge of the Finance Committee is to ensure the school’s financial viability by overseeing Allen Creek’s bookkeeping and accounting practices, engaging for an annual or semi-annual audit, ensuring tax compliance and reporting, developing budgets, and contributing to long-range financial planning.

Research Committee Psychologist as Chair
Members: Psychologists from staff and outside
Human Subjects Board (IRB): Linda Brakel, John Hartman, and Alan Krohn
Meeting Time: As needed.
The purpose of the Allen Creek Preschool Research Committee is to conduct regular program evaluation research, and such approved studies as will enhance our approach to and knowledge of child and parent development, to the benefit of our families, those affected by our outreach work, and to satisfy requirements of grantors and donors for outcome data. Thus all research at Allen Creek should be service and program driven. Research should not interfere with regular class routines or family consultant work, nor should it put an undue burden on parents, teachers, or family consultants. We do not make our student population available as subjects for studies conducted by others outside Allen Creek, or on topics unrelated to our programs and services.

All research at Allen Creek should meet accepted standards of scientific work in similar settings. New proposals should meet the requirements of our Research Advisory Board for human subjects review. Strict ethical guidelines regarding protection of confidentiality and use of data should be spelled out and monitored regularly.
Members of the Research Committee are psychoanalysts and psychologists with expertise and interest in child and parent development, and experience with research methodology, including strict protection of confidentiality and limits on the uses and dissemination of data and results. A small committee of outside experts, colleagues at the University of Michigan, serves as a human subjects review body. Any new proposals are submitted to the Allen Creek Preschool Board for final approval. All presentations at conferences or scientific meetings relating to Allen Creek Preschool programs are checked by the Child Development Director for adherence to our standards.

Dining For Kids
Members: Board, Staff, Parents
Meeting Time: As needed, primarily in the spring prior to event.
The Dining for Kids Dinner and Silent Auction (D4K) committee plans and runs our premier annual fund-raising event. D4K takes place on the Thursday evening directly following Memorial Day. The Chair welcomes all interested parents to this committee!

Miller Expansion Committee
Members: Board, Staff, Parents, architects/builders from community
Meeting Times: As needed.
The Miller Expansion Committee, formed in summer ’06, is an ad hoc committee investigating the possibility of expanding our Miller school building to accommodate more students and programs. We have met with builders and architects, have two “working models” of a potential expanded building. This committee also has worked on the possibility of acquiring adjacent property to Allen Creek and has started a dialogue with the Ann Arbor Parks dept. regarding improving the corner park parcel next to Allen Creek for school and neighborhood use.