Without the Burden of Legacy Debt, Doorway to Learning can Serve Families in New Ways

At Doorway to Learning, we have a simple vision: to ensure that every child in Door County has access to quality early childhood education, and every working family has the support they need to thrive. But legacy debt from the two former child care centers that merged to become Doorway to Learning continues to stand in the way of that vision.

Inheriting more than $4.25 million in combined debt from the former Door Community Child Development Center (DOCO) and Children First Development Center has forced us to make difficult — but necessary — choices to keep the doors open. Chief among them was increasing our tuition rates. While this decision helped stabilize our finances, we made it with heavy hearts, knowing that higher costs can make child care less accessible for the very working families we were created to serve.

That’s why this capital campaign is about more than just eliminating a financial burden — it’s about restoring our ability to serve all families, not just those who can afford a full-pay rate.

With your support, we can pay down the debt and pivot toward a more inclusive and responsive future. We envision the expansion of a scholarship program, making care more affordable based on a family’s income. Rather than being locked into a one-size-fits-all model, we’ll have the flexibility to meet families where they are — whether they’re small business owners, hospitality workers, teachers, or health care aides.

And affordability is only part of the picture.

Today, Doorway to Learning operates on a traditional weekday schedule: Monday through Friday, 5:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For many families, that works. But in Door County — a community fueled by tourism and seasonal employment — that schedule often falls short.

Restaurants open early and close late. Hotels and shops are busiest on weekends. For six months out of the year, Door County’s economy runs seven days a week, well beyond the bounds of a 9-to-5 world. And yet, families working those hours are left without adequate child care options.

By paying down our legacy debt, we can begin exploring extended and non-traditional hours — offering care early in the morning, into the evenings, and on weekends during the peak season. It’s a practical, forward-thinking response to the realities of our local workforce. And it’s precisely what families need to stay employed, stable, and rooted in our community.

Every dollar given to this campaign helps lift the weight of the past so that we can plan for the future. A future where care is affordable. Where hours are flexible. Where no family has to choose between keeping their job and caring for their child.

We’ve built a strong foundation. Now, with your help, we can build a system that truly works for Door County’s families – year-round, every day of the week.

Help us open that door. Together, let’s make child care more accessible, more affordable, and more responsive to the community we call home.