(Butler, PA) Butler County Community College trustees have approved for the second time since October a motion that will enable a Butler service provider to operate on the college’s main campus in Butler Township.

Lifesteps, a nonprofit organization with five early care and education locations that hold the highest quality rating from the state Department of Education, will succeed BC3 in operating a preschool on its main campus beginning in August.

Trustees in a special meeting Thursday approved a motion from their finance and executive committees to authorize Lifesteps to lease BC3’s Amy Wise Children’s Creative Learning Center for $10,000 annually and operate its preschool.

“BC3 has been reviewing operations to identify ways to reduce costs and improve efficiency while staying true to its mission of serving students and the community,” said Jake Friel, BC3’s vice president for administration and finance.

“The college decided to pursue an outside agency to operate a preschool program at the Amy Wise Children’s Creative Learning Center as part of a broader effort to ensure BC3’s long-term financial sustainability.”

Trustees in October approved a motion from their finance committee that enabled Vintage Coffeehouse, 209 S. Main St., Butler, to succeed CRH Catering Co., Connellsville, as manager and food service provider at a cafeteria and café on BC3’s main campus.

The agreement between the college and Vintage Coffeehouse took effect Oct. 15. It includes two one-year renewable options after the original contract ends May 31, 2029.

The first of a succession of annual agreements between the college and Lifesteps, 383 New Castle Road, Butler, will take effect July 1 and end June 30, 2027. Lifesteps intends to offer the preschool from late August to early June.

 

Keystone STARS Level 4 rating in 3 counties

“This partnership with Lifesteps reflects BC3’s deep commitment to supporting our students by expanding access to high-quality, affordable early care and education,” said Megan M. Coval, BC3’s president.

“We are pleased that our students and community will benefit from one of the region’s most respected early childhood education providers right here on our main campus.”

Keystone STARS is a quality rating system that promotes improvement in early learning and development programs and in school-aged child care, according to the state Department of Education. Staff education, learning environment, leadership and management, and family and community partnerships represent Keystone STARS standards for assessment.

Level 4 is the highest accreditation rating.

Lifesteps has earned the Level 4 rating in the early care and education programs it operates in schools or other facilities in Armstrong, Beaver and Butler counties. It is licensed for those locations through the state Department of Human Services.

Its preschool at BC3 may be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. It plans to provide before-care beginning at 7:30 a.m. for a maximum of $65 weekly and after-care until 5 p.m. for a maximum of $65 per week.

 

Pre-K Counts program benefits families

Among its 20 daily preschoolers may be 16 enrolled free through Pennsylvania’s Pre-K Counts program, which is available to families earning up to 300 percent of the federal income poverty level, according to the state Department of Education.

Lifesteps’ tuition for self-paying families may be $320 per month per child attending two days a week; $420 a month per child for three days a week and $600 monthly per child for five days a week. Self-paying families can also seek from Lifesteps a Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit program scholarship.

Lifesteps intends to obtain state Department of Human Services licensure to operate a preschool at BC3 and seek a STAR 4 rating from the state Department of Education.

Lifesteps was among three organizations that submitted proposals to a BC3 review committee. The committee met with responding agencies and recommended Lifesteps to the board of trustees’ executive and finance committees.

The college’s request for proposal specified that respondents deliver a safe, nurturing and developmentally appropriate program for children, aligning with state licensing requirements and BC3’s mission of providing affordable, high-quality education. It also stated that respondents provide collaborative learning opportunities for students enrolled in the college’s education programs.

BC3 in August 1973 began and staffed a baby-sitting service on its main campus for children of parents who attended classes. The center has been in its current location since 2018, when it was named the Amy Wise Children’s Creative Learning Center following a $1 million contribution to the BC3 Education Foundation from John L. Wise III and his family.

John L. Wise III is the son of John L. Wise Jr., a BC3 trustee from 1965-66 through 1968-69.