Pittsburgh to offer child care to city employees when Pittsburgh Public Schools cancels

The city of Pittsburgh will offer child care to city employees when Pittsburgh Public Schools cancels classes unexpectedly and to city residents who are participating in certain public meetings.

Child care will be available to members of the public who participate in meetings hosted by the mayor’s office, including budget meetings. It was not clear whether the measure could also extend to include meetings hosted by City Council.

Care also will be offered for any days Pittsburgh Public Schools cancel school unexpectedly, but it will not include planned days off for holidays or summer break.

City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a contract with Pittsburgh Event Childcare for $45,000. The contract will cover those child care services through 2024.

Paula Kellerman, the city’s director of human resources, said child care for employees will be offered at the City-County Building. Employees who work elsewhere will be able to drop their kids off at the City-County Building and pick them up after work, she said.

Child care will be offered on site during applicable community meetings, she said.

Pittsburgh had offered a similar child care service before the covid-19 pandemic, but it hadn’t been reinstated until now.

City Council is expected to vote next week on a measure that would allocate $2 million to the Childcare Quality Fund, which allows child care centers throughout the city to improve their state quality rankings through the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Keystone STARS program.

Council in 2019 authorized $2 million for the initiative, but that initial allocation has been fully committed, according to Jake Pawlak, director of the Office of Management and Budget.

Related:

• Pittsburgh advances plan to provide free child care to city employees in some situations

• Pittsburgh may offer child care service for city employees