Ellwood City School Board May Meeting Brief

The following is a brief summary of the Ellwood City Area School Board meeting held on Thursday, May 12.

Recognition

The district and administration congratulated the varsity softball team and head coach Gary Rozanski. The team finished the season 16-0, won the section and are ranked #1 in the WPIAL Class AA by the Beaver County Times. They will begin the playoff season at 4 p.m. Wednesday, May 18 at Seneca Valley against the winner of a Neshannock vs. Waynesburg Central game on Monday.

Revenue/Finance

The board rejected a motion to pass the 2016-17 proposed preliminary general fund budget in a 5-4 vote. The budget was in the amount of $28,575.033, an increase of 2.4 percent from last year, although there was no change in the tax rate of 16.56 mills. Board President Renee Pitrelli, Vice President Matt Morella, and members Erica Gray, Jennifer Tomon and Danielle Woodhead voted against the budget. Members LeRoy Cortez, Anthony Buzzelli, Michael Neupauer and Kathy Pansera voted in favor. Under state law, the district must pass a final budget buy June 30 and have the preliminary budget on display for 30 days before voting on the final budget. A special session was scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, May 23 to pass the preliminary budget. The final budget is scheduled for passage at another special meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, June 27.

Personnel

Kathy Pansera was appointed as the board treasurer for the 2016-17 school year.
The following staff members were appointed as head teachers for the 2016-17 school year: Dan Parson- North Side, Craig Mills- Perry, Curt Agostinelli, Hartman.

Education/Student Affairs

A motion was passed authorizing the Lincoln High School nurse to administer naloxone (Narcaine) in overdose situations. Narcaine is a medication used to block the affects of opioids. It will be provided to the district at no cost. Although the school district has never had an overdose situation, the board considered the measure a wise precaution. Borough Solicitor John DeCaaro said the district will be protected by the Good Samaritan Law. “It’s a sad state of affairs that we have to discuss this at a school board meeting,” Neupauer said. The board passed the motion unanimously.

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