ECASD Superintendent Offers Update on COVID Lockdown; Board Rescinds Approval of Choir Trip

During the Ellwood City Area School District Board of Directors February 11 meeting, Superintendent Dr. Wesley Shipley said Lincoln High School was forced to go on lockdown following a breakout of COVID cases in the district.

According to Shipley, on Friday February 5, there were 3 cases and upon return to school the following Monday there were 7 cases and then an additional case on Tuesday.

He did not say whether the cases were among students or staff.

The plan moving forward, Shipley said, is for Lincoln students to have full-remote learning until February 23 when the cases will return to zero allowing a hybrid return to the high school.

As far as a full return to five day in person classes, Shipley said he is hopeful the community can enter into the moderate zone of cases, which would be the only way students could return full time.

“District wide in the community the numbers are getting better,” Shipley said. “Let’s keep our fingers crossed.”

Shipley said the elementary school case numbers stand at zero at this time and that students are continuing the hybrid learning model.

He said the administration continues to constantly and consistently monitor numbers in the district as well as the community numbers.

Following Shipley’s update on COVID in the district, the board voted to rescind a Choir trip to Florida that was proposed and approved in March of 2020.

Shipley and District Solicitor Jennifer Dambeck recommended the board rescind the trip in light of the current COVID situation. Shipley cited that he knows Choir Director Felicia Greco put a lot of effort into trying to plan the safest trip possible for the students, but it is just too much of a risk at this time.

“We want to create as many normal activities for the students, but we have to weigh that against the community spread,” he said.

Dambeck said allowing students to travel out of state as part of a school trip could pose a legal issue for the district. She said even if parents of the choir students signed waivers they do not provide full protection. She said local events like sports are more localized, last shorter amounts of time, and are implemented with a certain amount of control.

“Even with parental permission, I would not recommend out of state travel,” she said.

In a 6-2 vote, with Director Barbara Wilson absent, the trip was successfully rescinded, but not without sadness from the board. Each member expressed that they regretted having to rescind.

Director Jennifer Tomon voted against rescinding the trip.

“I am disappointed that it was not left up to the parents to make a decision as to whether they wanted to assume that risk.” Tomon said, citing that she believes Greco made a sufficient effort to mitigate risk and plan for a safe trip.

Director Erica Grey echoed Tomon’s disappointment. She also voted against rescinding the trip and stated that she would trust Greco to make a decision based on what is best for the students.

Although Director Renee Pitrelli and Board President Jean Biehls both voted to rescind the trip, they expressed dismay at the decision.

“In the light of what we allow with sports, I would like to think that parents have some control over the situation,” Pitrelli said.

But ultimately Pitrelli said she had to go along with the recommendation set forward by Shipley and said she understood that recommendation.

“If I was in Dr. Shipley’s chair I would have made the same decision,” she said.

Biehls speaking on behalf of the board said the decision was not easy.

“We feel really bad about this,” she said. “But due to the times and things that are happening, we want our children to be safe—as safe as we can keep them and our community.”