ECASD Approves Plan to Construct New Softball Field, Renovate Baseball Field

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors unanimously approved a plan to commit to improving district softball and baseball facilities.

The plan, provided by HHSDR in an athletic facility study, includes a newly constructed softball field on the Ewing Park School property and renovations to the existing baseball field as recommended by the ECASD Board Athletic Committee.

The $3,329,000 project will be funded via a local athletic capital campaign, led by local resident Bill Nardone. The cost of the softball field will be $1,880,000 and the cost to renovate the baseball field will be $1,449,000 (see a list of detailed costs in photos).

Beatty Street resident Zach Powell said although he supports a softball field, he doesn’t think it belongs at the site of the former Ewing Park School. He said he was speaking on behalf of several of the residents in the neighborhood where the new softball field will be located.

“We oppose it,” he said. “And we will continue to strongly oppose it.”

Ellwood City resident Wally Giegart said he is thrilled about the construction of the field.

“The girls are champions,” he said. “They deserve it.”

Other motions passed:

• Motion to approve minutes of Committee Meeting on June 5, 2023 and Regular Meeting on June 8, 2023.
• Motion to Approve the June 2023 General Fund Treasurer’s Report in the amount of $36,150,950.40. The summary of accounts is as follows:
  • WesBanco Checking $1,698,677.94
  • Tax Accounts $ 518,773.47
  • PLGIT $ 33,931,610.12
  • PSDLAF $1,478.03
  • PA Invest 410.82
  • Total Cash and Investments at June 30, 2023 $36,150,950.40
• Motion to approve General Fund Accounts Payable Check Listings.
• Motion to approve the following insurance contracts as administered through the Arthur  J. Gallagher & Co Insurance Agency of Johnstown, PA be awarded to the Utica National Insurance Group as follows :
  • Package/Property $82.489
  • Auto $8,283
  • Educators Legal Liability (Included) Included
  • Umbrella $8,035
• Motion to approve the Workers Compensation Policy Contract be awarded to UPMC  at a premium of  $39,532 and Cyber Liability be awarded to ACE at a cost of $13,769.
• Motion to approve 2023-24 Harris School Solutions Proposal
• Motion to adopt the Resolution in the form presented, waiving the tax liens encumbering the a property located in the Borough of Ellwood City at 422 Summit Avenue, including all penalties, interest and costs related to such liens, that were exonerated as a result of the sale of the Property from Repository of Unsold Properties on July 28, 2020, consenting the exoneration of said liens from the public record, and authorizing the administration to take any action and execute any documents authorized by that resolution.
• Motion to hire Christine Ierno Paglia as a full time custodian in accordance with the current Local 32 BJ Non-Professional Bargaining Unit Agreement.
• Motion to hire Anna Aiken as an Instructional Aide in accordance with the current Local 32 BJ Non-Professional Collective Bargaining Unit Agreement.
• Motion to hire Daniel Bradley as head boys basketball coach. (“No” votes by Directors Kathy Galbreth, Jennifer Tomon, Erica Gray, and Renee Pitrelli)
• Motion to hire Bridgette Cereday as elementary librarian/gifted teacher in accordance with the current EAEA Association Agreement.
• Motion to accept the resignation for the purpose of retirement of Tim Falen, maintenance, effective September 5, 2023.
• Motion to approve employment agreements for Patti Otlowski as Payroll Secretary and Karen Cooper as Accounts Payable Secretary effective July 1, 2023, as presented since being removed from SEIU.
• Motion to approve fall coaches for the 2023-24 school year.
• Motion to approve FMLA Leave requests as follows:
  • Tyla Bentel, Instructional Aide, effective August 30, 2023 to October 1, 2023.
• Motion to approve the following as Head Teachers for the 2023-24 school year.
  • North Side Primary – Pam MacMurdo
  • Perry Lower Intermediate – Craig Mills
  • Hartman Intermediate – Gary Rozanski
• Motion to raise substitute cafeteria worker rates to $12.00 per hour and substitute custodian and clerical workers to $14.00 per hour effective June 19, 2023.
• Motion to promote Officer Brian Speer of the Ellwood City School District Police Department to Officer In Charge at a starting salary of $27 per hour
• Motion to approve the following Facility Requests:
  • Ellwood City Wrestling would like to use the LHS cafeteria for an instructional wrestling clinic from Friday, August 4, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Saturday, August 5, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Sunday, August 6, 2023 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
  • Ellwood City Girls Middle School Basketball requests the LHS small gym for girls basketball grades 7-8 games on Thursdays, June 22, June 29 July 13, July 20, and July 27, 2023 4:30 p.m – 8:30 p.m.
  • Ellwood City Little Wolverines request the use of the Helling Stadium for Little Wolverine Home Football games on Saturday, September 16, 2023, Saturday, September 30, 2023, Saturday, October 7, 2023 and potentially Saturday, October 28, 2023 for playoffs from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
  • First United Methodist Church of Ellwood City Vacation Bible School requests the use of the small gym for a basketball camp for elementary aged children run by Al Campman on Wednesday, August 2, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
  • EC Football Boosters requests the use of the LHS Cafeteria on Thursdays to provide a team dinner to varsity football team on August, 31, September 7, 14, 21, 28, October 5, 12, 19, 26, 2023 from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
• Motion to Recognize Booster Groups as affiliate organizations of the Ellwood City Area School District for the 2023-24 School year:
  • Wolverine PTO
  • Soccer Boosters
  • LHS Blue Band Boosters
  • Hall of Fame Committee
  • EC Football Boosters
• Motion to approve revised policy that has been on display since the last board meeting. Policy #246 School Wellness Policy
• Motion to approve 2023-24 Secondary Handbook changes as presented.
• Motion to approve the Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit Special Ed Contract for Programs and services for the 2023-24 school year at a cost per student of $44,500.