Emotions regarding the proposed girls softball field continued to run high during Thursday night’s regular meeting of the Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors.
Board President Kathy Galbreath made a statement on behalf of the board.
“We remain steadfast in our support for this field.”
She cited that the board’s unanimous vote to construct a field at the location of the old Ewing Park School is based on facts and information along with a commitment to district goals.
The board members aren’t the only ones remaining steadfast to their convictions regarding the field. Area residents also aren’t budging on their support for or against the field’s location.
Emily Denome of Wood Street continues to speak against the proposed location as well as the cost of constructing the field. She said the population in Ellwood City is not growing and neither is the enrollment of students in the district to support the amount of spending on some of the capital improvements planned by the board.
“The tax base is shrinking,” she said.
Denome also has made it clear that she does not want to view a chain-link fence within just a few yards from her front porch.
Gary Rozanaski Jr. coaches the softball team. He said this field has been needed for years.
“To get it done immediately, this is the best place for it,” he said regarding the proposed location.
He said Steifel Park would never be a true home for the team and is not an appropriate choice for a location. And as far as shaking up the Ewing Park neighborhood where the field would be constructed, Rozanski said the field should be welcomed because it is for the students.
“It’s life, it’s community,” he said.
Kevin Boariu, who just won a seat on the ECASD Board of Directors in Tuesday’s General Election, said he does not believe the location chosen by the board is appropriate. He will join a board that voted unanimously for the Ewing Park location and will be the sole member to not support that location. Boreau said he hopes the Board will reconsider. One of his main concerns is his belief that choice of location will cause extended construction time.
Ashley Smith lives on Beatty Street. She explained that when she was looking for a home with her husband, they specifically picked Beatty Street for the open field in front of the home. She said there was also a house near the football field at the time and they specifically chose not to purchase that home because of the close proximity of the football field.
Chris Weisz does not live in the area where the field is proposed but said he would love to have the softball field in front of his house.
“People move to places with these types of amenities,” he said.
Motions passed:
- Motion to approve Minutes from October 12, 2023 Combined meeting.
- Motion to approve General Fund Treasurer’s Report in the amount of $ 35,360,448.10 The summary of accounts are as follows.
- WesBanco Checking $ 942,940.63
- Tax Accounts; $ 6,512,178.21
- PLGIT: $ 27,903,473.24
- PSDLAF: $ 1,453.01
- PA Invest: $ 403.02
- Motion to approve the General Fund Accounts Payable Report.
- Motion to approve HHSDR and district administration to advertise for bids for the Lincoln Jr. Sr. High School renovation project.
- Motion to approve FMLA leaves for the following in accordance with the Family Medical Leave Act and Policy #335:
- 1. Kristen Miller, Title I Reading Specialist, from January 25, 2024 to June 7, 2024.
- 2. Gwenn McGuire, first grade teacher, intermittent leave from October 18, 2023 to June 7, 2024.
- 3. Sabrina Fisher, Instructional Aide, from November 21, 2023 to January 12, 2024.
- Motion to approve additional substitute for 2023-24.
- Motion to approve Rick Hudson as Musical Director for the Spring 2024 musical production at 21 units in accordance with the EAEA collective bargaining unit.
- Motion to approve Shelby Beck as sponsor for the Hartman Intramural Program (Hartman Fit Club) at budgeted stipend.
- Motion to approve winter coaches for the 2023-24 school year.
- Motion to accept the resignation of Lynn Leavens, Elementary Library Clerk, for the purpose of retirement effective January 2, 2024.
- Motion to create Act 93 Director of Educational Programs position to be filled by Dr. Amy Anderson at a starting salary of $120,000 effective immediately.
- Motion to hire Kayla Grant as an Instructional Aide for the 2023-24 school year in accordance with the current 32 BJ SEIU Bargaining Unit agreement.
- Motion to approve the following Facility requests:
- 1. LHS Cheer Boosters is requesting the use of Helling Stadium including sound system, press box, restrooms, home side concession stand for a Powderpuff game on Saturday, November 18, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
- 2. LHS Blue Band Boosters is requesting the use of the visitors side concession stand from November 2023 to November 2024 for storage, fundraiser pick up and concessions during Helling Stadium events.
- 3. Derek Romanio, Varsity soccer coach, is requesting the use of any gym or cafeteria from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. to hold soccer open gym/practice for fifth and sixth grade students the first hour to draw interest to the program, and 7-11 graders the second hour at the Athletic Directors discretion.
- 4. REC Wrestling is requesting the LHS big gym and cafeteria to hold 2023-24 Wrestling home match on Saturday, January 20, 2024 from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- 5. EC Little Wolverine Boys Basketball is requesting the use of the Hartman gym or LHS small gym for 5th and 6th grade boys basketball from November 6, 2023 to February 17, 2024 between the hours of 2:45 pm to 9:30 p.m. at the principal’s discretion.
- Motion to approve Addy Lake as an independent/individual gymnast representing the District for the 2023-24 school year under the coaching of Terri Gazda from Monaca Turners Gymnastics.
- Motion to approve disposal of broken or obsolete equipment from the Technology Department in accordance with Policy 706.1.
- Motion to approve new/revised policies for first reading.
- Motion to approve the following field trips:
- 1. Mike McCullough, Science teacher, is requesting to take five 7th and 8th grade science students to CCAC South in West Mifflin PA on March 2, 2024 by van or bus to Science Quiz Bowl Competition.
- Motion to approve MIU IV IDEA Section 611 and Section 619 Agreements through September 2024.
- Motion to approve the following as a student teacher from Slippery Rock University for the 2024 Spring Semester:
- 1. Nikkita McDowell to be assigned at North Side Primary to Minnetta Bowman, K-2 Learning Support Teacher from January 16, 2024 to March 8, 2024, and with Beth Shurtz, grade 2 classroom teacher, from March 12, 2024 to May 2, 2024.
- Motion to accept disciplinary adjudication agreement with Student A.
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