Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors Cut Ribbon to Signify, Celebrate Completion of the Perry School Project

Thursday evening’s Ellwood City Area School District Board of Directors meeting was preceded with an open house for the public to see the renovations of Perry Lower Intermediate School as well as a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate and finalize the project’s completion.

“What a great opportunity for us to look at what is created and what is finished,” Dr. Wesley Shipley, ECASD Superintendent said during the ribbon cutting ceremony just before Board Director Kathy Galbreth took the jumbo scissors and cut the ribbon with the rest of the Board by her side.

The project included updating the electric and plumbing systems as well as installing new HVAC throughout the entire building. An addition that includes four classroom spaces and new toilet facilities was built to make room for growing academic service programs within the building. The renovations began in October 2022.

The school board held their monthly voting meeting in the multi-purpose room of Perry immediately following the open house.

With the completion of the Perry project, the beginning phases of renovations are set to begin at Lincoln High School. Shipley said that project will take around 31 months to complete. Residents may have noticed fencing was erected around the school, which will serve as a staging area for the construction.

Motions passed:

• Motion to approve February 5, 2024 Committee Meeting Minutes, February 8, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes and February 19, 2024 Special Board Meeting Minutes.
• Motion to Approve General Fund Treasurer’s Report as follows:
  • WesBanco Checking $879,475.21
  • PLGIT GF Prine/Term $26,424,221.71
  • Tax Accounts $3,451,361.91
  • PSDLAF $1,453.01
  • PA Invest $403.02
  • Total Cash & Investments $30,756,914.80
• Motion to approve the General Fund Accounts Payable Report.
• Motion to approve the MIU IV 2024-25 General Operating Budget totaling $4,162,498.00 with the District contribution of $14,800.00 a $209.00 increase from last year.
• Motion to approve Midwestern IU IV Adoption of Approved LEA Policies, Procedures, and Use of Funds from Midwestern IU IV implemented for the 2024-25 school year to fulfill the requirements of 22 PA Code Chapter 14 and the regulatory requirements under IDEA – Part B be approved as presented.
• Motion to approve the MIU IV E-Rate Letter of Agency for the 2024-25 school year.
• Motion to exonerate delinquent taxes on a property at 116 Hazen Avenue, Ellwood City for tax years 2021, 2022, 2023.
• Motion to approve the Builder’s Risk Quote in the amount of $47,625 for the Lincoln Renovation Project.
• Motion to approve the asbestos mitigation bid for the Lincoln Jr/Sr High School project by Dore and Associates in the amount of $722, 900 plus unit cost pricing for unforeseen work as presented.
• Motion to approve additional Spring Coaches for the 2023-24 school year.
• Motion to approve additional substitute for 2023-24 school year.
• Motion to approve FMLA leave
• Motion to accept the following resignations: Nancy Breznia, retirement; Georganne Snyder, retirement; Sherry Shearer, retirement; Felicia Greco, retirement; Amanda Collins; Roxanne Grinnen, retirement; Dena Noble resigned from the Girls Basketball Head Coach position.
• Motion to approve Lisa Hollencamp as Commencement Program sponsor for 2023-24.
• Motion to approve Kayla Chappell, Title I Aide at Perry, for a leave of absence for the fall semester starting August 26, 2024 through December 6, 2024, for the purpose of student teaching.
• Motion to approve Kayla Chappell, Point Park University student, as a student teacher for the fall semester of 2024 from August 26, 2024 through December 6, 2024, at Perry Lower Intermediate with Lisa Beatrice and Craig Mills.
• Motion to hire Mary Senato as full time eight (8) hour custodian in accordance with the current SEIU 32 BJ Bargaining Unit Agreement.
• Motion to approve WAE Balancing Inc. for the Commissioning Agent Services Proposal for the Lincoln High School project at a total cost of $160,600.00.
• Motion to approve the following facility request:
  a. Ellwood City After Prom Committee is requesting the use of the LHS big gym to hold the 2024 Ellwood City After Prom on Friday, May 3, 2024 from 8:00 p.m. – 3:00 a.m.
• Motion to approve the following field trip/social events:
  1. Eighth grade class annual trip to Kennywood Amusement Park on May 31, 2024. The bus would depart at 8:45 a.m. and return at approximately 7:00 p.m.
• Motion that the following New/Revised policies be recommended for approval:
  • Policy #200 Enrollment of Students
  • Policy #202 Eligibility of Nonresident Students
  • Policy #217 Graduation
  • Policy #254 Educational Opportunity for Military Children
  • Policy #610 Purchases Subject to Bid/Quotation
  • Policy #611 Purchases Budgeted
  • Policy #810 Transportation
• Motion that the following new/revised policies be put on display for review until the next board meeting and then be recommended for approval:
  • Policy #903 Public Comment in Board Meetings
• Motion to approve the educational services agreement with the School at McGuire Memorial at a daily rate of $286.00/day (5 hrs.) for the 2023-24 extended school year (ESY) program.
• Motion to approve the River Therapies proposal for the 2024-2025 school year as presented.

New Business:

• In the new business section, Board Director Claire Fauzey suggested the board consider revising its policy against Nepotism—policy 304.2. Part of that policy states “No applicant for any paid professional or non-professional employment who is a relative, either by blood or marriage, of a School Board member, administrator, or Supervisor shall be employed by the School District.” Fauzey said with the list of resignations due to retirement along with a shortage of teachers entering the workforce, it might be a good idea for the district to revisit that policy. It will be a consideration for the agenda for the Board’s combined meeting on April 11.

Announcements:

• The Board’s committee meeting scheduled for April 8 has been canceled. The Board will hold a combined meeting on April 11.