ECASD to Get Weapon Detection System

The Ellwood City Area School District will be getting a very smart weapon detection system.

During Thursday’s regular meeting of Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors, Director and Chair of the Board’s Security Committee Claire Fauzey announced that she was “Pleased to share that the hard work and collaboration of Mr. Sovich (high school principal) and Officer Brian Speer over the last several months, the district has been able to purchase a weapon detection system that will be put into place at LHS. With much investigation of safety concerns and reviews of this device with other schools, we are able to begin this phase of proactive safety measures at Lincoln.”

During a call after the meeting with Sovich, he said the plan to obtain the system has been in the works for a while and that recent reallocation of funds from the construction project made the purchase possible. Sovich said this isn’t your average detection system.

This system scans for certain types of metals,” Sovich said. “What’s great is that students don’t have to unpack everything every day. They can walk through it with their bookbag on their body. It’s like systems found at concert venues and provides an entire scan.”

Sovich said having this system will be an asset to the district because of the technology deployed in the system students can be quickly scanned, they don’t have to stand in a line outside the building. He said the goal was to add an extra step of security, but not interrupt the flow of the start of the day. He said not having to remove items from a backpack will expedite the process.

“The technology and brains of the system can determine for example that a metal detected is a Stanley Tumbler not a weapon. It also detects vapes”

Certain types of metals specific to weapons will alert administrators. Sovich added that alerts can be made silent. The system is portable, so it can be moved to accommodate activities such as dances, games, or other after school activities.

The system will be up and running at Lincoln in early November as the staff will be trained on the system on October 30. Sovich said that parents in the district will receive more details about the system soon.

“Through our research, we found that other administrators in the state, especially out east, are using this system and have said one of the best pieces of security equipment they have used.”

Sovich said the district takes the safety of the staff and students very seriously. He said the students do a good job of alerting staff to any threats that might be relevant and feel safe coming to staff, but that this system is just added security.

“It’s another layer of protection.”

Sovich said he hopes to be able to add additional systems to the district’s security lineup in the future.

Motions passed:

• Motion to approve Minutes from September 9, 2024, Committee Meeting and September 12, 2024, Regular Meeting.
• Motion to approve Agreement with MAK Business Consulting Services, LLC as Interim Business Manager at a cost of $75.00 per hour.
• Motion to approve the following as mentors for the 2024-25 school year.
  • Kevin Dimeo as mentor for Marisa Mandel LHS Math Support Teacher.
  • Mark Stanley as mentor for Tyla Bentel, LHS Secondary Math Teacher.
• Motion to approve Additional substitutes for 2024-25 school year.
• Motion to hire Aaron Ottavani as Instructional Aide for the 2024-25 school year in accordance with the current SEIU 32 BJ Bargaining Agreement.
• Motion to approve the following Family Medical Leaves in accordance with the Family Medical Leave Act and Policy 335:
  • Minnetta Bowman, NS Special Ed Teacher, intermittent leave from September 2024 to June 2025.
• Motion to approve the following Coaches:
  • Ben Mohr, Volunteer Middle School Football Coach.
  • Adam Hall, Volunteer Middle School Football Coach.
• Approve MOU with EAEA in regard to change in language in Section 5 of Appendix A regarding Computer Technician position.
• Approve MOU with EAEA to allow members of the EAEA to donate sick days for the purpose of creating a sick leave bank for SEIU employee A.
• Motion to approve a Memorandum of Understanding with the SEIU in regard to Article V- Wages, Section 6 – Aide Coverage to include Experienced and qualified Nurses to receive the additional pay when providing coverage as described in Section 6.
• Motion to hire Coleen Mazzanti as a three (3) hour cafeteria server/helper at Perry Lower Intermediate.
• Motion to approve the following additional bus drivers for EC Transit for the 2024-25 school year:
  • Dennis Gardner
  • William Dillow
• Motion to accept the resignation of Scott Korba, Business Manager effective November 1, 2024.
• Motion to approve the following Facility requests:
  • REC Wrestling is requesting the use of the LHS big gym and the LHS cafeteria for a youth wrestling Tournament from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 16, 2024, with set up Friday, November 15, 2024.
  • Wolverine PTO is requesting the Lincoln Cafeteria on Saturday, November 23, 2024, from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. for a K-6 Mother/Son Dance event.
  • Blue Band Boosters is requesting the visitor side concession stand from November 2024 to November 2025 for storage, serving food to band members, fundraiser pick up and concessions during events at Helling Stadium.
  • EC Little Wolverine Hoops is altering their already approved Hartman gym use for boys and girls 3-6 basketball to include any weekdays from November through March at the principal’s discretion.
  • Rotary Club of Ellwood City is requesting the use of the Sgt. Leslie H. Sabo Jr. Memorial Auditorium for the Duquesne Tamburitzans performance on Sunday, April 6, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • EC Cheer Boosters is requesting the use of Helling Stadium for their annual Powder Puff games on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at Athletic Directors discretion.
• Motion to approve the following field trips/social events:
  • History Club would like to take approximately 40 students to Bushy Run Battlefield in Jeannette, PA by bus on Wednesday, October 30, 2024. The bus would depart at 9:00 a.m. and return at approximately 2:15 p.m.
  • Art 9-12 would like to take approximately 25 students to Indiana University of Pennsylvania to Tour of Art Program and STEAM Program on Thursday, March 20, 2025. The bus will leave at 6:30 a.m. and return at approximately 2:30 p.m.
  • The Reel Adventures Fishing Club would like to visit and tour the Linesville Hatchery and Linesville Spillway on Saturday, November 9, 2024. The bus would leave around 9:00 a.m. and return at approximately 3:00 p.m.
• Motion to approve the Midwestern IU IV Itinerant Occupational Therapy Agreement for North Side Primary from October 10, 2024, to February 25, 2025, at a cost of $5,525.00.
• Motion to approve the SWISSuite License Agreement for comprehensive behavior referral system for positive behavioral interventions and support programs (PBIS) at North Side for the 2024-25 school year at a cost of $400.
• Motion for the District to partner with Care Solace to provide care coordination for students, staff, and their families with verified mental health providers, substance use treatment options, and social service resources at a cost of $5,500.00 for the 2024-25 school year until June 30, 2025.
• Motion to approve the purchase of Teach Town as curriculum for the Special Ed Department Life Skills at a cost of $23,690.00.