ECASD Board of Directors Approve Retirement of District Superintendent

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors reluctantly passed a motion to accept the retirement of District Superintendent Dr. Wesley Shipley during Thursday evening’s regular meeting.

As the motion was made, there wasn’t an easy second. Board President Jennifer Tomon said she is happy for Shipley but sad for the district.

Shipley will continue to serve as superintendent until June 30, 2025.

Shipley said serving the district and students has been a pleasure. During his 35 years in education, he said he has held roles at numerous districts, but Ellwood stands out.

“This has been the most fulfilling position that I’ve ever had,” he said.

Shipley began as interim superintendent for the district on July 27, 2020 and was officially hired by the board as superintendent on December 18, 2020.

Stay tuned to Ellwoodcity.org for an in-depth story about Shipley and his time with the district that will be published next week.

The Board also passed a motion to approve and ratify a special exception and appeal of  the zoning officer’s determination regarding the Wood Street Property (The former Ewing Park School property and site of the proposed softball field).

The appeal will be made during a zoning hearing board meeting on December 4 at 10 a.m. at the Ellwood City Borough Building.

The public continued to voice their thoughts on the softball field’s proposed location.

Mary and Anthony Musi, a couple that moved into a Wood Street home this year, said they feel that the location is inappropriate for a softball field. Mary said she recently needed to take her son to the doctor and had a tough time getting out of her driveway with a cheerleading practice taking place. She said she cannot imagine how congested the area would be with a softball field.

“The road conditions are just too tight,” she said.

Anthony said that Ewing Park is a unique mixture of nature and properties that a lot of young families are calling home.

“I feel like a softball field would impede on that growth,” he said adding that he is not against a softball field but not in that location.

Lynn Jones of Orchard Avenue said the location’s trees are a “little brown bat” habitat, and that should any disruption be made to the habitat that she will notify the Environmental Protection Agency.

Board Director Kevin Boariu said that no matter the outcome of the proposed softball field, he believes that the property should not be left vacant and insisted that it should be sold as residential to ease the taxpayer burden. Director Kathy Tillia agreed with Boariu.

Other Motions Passed:

• Motion to approve Minutes from October 7, 2024, Committee Meeting and October 10, 2024 Regular Meeting.
• Motion to approve the General Fund Accounts Payable Report.
• Motion to accept alternate bids H-7 in the amount of $150,200 and P-3 in the amount of $46,000 to replace boiler burners and to replace gas lines to the boilers for the Lincoln project.
• Motion to approve Family Medical Leaves in accordance with the Family Medical Leave Act and Policy 335.
• Motion to approve coaches for the winter 2024-25 season.
• Motion to hire cafeteria workers in accordance with the current SEIU 32 BJ Bargaining Unit Agreement
• Motion to appoint Dr. Amy Anderson as Board Secretary.
• Motion to approve extra pay for fall coaches who have gone into extended season.
• Motion to approve Tracy Craig as Department Head of the Fine Arts Department for the 2024-25 school year.
• Motion to approve Gertrude Worrell as a bus driver for EC Transit.
• Motion to approve Addy Lake as an independent/individual gymnast representing the District for the 2024-25 school year under the coaching of Terri Gazda from Monaca Turners Gymnastics.
• Motion to approve Sam DiCaprio as a student teacher from Westminster College for the Spring Semester at North Side Primary.
• Motion to approve the following facility requests:
  • EC Football Boosters requests the use of the Home side concession stand and refrigerator and freezer in the ticket booth for concessions and to store supplies from January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025.
  • EC Little Wolverine Hoops is requesting the use of the small gym for a end of season showcase for parents at the Athletic Directors discretion for two one hour sessions on a weeknight in December.
• Motion to approve disposal of broken or obsolete equipment from the Technology Department in accordance with Policy 706.1.
• Motion to approve MIU IV IDEA Section 611 and Section 619 Agreements through June 2025.
• Motion to approve PikMyKid proposal for reunification and emergency management communication grades K-12 as well as a Digital Hall Pass solution for Grades 7-12 at a cost of $17,400 for the remainder of the 2024-25 school year and the 2025-26 school year.
• Motion to approve the district to utilize the Aleks program to support the use of mathematical diagnostic assessments and to provide individualized gap analysis and skill practice for students for the 2024-25 school year at a cost of $3,433.80.
• Motion to approve Allegheny Intermediate Unit Joint Purchasing Agreement for the 2025-26 school year.
• Motion to approve Leslie London, a junior at LHS, to attend Wilmington Area High School Vo-Ag program effective November 18, 2024. The family will be responsible for transportation.
• Motion to approve first reading of Policy #226 – Searches.
• Motion to approve agreement with MHY for two students to attend Longmore Academy for the 2024-25 school year.