ECASD Board of Directors Hires Superintendent

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors voted to hire Dr. Amy Anderson as Superintendent for a five-year contract beginning July 1, 2025, pending completion of contract.

Board President Jennifer Tomon said Anderson’s salary will be $150,000 per year.

Director Norman Boots was the only “No” vote and expressed that he believed that Anderson should be paid a lower salary and get salary bumps on a tiered system.

Director Kevin Boariu had no doubt that the board picked the right candidate, and that he believes the district has made great progress in areas such as reading.

“I don’t want us to lose that progress,” he said. “We have the right person as the new superintendent.”

Director Kathy Galbreath agreed and said, “She’ll be outstanding.”

At the end of the meeting, Anderson spoke briefly and thanked the board. She said she looks forward to working with the administrators, teachers, staff, the community, and the students.

“I am deeply honored and grateful to serve as the next superintendent,” she said. “It has been incredible to transform education together. Thank you for your confidence in me.”

Anderson joined the district in November of 2023 as an Act 93 Director of Educational Programs at a salary of $120,000.

Other motions passed:

• Motion to approve December 5, 2024 Combined Meeting Minutes
• Motion to approve an annual Service Agreement with Johnson Control. This will be the annual cost for cellular coverage for our fire alarm system at Northside. We currently use POTS lines which are being discontinued. The agreement will be in effect from December 1, 2024 to November 30, 2029.
• Motion to accept the resignation of Jenna Ricciuti, Head Volleyball Coach effective immediately.
• Motion to approve the following Facility requests:
  • Innovative Readiness Training, a military operation, would like to request the use of the Sgt. Leslie H. Sabo, Jr. Memorial Auditorium, LHS small and large gyms, LHS cafeteria, LHS classrooms, Hartman gym, Hartman classrooms to hold a no-cost clinic offering free medical, dental, optometry, optical fabrication, behavioral health, and veternary services to the residents of Ellwood City and surrounding areas from July 17 to August 3, 2025 with the clinic running from July 22, 2025 to August 1, 2025.
  • Reed’s Services, Inc. would like to request the Ewing Park Property for their Dog Days of Summer benefit from June 19 through June 23, 2025 with set up on June 19, clean up on June 23 and the event on June 20, 21, 22. The property would be used for parking and to hold a Fast Cat Dog competition.
  • EC Arts, Crafts, Food and Entertainment Festival is requesting the use of Helling Stadium, and the High school baseball field for their annual festival from July 4 to July 6, 2025 for fireworks and parking in the Ewing Park property.
  • Lawrence County Special Olympics is requesting the use of the LHS big gym for basketball practice on Saturdays beginning February 1, 2025 through June 7, 2025 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. or at the Athletic Directors discretion due to district sports use.
  • ECLW Hoops is requesting the use of the LHS Big gym to host a Shoot-a-thon Fundraiser for their basketball league on Sunday, January 26, 2025 from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
  • EC Football Boosters is requesting the use of the Ewing Park property for parking during the EC Arts and Crafts Festival from July 4 – 6, 2025.
• Motion to approve to purchase a sound system for Perry Lower Intermediate cafeteria at a cost not to exceed $40,000.00, to be paid from construction funds.
• Motion to approve the following field trip/social event requests:
  • The US AP Government and Politics class would like to take 10 students on their annual field trip to Philadelphia from March 4 to 6, 2025. The class would travel by train and visit Chinatown, Independence Hall, attend the PA Supreme Court, Liberty Bell Center, the Ben Franklin House, National Constitution Center and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The students will depart from LHS at 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 4 and return at approximately 10:00 p.m. on March 6.
  • Ellwood City Culture Club is requesting to take 5 students to Heinz Hall by school van to attend Start Wars: Episode IV, A New Hope with Pittsburgh Symphony on Saturday, February 8, 2025. The van will depart at 5:30 p.m. and return at approximately 10:30 p.m.
  • Ellwood City Culture Club is requesting to take 20 students to the Peterson Event Center to attend a Pitt Basketball Game on Saturday, February 15, 2025. The bus will depart at 10:30 a.m. and return at approximately 6:00 p.m.
• Motion to approve School Physician Agreement with Dr. Sharon Dawso, Heritage Valley MultiSpecialty Group, Inc. from January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025.
• Motion to approve to pilot an American Civil History II class for grades 9-12 for a one semester course for 1/2 credit.
• Motion to approve the following policies for first reading:
  • Policy 005 – Organization
  • Policy 308 – Employment Contract/Board Resolution
  • Policy 913.1 Commercial Activity/Advertisements
  • Policy 918 – Title I Parent and Family Engagement
  • Policy 626.2 Conflict of Interest
  • Policy 610 Purchases Subject to Bid/Quotation
  • Policy 611 Purchases Budgeted
  • Policy 626 Procurement-Federal Programs
• Motion to Approve the disposal of obsolete, unused, and damaged equipment, including file cabinets, from the Administrative, Business and Guidance offices in accordance with Policy 706.1.