ECASD Board of Directors Authorizes Appeal for Proposed Softball Field

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors voted to appeal the Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Adjudication of the Zoning Hearing Board of the Borough of Ellwood City relating to the proposed softball field during Monday’s regular meeting.

All board members in attendance voted yes to support the appeal, and director Norman Boots was absent from the meeting.

Director Kevin Boariu said he supports the appeal because he does not want the property to sit vacant and that he does not believe that the District should be in the business of owning unused property.

Chris Voltz, of Tucker Arensberg, PC, attorney for the Board said in correspondence following the meeting, “While the Board understands the concerns of the objecting residents, it firmly believes that the project will be a benefit to the community. Because it respectfully disagrees with the Zoning Hearing Board’s decision, the Board authorized the appeal and looks forward to presenting its case to the Court of Common Pleas.”

Members of the public spoke before the board voted and urged them to reconsider the appeal.

Karen Mancini, Beatty Street resident and chairperson of the Citizens for Ewing Park Preservation (CEPP) group said the group will not stand down and will continue to oppose the field. She questioned the financial implications of the appeal on the taxpayers.

“How much has been spent on all this?” she said. “And where is the money coming from?”

Mancini said the zoning board made it clear that the property is not ideal for the purpose of a softball field and other features the district wants to add to the property.

Dylan Baney of Wood Street said he believes the zoning board made a “sound” decision.

“Pursuing this would be a waste of taxpayers’ money,” he said.

Emily Denome of Wood Street said she feels like the situation is Groundhog Day.

“You’ve already been told no twice,” she said. “It’s pouring money down a rat hole.”

Denome scolded the board and said she believes they should represent the public.

“You keep pouring money out there and don’t give a rat’s ass,” Denome said.

Following the Board’s vote to appeal and during the final public comment period, Denome expressed her disgust and said she feels like the Board is ignoring the neighborhood residents. She vowed to continue to attend every meeting and hearing in the appeal process.

“I will be there,” she said. “I am not going to let this go. I’ll make your lives a living hell.”

Motions passed:

• Motion to approve January 6, 2025 Committee Meeting Minutes and the January 9, 2025 Regular Meeting Minutes.
• Motion to approve the Resolution to appoint Matt Lentz as the District Pennsylvania OPEB Trust Liaison.
• Motion to approve annual Service Agreements with Johnson Controls. This will be the annual cost for cellular coverage for our fire alarm systems at Hartman and Lincoln. The district currently uses POTS lines which are being discontinued. The agreement will be in effect from April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2030.
• Motion to approve the following change orders:
  • Change Order A181A – to add a new restroom in Life-Skills classroom on the first floor at Lincoln for a total cost of $55,770.83.
  • Change Order PC-4 – Plumbing changes associated with basement level at LHS for an added cost of $26,992.08.
• Motion to approve the proposal to perform Architectural/Engineering Services for a facility study of North Side Primary and Hartman Intermediate School at a cost of $5,000.
• Motion to hire Saylee Grinnen as Head Girls Volleyball Coach with a three year contract beginning with the 2025-26 school year.
• Motion to make the following changes to Activity Sponsors for the remainder of the 2024-25 schoo year:
  • Camanin Coleman as Musical Producer.
  • Patrick Tatman as Musical Artistic Director.
• Motion to approve the following substitutes for the 2024-25 school year.
  • Jeffrey McCullough, cafeteria and custodial sub.
  • Vincent Zito, custodial sub.
• Motion to approve job description change from Special Education Administrator to Director of Pupil Services.
• Motion to approve Spring Coaches for the 2024-25 school year.
• Motion to approve the following Facility requests:
  • John Fleming, Varsity Wrestling Coach is requesting for the Wrecking Crew Wrestling Club to use the LHS cafeteria for freestyle Greco wrestling practices on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays beginning March 3 and ending May 16, 2025 from 5 p.m. to 7 or 8 p.m.
  • EC Amateur Baseball is requesting the LHS big gym on Sunday, February 23, 2025 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. for their youth baseball tryouts.
  • The Club Hope Foundation is requesting to use the LHS big gym on Thursday, April 24, 2025 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. for a faculty versus student body basketball game called “Hoops for Hope” consisting of two games, the first involving the elementary Little Hoopers program (both males and females) and the second consisting of high school students and staff members.
  • The After Prom committee is requesting to use the LHS Big gym to hold the 2025 After Prom from 4:00 p.m. on Friday, May 2, 2025 to 4:00 a.m. Saturday, May 3, 2025.
• Approve the following field trip/social event requests:
  • EC3 would like to take 10-20 students to the Benedum Center to see “Come From Away” a musical, on Saturday, May 3, 2025. The bus or van depending on how many students will depart at 12:45 p.m. and return at approximately 5:00 p.m.
  • EC3 would like to take 20 students to PPG Paints Arena for a Penguin game on Saturday, March 4, 2025. The bus will depart at 1:45 p.m. and return at approximately 8:00 p.m.
• Motion to approve the following policies that have been on display since last meeting:
  • Policy 005 – Organization
  • Policy 308 – Employment Contract/Board Resolution
  • Policy 918 Attachment – 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 Attachment Procurement-Federal Program
• Motion to approve the following student teachers for the spring semester:
  • Dane Fasick, from Westminster College, with Matt Gerello for 16 weeks.
  • Bria McChesney Hinkelman from Geneva College, with Scott Timmerman.
  • Zach Lemansky, from Geneva College, with Mark Stanley.
  • Brendan Callahan, from Westminster, with Scott Buffington.
• Motion to approve a one year extension of the K-6 Science Textbook series Inspire at a cost of $29,914.34.
• Motion to approve the 2025-2026 School Calendar.
• Motion to approve Course Catalogs for grades 7-12.
• Motion to name Dr. Abbey Dorer, Dorer Dental, as school dentist at a cost of $3.00 per state mandated school dental exams effective immediately.
• Motion to approve School Services Agreement with Bright, Beginnings and Beyond to provide Occupational Therapy during the 2025-2026 school Year at an hourly rate of $80.00 an increase of $8.00/hr., a flat fee of $225 for evaluations and $175 for Re-evaluations, no change from last year.

Motions Tabled:

• Motion to approve the Police Protection Agreement between the Ellwood City Borough, Ellwood City Police and the District from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028. The rate for all events except dances increased from $145 to $165 for EC officers and from $90 to $100 for non-EC officers with dance coverage from $70 to $100 and $60 for non-EC officers.