ECASD Board of Directors Votes to Not Appeal Findings of Court of Common Pleas Regarding Softball Field

The Ellwood City Area School District will not appeal the findings of the Court of Common Pleas denying a proposed softball field in the Ewing Park School location.

The ECASD Board of Directors voted on a motion to approve the Notice of Appeal filed in Case No. 70012 of 2025 MD in the Court of Common Pleas of Lawrence County during the July 14 Combined meeting of the board.

The motion failed following “No” votes from Kevin Boariu; Kathy Galbreath; Kathy Tillia; and Norman Boots. “Yes” votes were cast by Jennifer Tomon, board president; Jean Biehls, board vice president; Dr. Claire Fauzey; and Robyn Nicklas. Board member Erica Gray was absent from the meeting.

The Ellwood City Area School District’s appeal of the Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Adjudication of the Zoning Hearing Board of the Borough of Ellwood City was denied in June in the Court of Common Pleas of Lawrence County.

At that time, Judge John Hodge decided that the district is precluded from constructing the proposed project at that location “as it failed to comply with the Ellwood City Borough Zoning Ordinance” affirming the January 17, 2025, decision of the Ellwood City governing body.

Study Option 1

Proceeding the vote to not appeal the case, and during the public comment period, two Ewing Park residents spoke to urge the board to not move forward with the appeal.

Karen Mancini, Chairperson for The Citizens for Ewing Park Preservation (CEPP) said she did not understand why the board chose the Ewing Park School location in the first place instead of the others for the proposed softball field. She said the location was denied by the Ellwood City Zoning Board and then solidified by a judge.

“We are asking that you do not appeal again,” she said.

LeAnn Houk, who lives on South Second Street, also asked the board to stop the appeal process.

“You are wasting taxpayer dollars,” she said.

Houk said she has numerous properties in the borough including a business and said she is paying enough.

“You don’t even want to know the taxes I pay,” she said.

Houk also added that she did not think the proposed location made sense.

“Why do you want it shoved into this tiny section?” she asked. “Please consider the taxpayer burden. We are done.”

The board however did approve a proposal for a revised feasibility study of facility improvements of the Sanders and Freidhoff fields, which would provide additional options for a softball field. HHSDR engineers had previously provided a study including two options. Option number one was located by the baseball stadium and option number two was the Ewing Park School location.

Other motions passed:

• Motion to approve the June 26, 2025, Combined Meeting Minutes.
• Motion to approve vision insurance renewals for the District’s Administration, Professional Personnel and School Service Personnel plans for 10/01/2025 through 10/1/2028.
• Motion to approve the following teacher mentors for the 2025-26 school year:
  • Maggie Pringle as mentor for second year teacher, McKayla Donofrio.
  • Mykkia Sipe as mentor for newly hired Perry ES teacher, Ava Ekstam.
  • Justine Oliva as mentor for Madeline DeLucio as long-term substitute for Stacy Sprague grade 3, during 2025-26 school year.
  • Tracy Craig as mentor for Teryl Rice, Secondary Music Teacher.
  • Jody Weir as mentor for Ashley Furr, Secondary English Language Arts Teacher.
  • Dena Noble as mentor for second year math teacher, Tyla Bentel at LHS.
  • Mandie Szakelyhidi as mentor for second year teacher, Sierra Denholm at LHS.
  • Jennifer Byers as mentor for second year second grade teacher, Hannah Morini DiCaprio.
• Motion to approve the following resignations:
  • Linda Dallies, Special Ed Secretary, for the purpose of retirement effective August 16, 2025.
• Motion to retroactively approve the Agreement with the Ellwood City Police Department effective from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2028.
• Motion to Recognize Booster Groups as affiliate organizations of the Ellwood City Area School District for the 2025-26 School year:
  • LHS Blue Band Boosters
  • Hall of Fame Committee
  • EC Varsity & Jr. High Cheer Boosters
  • EC Football Boosters
  • EC Baseball Boosters
  • Wolverine PTO
  • EC Cross Country and Track and Field
• Motion to approve the re-establishment of a Bowling Club Team for grades 7-12.
• Motion to approve the following policies that have been on display since the last board meeting:
  • Policy #626 Federal Fiscal Compliance
  • Policy #626.1 Travel Reimbursement/Federal Programs
  • Policy #827 Conflict of Interest
• Motion to approve a budgeted stipend of $500 for the following faculty members as sponsors of the “Reel Adventures” fishing program:
  • Mike Garvin
  • Curt Agostinelli
  • Tom Natale
  • Shelby Beck