Ellwood City Girls Softball Team to Seek Neighboring School District Fields for Home Games

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors voted to allow the girls softball team to use neighboring school districts’ fields for home games during the August 14th Regular Meeting.

The girls previously played at Stiefel Park on a field owned by the borough, but they will not return to Stiefel in their upcoming season.

The board expressed safety concerns and a deterioration of the field as the reasoning for seeking play at neighboring districts’ fields. Board members also stated that they no longer wish to invest money into any improvements to the field at Stiefel Park.

“I’m not comfortable putting a dime into it,” said Board Member Kevin Boariu.

Boariu said he recently took an in-person look at the Stiefel Park field and said it’s simply not suitable for play. He said he believes the condition of the field will continue to decline.

There will be a cost associated with using other districts’ fields, but that cost has yet to be determined based on where the games will be played.

The decision was made as the softball team awaits a permanent home. The board voted in July to not appeal the findings of the Court of Common Pleas denying a proposed softball field in the Ewing Park School location. 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.

Superintendent Dr. Amy Anderson said although the engineering firm is currently conducting the study, it is unlikely that a permanent option would be in place in enough time for the upcoming season.

The ECASD had initially approved plans to construct new softball field in Ewing Park in 2023 but was met with many local residents expressing their opposition to the location of the new softball field.

Other Motions Passed:

• Motion to approve Minutes from July 14, 2025, Combined Meeting.
• Motion to Change authorized account signers at Northwest Bank from Richard Zarone and Jen Tomon to Dr. Amy Anderson and Daniel Parson.
• Approve purchase of FMX, a single platform for technology tickets, maintenance tickets, and facility requests at a cost of first year – $9,700 and the following year $9,200 per year.
• Motion to retroactively approve $42,334.04 for exterior storm drain routing at Lincoln High School.
• Motion to approve the list of Activity Sponsors for the 2025-26 school year.
• Motion to approve clerical, custodial and cafeteria substitute lists for 2025-26 school year.
• Motion to hire Ashley Boots as a 4-hour cafeteria worker in accordance with the current SEIU Agreement for the 2025-26 school year.
• Motion to approve ABC Transit Bus Drivers for the 2025-26 school year.
• Motion to hire Emma Szakelyhidi as an Instructional Aide in accordance with the current SEIU 32 BJ Bargaining Unit Agreement for the 2025-26 school year.
• Motion to approve the agreement for crossing guard services between the District and the Ellwood City Borough as presented.
• Motion to approve the following FMLA requests in accordance with Policy #335 and the Family and Medical Leave Act:
  • Leigh Walko, Perry daylight custodian, is requesting an intermittent family medical leave for the 2025-26 school year.
  • Marilynn Gottuso, Hartman Secretary, is requesting an intermittent family medical leave for the 2025-26 school year.
• Motion to approve the additional following coaches for the 2025-26 school year:
  • Robin Hertzler volunteer bowling club coach.
  • Saige Chambers, 7th and 8th grade girls basketball.
• Motion to accept the following resignations:
  • Desiree Burns, Director of Pupil Services effective August 8, 2025.
  • Krista Shepler, Instructional Aide effective August 6, 2025.
  • Alyssa Myers, Instructional Aide, effective August 11, 2025.
  • Susan Dreher, Instructional Aide, for the purpose of retirement, effective September 1, 2025.
• Motion to move Jaimie Rennie from School Psychologist to Director of Pupil Services effective August 15, 2025, at a salary of $95,000 in accordance with the Act 93 Agreement.
• Motion to make changes to Director of Pupil Services job description.
• Motion to increase the current sub rate of $100 per day for daily building subs to $115.00.
• Motion to approve a mentor program for Dr. Jamie Rennie not to exceed $3000.00.
• Motion to approve Dr. Anderson to attend the PASA New Superintendent Academy at a cost of $2000.00.
• Motion to approve a Memorandum of Understanding with the SEIU regarding Stadium Clean Up for the 2025-26 school year as presented.
• Motion to allow Shannon McGuire, Lincoln High School teacher’s child to be approved to attend the Ellwood City Area School District for the 2025-26 school year as a non-resident student at no cost to her in accordance with Policy #202.
• Motion to approve the following Facility requests:
  • REC Wrestling is requesting the use of the North Side gym for REC Wrestling practices from October 1, 2025, through March 13, 2026, for 1.5 hour a night between 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the principal’s discretion.
  • REC Wrestling is requesting to use the Lincoln Big gym and Cafeteria for a Wrestling tournament on Saturday, November 15, 2025, from 6:30 am to 5:00 pm.
  • EC Little Wolverines is requesting the use of Helling Stadium for Little Wolverine games on August 30, 2025, September 6, 2025, and September 13, 2025, following other district games at Athletic Directors discretion.\
  • ECLW Hoops is requesting the use of Hartman Gym for Little Dribblers K-2 basketball program on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. October to November 26, 2025, and then Grades 3-6 boys and girls basketball practice Monday-Thursday from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. from October through March.
  • ECLW Hoops is requesting the use of LHS small gym for the end of season showcase for parents to attend on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, with alternate dates of November 24 or November 26 from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Athletic Directors discretion.
  • Hall of Fame Committee is requesting to use the Perry Lower Intermediate parking lot to hold the Annual Gary Rozanski Memorial Car Show on Saturday, August 16, 2025, from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm with the event being held from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
  • ABC Transit has requested to use the Hartman or Lincoln Cafeteria on August 22, 2025, for a luncheon for their bus drivers.
• Motion to Approve the disposal of obsolete, unused, and damaged equipment, from the Technology office in accordance with Policy 706.1.
• Motion to Recognize Booster Groups as affiliate organizations of the Ellwood City Area School District for the 2025-26 School year:
  • Ellwood City Jr-Sr Varsity Wrestling Boosters Club
  • Ellwood City Soccer Boosters
  • Ellwood City Wolverine Golf Boosters
• Motion to approve the annual Statement of Non-Discrimination for the 2025-26 school year.
• Motion to approve the Annual Notice to Parents and Eligible Students on the Family Education and Privacy Rights (FERPA) and State Board Policies for the 2025-26 school year.
• Motion to approve the Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit Special Ed Contract for Programs and services for the 2025-26 school year at a cost per student of $44,500.00 for 4 students, a total cost of $178,000.00, no increase from last year.
• Motion to approve the Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit English as a Second Language (ESL) program for the 2025-26 school year at a cost of $115.00 per hour per student an increase of $5.00 per hour per student from last year.
• Motion to approve the Agreement with Watson Institute – The Education Center Sewickley for the 2025-26 school year at a cost of $66,902 per student, with one student enrolled.
• Motion to approve changes to the Secondary Handbook as presented (Board President Jennifer Tomon voted “no”).
• Motion to approve a foreign exchange student with FLAG (Foreign Links Around The Globe) from Germany for the 2025-26 school year to reside with a district family.
• Motion to permit any current district employee to present the diploma to their child at commencement.
• Motion to approve the following new or revised policy for first reading:
  • Policy #202 – Eligibility of Nonresident Students
• Motion to approve the Community Advertisement Request Form in accordance with Policy 913.1 – Advertising and Other Commercial Activity on School Property.

Tabled motions:

• American Red Cross request to use the Lincoln High School in the case of a disaster.
• A request by the Ellwood City Area Historical Society to place a 4′ x 3′ banner on a 12′ metal pole provided and installed by the borough on the Beatrice Avenue side of the right foul line fence at Sanders Field for Dick Allen, a Chewton raised Major League Baseball player who was scouted by the MLB at a game held at Sanders Field on July 17, 1959, and later became inducted into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

Failed motions:

• Motion to approve the proposal for new signage at LHS at an estimated cost of $10,000 as presented.