ECASD Board of Directors Appoint Financial Professionals to Evaluate Funding for Renovation Project

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors voted unanimously on Monday night to approve a resolution to appoint professionals to assist in the evaluation of financing for a proposed district renovation project including HVAC, plumbing, and electrical improvements to North Side Primary School and Hartman Intermediate School.

The resolution appoints the firm of PNC Capital Markets, LLC (the “Investment Banker”) as managing underwriter and the firm of Dinsmore & Shohl LLP (the “Bond Counsel”) as bond counsel to advise and assist the School District regarding the consideration, authorization, issuance and sale of the Bonds, in one or more series in one or more calendar years, to finance the Project. It also appoints the president of the board and the superintendent (each, a “Designated Officer”) thereby allowing them standard engagement with and disclosure letters of such firms.

Prior to the vote, Superintendent Dr. Amy Anderson reiterated to the board that voting for this motion was simply a vote to further open up the lines of communication with financial experts to analyze funding and not a vote to secure it. Anderson said any vote to secure funding would happen separately.

Matt Lentz, CEO of EDM, A financial and operations consulting firm for education, special districts, and municipalities, and consultant for the district also spoke before the vote encouraging the board to take the explorative action now citing three factors. He said 1. The necessity of the project; 2. The financial climate and opportunity that rates are changing and possibly declining; and 3. A possible opportunity for grant funding that would help ease the financial burden of the project.

Lentz was referring to The Facility Improvement Grant, the new name for the older Pennsylvania public school funding program, which was formerly known as PlanCon. PlanCon was the process for school districts to apply for reimbursement for approved construction and renovation projects. The new program provides direct grants and aims to provide funds for urgent needs like roof repairs, HVAC, health and safety upgrades, and energy-saving projects.

Other motions passed:

• Motion to approve Minutes from September 8, 2025, Committee Meeting and September 11, 2025, Regular Meeting.
• Motion to approve Change Order 27R-1 – Demo Sidewalk and Waterproof Wall at a cost of $92,300.35.
• Motion to approve a 60-month lease with Quadient Leasing USA Inc. for a new postage meter at a cost of $215.70 per month a $43.00 per month increase from the 2021 lease.
• Motion to approve Additional substitutes for 2025-26 school year:
  • Victoria George – Cafeteria and Clerical
• Motion to hire Salie Grinnen as Instructional Aide for the 2025-26 school year in accordance with the current SEIU 32 BJ Bargaining Agreement.
• Motion to accept the resignation of JoEllen Eichler, LHS Cafeteria worker, effective September 12, 2025.
• Motion to hire Robert Rorick and Marybeth Spielvogel as cafeteria workers for the 2025-26 school year in accordance with the current 32 BJ SEIU Bargaining Agreement.
• Motion to hire Rebecca Rhodes as a full time Custodian for the 2025-26 school year in accordance with the current 32 BJ SEIU Bargaining Agreement.
• Motion to approve the following Family Medical Leaves in accordance with the Family Medical Leave Act and Policy 335:
  • Beth Clyde, LHS Custodian, Intermittent leave effective September 8, 2025, to June 5, 2026.
  • Jill Folino, NS Teacher, effective September 22, 2025, to November 2025.
  • Minetta Bowman, NS Teacher, intermittent leave for the 2025-26 school year.
• Motion to approve the following additional bus drivers for ABC Transit for the 2025-26 school year:
  • Deborah Matoka – CDL
  • Shelbi Lyons – CDL
  • Richard Winchell – Substitute Van driver
  • Sarah Walton- CDL
  • Karen Wilson – CDL
• Motion to approve the following Facility requests:
  • Rotary Club of Ellwood City is requesting the use of the Sgt. Leslie H. Sabo Jr. Memorial Auditorium for the Duquesne Tamburitzans performance on Sunday, April 19, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with the performance beginning after 1:00 p.m.
  • EC Little Wolverines is retroactively requesting additional dates to their already approved facility use of the Helling Stadium for Saturday, September 20, 2025, and Saturday, October 4, 2025.
• Motion to approve the following field trips/social events:
  • History Club would like to take approximately 48 students on thier annual trip to Historic Triangle (Williamsburg, Yorktown, and Jamestown) by bus on Saturday, May 16, 2026, to Tuesday, May 19, 2026. The bus would depart at 7:00 a.m. and return at approximately 8:00 p.m.
• Motion to approve the Midwestern IU IV Itinerant Occupational Therapy Agreement for North Side Primary from October 2025 to November 2025 at a cost of $2,340.00.
• Motion to approve the following New/Revised Policies that have been on display since the last meeting:
  • Policy 102 Academic Standards
  • Policy 105 Curriculum
  • Policy 122 Extracurricular Activities
  • Policy 123 Interscholastic Athletics
  • Policy 209.2 Diabetes Management
• Motion to approve the attachment Time and Effort Reporting Policy for Federal and State Grants Policy 626.