ECASD Board of Directors Vote to Fund North Side, Hartman Capital Improvements

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors voted 5-3 to Adopt a Resolution, as prepared by Bond Counsel, authorizing the issuance of General Obligation Bonds, in an amount not to exceed $11,905,000, for capital improvements to the School District’s educational facilities  (View a copy of the study here).

Directors Kathy Galbreath, Kathy Tillia, and Kevin Boariu voted “No” on the motion. Director Norman Boots was absent from the meeting.

Before the vote, district resident Lynn Jones spoke out against the resolution citing a concern for a raise in taxes. She said that residents cannot afford yearly increases to their taxes and that they have endured increases each year since 2021. She said some are at risk of losing their homes. With an average payment of $700,000 a year the bond will cause a tax increase for 2026-2027.

“You are always in our pockets for something,” she said.

Board members in support of the bond issuance have cited a concern to keep students “warm, safe, and dry,” with an emphasis on the need for repairs to the HVAC systems at North Side and Hartman.

Directors Claire Fauzey and Erica Gray said the renovations/improvements are necessary and unavoidable to provide the proper environment for students.

Fauzey said the board has gotten to this place by putting off these improvements for decades. She believes putting it off any longer will only add to the cost for taxpayers in the future.

Dr. Amy Anderson, superintendent of ECASD, said the HVAC systems at both North Side and Hartman are in need for repair. She said securing the bond now would allow for the renovation project to begin during the summer when the building will be mostly empty. She said with Northside at capacity, students would not be able to be moved around to accommodate the construction like they were during renovation projects at Perry and Lincoln.

Board members who voted “No” cited a desire to wait and see how much funding the district would receive from potential grant money.

“Can we table this until we find out the money available?” asked Director Galbreath before the vote. “We might not have to do this and cause a tax burden.”

Director Boariu also wanted to wait and see what outside help is available to the district before securing a bond.

Matt Lentz, CEO of EDM, A financial and operations consulting firm for education, special districts, and municipalities, and consultant for the district spoke before the vote encouraging the board to take action on the bond now citing a few key factors. Some of those factors include: 1. The necessity of the project; 2. The financial climate and constantly changing rates that could cost the district more if putting securing the funding off until a later date; and 3. A possible opportunity for infrastructure improvement 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.

Despite pushback from a few board members, to wait and see how much of the project that grant might cover, Lentz said it would likely not be enough to cover the entire project and depending on other fund balances (such as the general fund) to cover the construction costs is unadvisable as those are meant to cover other costs such as payroll.

Although, according to the study, the probable cost of the projects is approximately $9.9 million, the General Obligation Bonds, are in an amount not to exceed $11,905,000. Dr. Anderson told Ellwoodcity.org after the meeting that the district has no plan to exceed the proposed cost of the project and that a markup is added as a cushion for buying and selling. (View a copy of the resolution here).

“The district has no intention of going over,” she said.

According to the facility study, a proposed timeline for the North Side project indicates a little over a year of construction beginning in March 3, 2026 and commencing on March 30, 2027 and for Hartman construction beginning October 1, 2026 and commencing on December 15, 2027.

Other news:

A school crossing guard urged the board to do something about the speeding cars at the intersection of 4th and Crescent Avenues. Crossing Guard Peri Malcolm also attended the October 20th regular meeting of council to urge action.

Malcolm, school crossing guard, said the amount of cars speeding in the mornings and afternoons while school children are walking to school is alarming. Malcolm takes her post from 7:10 to 8 a.m. and again from 2:10 to 3 p.m. and it’s always the same thing: speeding vehicles. And she said it’s not just students driving to school that are to blame for the behavior, she said it’s everyone down to the large trucks making deliveries to the schools, school faculty, and adults of all ages. Malcolm said on busy days she helps cross 35 to 40 kids.

“I have almost been hit by cars numerous times,” she said as she pleaded with the board. “A kid is going to get killed, and it could be one of your kids. You guys are the ones who are in charge of funding. Please do something.”

Victoria Kinkaid, district resident and Malcolm’s niece said she has done research on systems that other districts use to help curb speeding in school zones. She offered to share her findings with the board.

Other Motions passed:

• Motion to approve Minutes from October 6, 2025, Committee Meeting and October 9, 2025 Regular Meeting.
• The following students are being recognized for their outstanding achievement in being selected as a recipient of the College Board National Recognition Program.  They have earned the National Top School Recognition, a prestigious honor that highlights their academic performance:
  • Kiley LeViere
  • Mia Meredith
  • Rori Minerd
  • Quinn Smith
• Motion to approve the following Change Orders:
  • GC-13 for the Lincoln High School renovations in the amount of $17,373.33.
  • PC-17 for the Lincoln High School renovations in the amount of $28,509.30
• Motion to accept the following resignations:
  • Bridget Sereday, Elementary Librarian and Gifted Coordinator effective October 14, 2025.
  • Robert Rearick, LHS cafeteria worker, effective October 17, 2025.
  • Jessica Blackwood, Instructional Aide, North Side Primary, effective October 17, 2025.
  • Beth Clyde, LHS Custodian, effective November 11, 2025.
• Motion to approve the following Family Medical Leaves in accordance with the Family Medical Leave Act and Policy 335:
  • Michelle Remler, Instructional Aide, North Side Primary, effective October 27, 2025, to November 17, 2025.
  • Katlin Speer, Instructional Aide, LHS, effective December 2, 2025, to February 25, 2026.
  • Lisa Beatrice, Perry Teacher, effective November 15, 2025, to December 15, 2025.
  • Charlene Lucarelli, Perry Nurse, intermittent leave effective for the 2025-26 school year.
• Motion to approve the following additional bus drivers for ABC Transit for the 2025-26 school year:
  • Diana Pearson – Van driver
• Motion to approve the 2025-26 Winter Coaches
• Motion to approve the following as Activity Sponsors for the 2025-26 school year:
  • Brian Burkhart for Jr. and Sr. High Drama Club and Full evening performance, for a total of 12 units.
  • Ashley Furr as a Commencement Advisor, shared with Lisa Hollencamp for 4 units shared.
  • Alexis Reisinger as Musical Artistic Director at 15 units.
  • Casey Falotico as Musical Choreographer at 10 units.
  • Teryl Rice as Musical Director at 21 units.
  • Teryl Rice as Musical Piano Accompanist at 10 units.
  • Christine Confer as Musical Producer at 15 units.
  • Lee Caldwell as Musical Technical Director at 7 units.
• Motion to approve Esther DeMary as a LHS musical volunteer.
• Motion to approve Bryan Neghiu, LHS Instructional Aide, to take a leave of absence from January 5, 2026, to March 6, 2026, to complete his student teaching assignment.
• Motion to approve the following as student teachers for the spring 2026 semester:
  • Marina Stewart, Slippery Rock University, ELA 7-12 with Jody Weir from January 20, 2026, to March 13, 2026 and Casey Falotico from March 17, 2026, to May 7, 2026.
  • Bryan Neghiu, Point Park University, K-12 Special Ed, with Tina Emerick from January 5, 2026, to March 5, 2026.
• Motion to approve Addy Lake as an independent/individual gymnast representing the district for the 2025-26 school year under the coaching of Terri Gazda from Monaca Turners Gymnastics.
• Motion to approve Settlement Agreement and Release substantially in the form presented
• Motion to approve extended season pay for coaches that advanced their teams to postseason play as presented.
• Motion to approve that David Poore, a Lincoln High School teacher’s child be approved to attend the Ellwood City Area School District for the remainder of the 2025-26 school year as non-resident student in accordance with Policy #202 at no cost to him.
• Motion to approve the following Facility requests:
  • Lincoln High School Cheer Boosters is requesting the use of Helling Stadium on Friday, November 14, 2025m from 4:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. for their annual powderpuff game at the Athletic Directors discretion, with alternative dates of Thursday, November 13 of Saturday, November 15, 2025.
  • ECASD Alumni Hall of Fame Committee is requesting the use of the LHS cafeteria on Friday, December 12, 2025m for the Hall of Fame dinner. Set up beginning at 2:00 p.m. dinner 5:00 p.m. followed by Boys Basketball game.
  • EC Boys and Girls Basketball and Wrestling Boosters are requesting the use of the LHS Big gym for their Meet The Wolverine Night on Friday, November 21, 2025, from 7:00 -9:00 p.m.
• Motion to Approve the disposal of obsolete, unused, and damaged equipment, from the Technology office in accordance with Policy 706.1.
• Motion to approve the following field trips/social events:
  • Teryl Rice, Secondary choir teacher, is retroactively requesting to take 20 students 9-12 grade choir students by school bus to attend and perform at PMEA Contemporary A Cappela Showcase at Peters Township High School on November 1, 2025 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
  • Melissa Pigza and Dena Noble, Senior Class sponsors are requesting to take the senior class of 2026, approximately 80 students to Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio by coach bus on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. The bus would depart at 8:00 a.m. and return at approximately 8:00 p.m.
• Motion to approve the attachment Time and Effort Reporting Policy for Federal and State Grants Policy 626 that has been on display since the last meeting.
• Motion to approve MIU IV IDEA Section 611 and 619 Agreements for 2025-26.
• Motion to approve the CCBC High School Academy and Dual Enrollment Programming Agreement between the district and CCBC to give high school students the opportunity to earn college credits and explore future careers in their area of interest.
• Motion to approve Stipulated Agreement on Student A.