ECASD Board of Directors Reorganizes, Welcomes Newcomer, Announces Meeting 2026 Dates

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors held its election of officers for 2026 during Thursday’s combined meeting.

The meeting began with swearing in re-elected and newly elected board members including: Norman Boots, Claire Fauzey, Kathy Galbreath, Nick Mancini, and Kathy Tillia.

Galbreath will serve as board president for 2026. She was nominated by Boots and received votes from Boots, Director Kevin Boariu, Tillia, and Mancini. Board President for 2025, Jennifer Tomon, was also nominated by Director Jean Biehls and received votes from Biehls, Director Erica Gray, and Fauzey.

Boots will serve as board vice president for 2026. He was nominated by Tillia and received votes from Tillia, Galbreath, Boariu, and Mancini. Fauzey was also nominated by Biehls and received votes from Biehls, Gray, and Tomon.

The board also announced and approved meeting dates for 2026. Meetings will start at 7 p.m.

Motion to appoint Tucker Arensberg, PC to serve as District Solicitor.

In other news

The board voted to approve Act 1 Opt Out Resolution not to exceed the Act Index of 4.9% with regard to property tax for 2026-2027. In Pennsylvania, this act allows a school district to avoid the Act 1 budget process by certifying they will not raise real estate taxes beyond a set inflation index, in this case 4.9%.

They also voted to unanimously to approve a change order for two restrooms in the auditorium. Cost to restore use to the girls restroom is $9,276.85 and for the boys $9,65153. Before the vote, the board discussed options including closing the restrooms, which would force anyone attending events in the auditorium to use the entrance to the hallway at the left of the stage to find an alternate bathroom. Biehls said she feels that would be a distraction to any event featured on the stage and might interfere with events like musical productions as sometimes students featured in such productions enter the auditorium as part of the production from that area. Others also cited concerns about how far the next nearest restrooms are in relation to the auditorium and considered the need for handicap access.

During the public comment period at the end of the meeting, district resident Emily Denome, asked the board if the added expense was necessary. She questioned how much the restrooms are used and suggested that should have been considered before the board voted to spend the money.

“Surely they are not used that often,” she said.

Other motions passed

• Motion to approve November 10, 2025, Committee Meeting Minutes, November 13, 2025, Regular Meeting Minutes and November 18, 2025, Special Meeting Minutes.
• Motion to approve the following change orders for the LHS renovations:
  • Change Order EC-9 for $18,200.00
  • Change Order HC-11 for $46,981.82
• Motion to appoint Matthew Lentz, Consulting Business Manager, as the Pennsylvania OPEB Trust Liaison.
• Motion to approve the AMCA Systems, LLC proposal of $3,050 for a software license for employee reporting and filing requirements for the 2025 tax year be approved as presented.
• Motion to approve the following Family Medical Leaves in accordance with the Family Medical Leave Act and Policy 335:
  • Employee 0001 for an intermittent leave for the remainder of the 2025-26 school year.
  • Employee 0002 for leave from December 17, 2025, to January 9, 2026.
• Motion to approve that David Poore, a Lincoln High School teacher’s second 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 teacher mentors:
  • Julia Meyer and Heidi Feltrop as the teacher co-mentors for Emily Keltz, Elementary Librarian/Gifted.
  • Changing the Teacher Mentor for Ashley Furr, Secondary English, from Jody Weir to Rob Brough.
• Motion to accept the following resignations:
  • Antoine McCants as 8th grade basketball coach effective immediately.
  • Anna Marie Torres, Perry cafeteria worker, effective December 1, 2025.
  • Lisa Brough, Perry cafeteria worker, for the purpose of retirement, effective January 5, 2026.
• Motion to approve Bryan Neghiu as 8th grade basketball coach for the 2025-26 school year.
• Motion to approve Additional substitutes for 2025-26 school year:
  • Leeann Drake – Cafeteria
• Purchase school zone signage for Hartman Intermediate School not to exceed $4,700.00. (Superintendent Amy Anderson said the district met with borough officials who also agreed to purchase a sign and complete installation. The total project cost will be approximately $9,000.)
• Motion to Approve the following field trips/social events:
  • Snow Sports Club would like to take approximately 20 students on a ski trip to Peek’n Peak on Saturday, January 10, 2026. Charter bus would leave at 7:00 a.m. and return at approximately 9:00 p.m.
  • Concert Choir (Grades 9-12) would like to take 4 students to the PMEA District Chorus 3-day event at Hickory High School in Hermitage, PA by school van. The van will depart at 1:50 p.m. on January 8, 2026, and return at approximately 5:30 p.m. on January 10, 2026.
  • 7th and 8th grade choir would like to take 4 students to PMEA Junior High Chorus Fest at Grove City High School in Grove City, PA on January 16, 2026. The van will depart at 7:40 a.m. and return at approximately 10:00 p.m.
• Motion to approve the Allegheny Intermediate Unit Joint Purchasing Agreement for the 2026-27 School Year.
• Motion to approve MIU IV Joint Purchasing Agreement for the 2026-2027 school year.
• Motion to approve disposal of old risers from Lincoln High School and old basketball uniforms in accordance with Policy #706.1.

Announcements

• Nathan Brown, Elementary Physical Education teacher, will run a Winter/Spring program for North Side Primary students – Kids of Steel running program from January 14, 2026 – March 25, 2026, after school until 4:30 p.m. leading up to the Pittsburgh Marathon.
• EC Cross Country Boosters is holding a Color Run from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Ewing Park along Riverside Drive and Washington Avenue and the Veterans Memorial Building Facilities.