ECASD Board of Directors Approves Bids for North Side Primary Capital Improvements

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors voted to award bids for improvement and renovation projects at North Side Primary and Lincoln High School during its regular monthly meeting.

The board awarded the following bids for North Side Primary work: General Construction – Fred L. Burns, Inc in the amount of $746,450.00; HVAC Construction – Renick Brothers Construction Co. in the amount of $1,577,000.00; Plumbing Construction – Renick Brothers Construction Co. in the amount of $126,200.00; Electrical Construction – Blackhawk Neff, Inc. in the amount of $529,545.00; and Testing, Balancing, and Commissioning, to WAE Balancing in the amount of $61,000.00.

The original study indicating the  summary of necessary renovations/updates as well as probable costs can be found here. The board voted to fund the improvements in November of 2025 . Although at the time some board members voted “No,” it was not because they didn’t want the work done, but wondered if they could hold off until they could determine if the district could secure any grant money to help fund the projects. All members of the board have stood by their stance of a concern to keep students “warm, safe, and dry,” with an emphasis on the need for repairs to the HVAC systems at both North Side Primary and Hartman.

According to Superintendent Amy Anderson, all approved bids were the lowest, and came in at least $1 million below original estimates.

Work at North Side, according to the study, is to begin this month and projected to be completed in March 2027.

They also approved the resurfacing of the Lincoln High School gym floor with All American Athletics at a cost of $38,200.00.

The Board voted to approve a Resolution for Public School Facility Improvement Grant for Hartman Intermediate School improvements and renovations in the amount of $1,214,778 from the Commonwealth Financing Authority.

They, according to the original study are set to award bids for the Hartman project in September of 2026,  with construction beginning in October of 2026, and completion of the project is slated for December of 2027.

New Business:

Director Kevin Boariu requested that the board revisit the nepotism policy at the next meeting.

Other motions passed:

• Motion to approve February 2, 2026, Committee Meeting Minutes, February 9, 2026, Regular Meeting Minutes, and February 20, 2026, Special Meeting Minutes.
• Motion to approve the MIU IV 2026-27 General Operating Budget totaling $4,552,816.00 a $110,031.00 over the 2025-26 budget with the District contribution of $649,135.00 unchanged.
• Motion to approve the MIU IV E-Rate Letter of Agency for the 2026-27 school year.
• Motion to approve the purchase of the Open System PA System at Lincoln High School at a cost of $89.884 paid for with grant money.
• Motion to retroactively approve the agreement with Mullen Coughlin LLC.
• Motion to approve the Early Retirement Incentive MOU for EAEA.
• Motion to accept the following resignations for the purpose of retirement effective June 6, 2026, in accordance with the Early Retirement Incentive of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the District and EAEA:
  • Pam MacMurdo, first grade teacher.
  • Heather Haswell, second grade teacher.
  • DeAnna McMillen, learning support teacher.
  • Lisa Beatrice, 4th grade teacher.
  • John DiBuono, LHS Phys Ed teacher.
• Motion to approve the following resignations:
  • Jodi Bird, NS Cafeteria worker, effective retroactively to Friday, February 13, 2026.
  • Mike Nocera, LHS Custodian, for the purpose of retirement effective August 6, 2026.
• Motion to approve additional Spring Coaches for the 2025-26 school year:
  • Todd Emswiler, Jr. High Assistant Baseball Coach.
  • Steven Simeoni, Volunteer Baseball Coach.
  • Britney Bischoff, Volunteer Softball Coach.
  • Steve Santillo, Assistant Softball Coach.
• Motion to hire Haeley Barker and Sarah Edinger as cafeteria workers in accordance with the current SEIU 32 BJ Bargaining Unit Agreement.
• Motion to hire Cami Blank as full time custodian in accordance with SEIU 32 BJ Bargaining Unit Agreement.
• Motion to approve the following bus drivers with ABC Transit:
  • David Davis
  • Nancy McCool
  • James Mings
  • Patricial McClean – Monitor
  • Tiffany Cass
  • John Love – Van driver
• Motion to approve the following teachers for tenure who have completed six successful semesters with a Satisfactory evaluation:
  • Mia Edder, Hartman Special Ed Teacher.
• Motion to approve FMLA Leaves for the 2025-26 school year in accordance with the Family Medical Leave Act and Policy #335 for four employees.
• Motion to approve the following substitute support staff.
  • Kristin Aquino-Tritt, cafeteria worker.
• Approve the following Facility requests:
  • Wrecking Crew Wrestling Club requests the LHS small gym, big gym, or cafeteria for an offseason wrestling club to grow the wrestling program from March to mid June on Monday, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays.
  • Blue Band Boosters requests the visitor side concession stand at Helling Stadium for the entire 2026-27 school year for concessions and storage.
  • Blue Band Boosters requests the Joffre Street Parking lot for EC Arts and Crafts Festival parking from July 2, 2026 through July 6, 2026.
  • EC Football head coach, Sean McConahy, is requesting to use Helling Stadium on Wednesday, May 27, 2026 from 3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. to host a college prospect camp with West Liberty University.
• Motion to approve a contract with Brian Speer, Chief of Ellwood City Area School District Police, to purchase safety and security items for the district.
• Motion to approve the following field trips/social events:
  • History Club trip to Flight 93 Memorial has been changed to May 29, 2026.
  • EC Varsity Football would like to take approximately 40 students to Kamin Science Center in Pittsburgh to see the IMAX show Football Town on Friday, March 6, 2026. The bus would depart at 3:00 p.m. and return at approximately 6:30 p.m.
  • 12 Advanced Math students grade 10-11 would like to travel to Penn West (Edinboro University) on school vans to attend PI Day on Thursday, March 19, 2026. The vans would depart at 7:45 a.m. and return at approximately 2:30 p.m.
• Motion to approve the following new/revised policy that has been on display since the last meeting:
  • Policy #105.2 Exemption from Instruction
• Motion to approve that Policy #917-Parental/Family Involvement, Policy #918 – Title I Parental Involvement, and Attachment 918.1 ECASD Title I Parent and Family Engagement be acknowledged and incorporated into the minutes of this evening’s meeting as they have been reviewed and are in compliance with federal law.
• Motion to approve the Comprehensive Plan of the Ellwood City Area School District for 2026-2029 as required by the Department of Education and State Board Regulations
• Motion to approve 2026-27 School Calendar revised for ADA compliance.
• Motion to approve that Elizabeth Hawkins, a Lincoln High School teacher’s child be approved to attend the Ellwood City Area School District for the 2026-27 school year as non resident student in accordance with Policy #202 at no cost to her.
• Motion to approve Lincoln High School to use Snap Mobile as a fundraiser to benefit Lincoln Sports Teams in accordance with Policy #702.1 Crowdfunding.
• Motion to approve North Side Primary to use 99 Pledges as a fundraiser to benefit PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports in accordance with Policy #702.1 Crowdfunding.
• Motion to hold commencement indoors in the Sgt. Leslie H. Sabo Jr. Memorial Auditorium on Thursday, June 4, 2026.