ECASD to Evaluate Three-Building Facility Configurations

Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors voted to authorize Superintendent Amy Anderson to investigate and evaluate potential three-building facility configurations for the Ellwood City Area School District, as an alternative to the district’s current four-building model.

It was stated that the decision is for planning and informational purposes only and does not constitute a decision or commitment by the Board to close, consolidate, or reconfigure any district facility.

The vote came following a Facilities Master Plan presentation by John Zahorchak, from EDM Consultants.

During the presentation, Zahorchak said that his presentation isn’t a recommendation to close a building but simply a tool to help the board decide what facilities configuration will best serve the students. He said that based on his research and data, the district can confidently consolidate based on enrollment projections, which shows a slow and gradual but continual decline in enrollment each year.

He said that should the district decide to close one of the buildings, they might want to consider Northside or Hartman as one of the choices. He said Lincoln can absorb 1 to 2 grades.

According to Zahorchak, any decision to close a building should not be taken lightly and should only be made after careful analysis by administration, with consideration of feedback from staff and also the community.

His presentation did not feature an option of closing Perry because he felt with the significant investment in the renovation of that facility and how efficiently it is operating, it would not be the best choice for closure, but the Board requested that he take a look to see if the cost savings would be more in closing Perry versus closing Northside or Hartman.

Library Donation

The board voted to decrease the yearly donation that they make to the Ellwood City Area Public Library from $27,500 to $20,000. The board had considered pausing the donation entirely based on the current financial situation of the district, but the donation was already budgeted and many Board members didn’t want to pause the donation entirely.

Before the vote, numerous representatives of the library spoke to encourage the Board to continue the donation.

Michelle Hand, president of the library’s board of trustees, said the library depends on the donation to help keep the doors open, helps pay the electric bill, and helps maintain staffing.

“Without it, we will have to make large concessions,” she said.

Becky Guisler, also a representative of the library said it’s one of very few places in the area where children can go at no cost and receive premium programming and support.

Board Directors Claire Fauzey and Erica Gray wanted to pause the donation because of the district’s financial situation.

Fauzey said in a world where the district has the money to make donations, she would support a donation and even give an increase if funds were available but feels at this time a donation isn’t fiscally responsible.

“Choosing to not give a donation is not a reflection on our appreciation of the library rather a reflection of the financial situation that we are in,” she said.

Following the vote, Hand thanked the Board for compromising in order to continue the donation to the library.

During public comment, District Parent Lisa Nardone expressed her thoughts on recent cuts the board has made. She said the little cuts are only impacting the students and are not the bigger cuts that need to made.

“It’s so disheartening,” she said. “Quit taking from the kids.”

Nardone asked the Board why they are here and expressed that the focus should be on the kids. She said that if the bond was not passed by many of the members that are currently serving on the Board, that the district would not be in financial trouble.

“It’s common sense,” she said. “It’s sad, very sad.”

Other motions passed

• Motion to approve the minutes from the August 3, 2026, Committee Meeting, August 10, 2026, Regular Meeting, and the August 19, 2026, Special Meeting.
• Motion to approve the following as support staff substitutes for the 2026-27 school year:
  1.  Christopher Brandt, cafeteria substitute
  2.  Theresa Quinn, cafeteria substitute
  3.  Elizabeth Baxendale, cafeteria substitute
• Motion to approve the following for Family Medical Leave in accordance with the Family Medical Leave Act and Policy #335 for four employees.
• Motion to approve a sabbatical leave for restoration of heath retroactively beginning August 27, 2026, and continuing through the end of the first semester of the 2026-27 school year.
• Motion to accept the resignation of Nicole Dixon, LHS Graphic Arts position, effective August 27, 2026.
• Motion to approve the MOU with the SEIU in regard to the job description change for the Technology Clerk/Graphic Arts position.
• Motion to approve the change to the Graphic Arts/Technology Clerk Job Description.
• Motion to hire Chelsea Johnson as Instructional Aide in accordance with the current SEIU 32BJ Bargaining Agreement, pending required paperwork.
• Motion to approve additional van drivers with ABC Transit for the 2026-27 school year:
  1.  Rachel Marks
  2.  Rene Baldwin
• Motion to approve the following as second year teacher mentors:
  1.  Tracy Craig as Teryl Rice’s second year mentor.
  2.  Julie Meyer as Emily Keltz’s second year mentor.
• Motion to approve the following facility requests:
  1.  EC Football Boosters is requesting the use of the LHS cafeteria to feed the football team every Thursday, beginning September 3, 2026, through October 30, 2026, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
  2.  REC Wrestling is requesting the use of the North Side Gymnatorium for wrestling practice on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays from October 12, 2026, until March 1, 2027, from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the principal’s discretion.
• Motion to recognize booster groups as affiliate organizations of the Ellwood City Area School District for the 2026-27 school year:
  1.  EC Football Boosters
  2.  LHS Softball Boosters
  3.  Wolverine Hoop Boosters
• Motion to approve a resolution recognizing approved booster/clubs of the district in order for the group to obtain a small game of chance license.
• Motion to approve a Service Agreement with Thompson Safety Works for annual fire extinguisher inspection and semi-annual kitchen suppression inspection.
• Motion to approve a service agreement with Industrial Commercial Elevator to furnish service quarterly per unit for all elevators in the district.
• Motion to approve the awarding of Varsity letters to eligible athletes of the Bowling Club in accordance with established District procedures and applicable lettering requirements.
• Motion to approve the following field trip:
  1.  Art Club 9-12 would like to go to PennWest Edinboro for a hands-on-workshop on Friday, October 23, 2026.  The school vans would depart at 7:00 a.m. and return at approximately 2:30 p.m.
• Motion to approve the Lawrence County Drug and Alcohol Commission Agreement for the 2026-27 school year for the Student Assistance Program 7-12 (SAP) at a cost of $4,376.00, no increase from last year.