The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors elected a president, vice president, and also appointed a new board member to a vacant seat.
Jennifer Tomon was named president in a unanimous vote by the board.
The board was split, however, on the vice president seat between Jean Biehls (supporters: Claire Fauzey, Erica Gray, and newly elected Kevin Boariu) and Kathy Galbreth (supporters: Norman Boots, Kathy Tillia, Jennifer Tomon). Following two roll call votes, the board would not sway on their choices.
Finally the tie was broken once Robyn Nicklas was appointed to fill the vacant seat left after the death of Gary Rozanski. Rozanski died on November 15 just days after he was reelected.
Biehls was ultimately elected to the seat of vice president.
The appointment of Nicklas wasn’t an easy one either, the board remained gridlocked and split between Nicklas and Renee Pitrelli, who ran during the municipal election in November but was not reelected. Galbreth motioned to appoint Pitrelli to the vacant seat and fought for her appointment insisting that the board take into consideration her more than 10 years of experience of serving. Boots, Tillia, and Tomon were also supporters of Pitrelli. Fauzey noted that Pitrelli was not chosen by the voters to serve on the board and as such should not get the seat. Gray agreed and said that the voters spoke. Boariu and Biehls also voted for Nicklas. Finally Tomon, in a second roll call vote, decided to change her vote to Nicklas in order for the board to move forward and fill the seat.
Other motions passed:
- Motion to approve November 6, 2023 Committee Meeting Minutes and November 9, 2023 Regular Meeting Minutes.
- Motion to Approve the General Fund Treasurer’s Report as follows:
- Tax Accounts $ 4,601,598.37
- PLGIT $ 25,365,202.90
- PSDLAF $ 1,453.01
- PA Invest $ 403.02
- WesBanco Checking $ 567,417.46
- PLGIT GF Prime/Term $ 2,094,778.77
- Total Cash and Investments $32,630,853.50
- Motion to approve the General Fund Accounts Payable Report.
- Motion to approve additional substitute for the 2023-24 school year: Shelbi Lyons for cafeteria, clerical, and custodial
- Motion to approve medical sabbaticals
- Motion to approve fall coaches for additional pay for advancing their teams to postseason play.
- Motion to Hire Cory Biego as a three hour cafeteria worker in accordance with the current SEIU Local 32 BJ Agreement effective November 28, 2023.
- Motion to approve the following additional coaches:
- Jake Alberts as Junior High Head Wrestling coach for the 2023-24 season.
- Broc Boariu as seventh grade boys basketball coach.
- Chris Biondi will be changed from seventh grade coach to volunteer boys basketball coach.
- Motion to approve the following facility request:
- Pam MacDonald, Dance Expressions, requests the use of the Sgt. Leslie H. Sabo, Jr. Memorial Auditorium and LHS small gym on Saturday, June 1, 2024 from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. for dress rehearsal, and Sunday, June 2, 2024 for from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. for their annual dance revue.
- EC Amateur Baseball Federation is requesting the use of the Lincoln High School big gym on Sunday, February 25, 2024 from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. for their annual skills assessment and draft of the youth baseball players for Spring 2024.
- Motion to approve Ellwood City Baseball Boosters as an additional booster organization.
- Motion to Approve the following field trips/social events:
- Dave Gaibis, 12 Grade AP Gov Teacher, requests to take 8 students on their annual trip to Philadelphia, PA from March 5 to March 7, 2024 by train. The students would depart at 5:30 a.m. on March 5 and return at approximately 10:00 p.m. on March 7, 2024.
- Dena Noble, Head Girls Basketball coach, requests to take the Girls basketball team to a Clarion University Women’s basketball game on Saturday, January 13, 2024. They would depart at 11:00 a.m. and return at approximately 6:00 p.m.
- Motion to approve the following new/revised policies that have been on display since the last board meeting:
- Motion to approve the Allegheny Intermediate Unit Joint Purchasing Agreement for the 2024-25 School Year.
- Motion to approve MIU IV Joint Purchasing Agreement for the 2024-25 school year.
- Motion to approve disposal of old furniture, shelving, etc. from Lincoln High School in accordance with Policy #706.1 to prepare for renovations.
- Nominate MIU IV Board Candidate: Kathy Galbreth.
Fugazi! Replace each and every last one of them! The school has been closed twice since the start of the 2023-24 school year due to maintenance issues. Once, due to the “smell of natural gas”, and again for “significant water leaks” which forced the heat and water to be off. Anyone with the sense of a squirrel would realize that updates to the school are a priority and any monies raised or acquired through the taxpayers, should be utilized for repairs rather than put towards an absolutely unnecessary softball field.