ECASD Board of Directors Denies Proposal for Charter Student Recruitment

Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors voted against a proposal from the Allegheny Intermediate Unit to assist the district with implementation of charter student recruitment.

The proposal included a basic $2,995 package to assist with implementation of charter student recruitment; opposition research for production of marketing documents, phone scripts, and talking points; graphics support for design of digital and physical marketing documents (Documents included brochures, postcards, and website content, with materials not included in cost of agreement); and coordinate and assist district administration with one day of door-to-door visits.

Four board directors voted “Yes,” including Jean Biehls, Jennifer Tomon, Erica Gray, and newcomer Joyce Cirelli. Four board directors voted “No,” including Board President Kathy Galbreath, Board Vice President Norman Boots, Kathy Tillia, and Nick Mancini. Director Clarie Fauzey was absent. Without a majority of “Yes” votes, the motion failed.

Before the vote, Superintendent Dr. Amy Anderson told the board that the initiative is does not ensure that students will return.

“It’s not a guarantee to bring students back,” she said. “It’s a campaign to try to bring them back.”

She said that each student that returns to the district from charter schools provides a $14,000 minimum savings to the district.

Galbreath said with the district’s current financial situation, she cannot image paying nearly $3,000 with only the hope of bringing students back.

Biehls said that if the effort worked and just one student returned to the district it would pay for the service itself and also provide added savings to the district.

Gray said that she believes the door-to-door marketing services might help the district monitor proper student enrollment.

Other motions passed:

• Motion to approve the July 8, 2026, Special Meeting Minutes and the July 20, 2026, Combined Meeting Minutes.
• Motion that the Board of School Directors approve the telecommunications service agreement for the Ellwood City School District with Full Service Network, as outlined in the attached proposal. This approval authorizes the district to enter into a 5-year term agreement for the following services and costs:
  • Vendor: Full Service Network.
  • Included Services: One (1) Phone Service Only Bundle, six (6) E-Fax Capabilities, one (1) SIP Service with 23 Calling Paths, and one (1) Block of 30 DID with E 9-11 Serviceability.
  • Contract Term: 5-year term.
  • Monthly Cost: $476.49 per month (taxes and surcharges not included).
  • One-Time Cost: A one-time activation fee of $599.99 for the Digital Voice & Phone Bundle.
• Motion to approve change order 48R-1 to install rubber tile and base stairwells S2 and S3.
• Motion to approve the following Support Staff Substitutes for the 2026-27 school year:
  • Cafeteria:
    • Kristen Aquino-Tritt
    • Sabrina Boggs
    • Beth Duncan
    • Victoria George
    • Jeff McCullough
    • Renee Schombert
    • Gertrude Worrell
  • Custodial:
    • Joe Funari
    • Dakota Marshall
    • Tiffany Rossman
  • Nurse:
    • Jennifer Cassandro
• Motion to Approve the following resignations:
  1.  Bryan Neghiu – LHS Personal Care Aide effective August 19, 2026.
  2.  Michael Bellissimo – LHS Custodian, for the purpose of retirement effective September 4, 2026.
  3.  Roy Jenkins – Maintenance, effective August 21, 2026.
  4.  Sarah Edinger – Cafeteria Worker effective August 6, 2026.
  5.  Hannah DiCaprio – North Side Teacher effective August 7, 2026.
• Motion to approve the list of Activity Sponsors for the 2026-27 school year.
• Motion to approve the list of bus drivers with ABC Transit for the 2026-27 school year.
• Motion to hire Alexis Moffet as a part time cafeteria worker for the 2026-27 school year in accordance with the current SEIU 32 BJ Bargaining Agreement.
• Motion to approve Memorandum of Understanding with SEIU concerning Job description changes and bidding.
• Motion to hire full-time custodians immediately in accordance with the current SEIU 32 BJ Bargaining Agreement, pending receipt of clearances.
• Approve Memorandum of Understanding with SEIU concerning Stadium Clean up.
• Motion to approve Additional Coaches:
  1.  Cassondra Jackson- Volunteer Cross Country Coach
  2.  Robert Magnifico – Jr. High Assistant Football Coach
  3.  Colten Critzer – Volunteer Boys Golf
• Motion to approve the following FMLA in accordance with the Family Medical Leave Act and Policy #335:
  1.  Employee #0019 – Intermittent leave from September 1, 2026 until September 1, 2027
• Motion to Recognize Booster Groups as affiliate organizations of the Ellwood City Area School District for the 2026-27 School year:
  1.  EC Golf Boosters
  2   EC Girls Volleyball Boosters
  3.  LHS Musical Boosters
  4.  Cheer Boosters
  5.  EC Baseball Boosters
  6.  LHS Blue Band Boosters
  7.  Wolverine PTO
• Motion to approve the disposal of obsolete, unused, and damaged equipment from Helling Stadium, high school baseball field as well as the following in accordance with Policy #706.1:
  – The old maintenance work van – 2006 GMC Savana, VIN#1GTFG15T261237364 STYLE/BODY: Cargo Van, has not been used for 3 years, will not pass inspection for scrap.
  – Mower: X Mark 72″ cut; This does not work and can be salvaged for scrap, it no longer runs, it is completely gutted of all parts, seats, batteries, etc.
  – Brick: broken brick pile (trash, unusable condition)
  – Fence: Broken vinyl fence/gate; no use and brittle (trash)
  – Water Buffalo: has not been used in 20 years and does not function.
  – Gas stove at Hartman Intermediate
  – 3 phase hot plate at North Side Primary
• Motion to approve a foreign exchange student with FLAG (Foreign Links Around The Globe) from Brazil for the 2026-27 school year to reside with a district family.
• Motion to approve the 2026-27 Watson Institute Agreement for the 2026-27 school year for one student at a cost of $69,148.00.
• Motion to approve the English as a Second Language (ESL) agreement for the 2026-27 school year with Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit.
• Motion to approve the Cray Youth and Family Services Private Academic School Agreement for three slots at a cost of $31,044.20 per slot for a total of $93,132.60 for the 2026-27 school year.
• Motion to approve the Itinerant Occupational Therapy Agreement with Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV for the 2026-27 school year at a total cost of $1,560.00 for services from September to November.
• Motion to approve the proposed change to ECAVA attendance and truancy guidelines for the 2026-27 LHS handbook.
• Motion to approve the Adelphoi Agreement for the 2026-27 school year at a daily cost of :
  Day Treatment : Regular Ed $107.35/Special Ed $126.20
  Emotional Support:  Regular Ed $109.43/Special Ed $128.65
• Motion to summer camp allowance for EC Football Boosters, Blue Band Boosters, and Cheer Boosters to $750 for this season with the program to be discontinued for the 27-28 season.

Motions Tabled:

• 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.