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Education

September 13, 2024

Covert, BC3 Men’s Golf Squad Seek To Repeat As Conference Champions

BUTER, PA — Lincoln High School grad Mitchell Covert and BC3 will begin pursuit of a fourth consecutive Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference men’s team title and a 10th under coach Bill Miller when it opens up its regular season against Westmoreland County Community College, Pennsylvania Highlands Community College and the host Community College of Allegheny County at North Park Golf Course. Covert, a 2024 graduate of LHS, is expected to battle for a No. 3 through No. 5 roster spot on the men’s golf team The Pioneers finished 12-0 in fall 2023. They captured the postseason WPCC team title with…

September 12, 2024

ECASD Officials, Board of Directors Face Scrutiny From Concerned Parents Following School Shooting Threat

Concerned and angry parents flooded the Hartman Intermediate School Cafeteria Thursday night for the Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors regular meeting following a school shooting threat that occurred on Tuesday (see story here). Their overall demand was for answers about what was going to be done about the situation to make students safe and to end their fear of going to school. District Superintendent Dr. Wesley Shipley confirmed that there was a verbal threat made by a student on Tuesday during a lunch period. He said other students were quick to inform district staff about the threat….

September 11, 2024

School Shooting Threat Deemed Not Credible

A Lincoln High School student has been disciplined after making a threat on Tuesday. District information released to parents Tuesday afternoon was provided as follows: At 12:45 PM on Tuesday, 9/10/2024, [the district] administration was alerted to a threat made by a student, which stated that the student would “shoot up the school tomorrow.” The threat assessment team convened promptly and determined that the threat was non-credible. However, the statement has been taken very seriously and actions have taken place to ensure a safe school environment. The principals have applied appropriate school discipline in response to the situation. Please be…

September 10, 2024

ECASD Administrators: Back to School A Smooth Transition

Ellwood City Area School District administrators said despite construction at the high school, back to school in all buildings was a smooth transition. “I am so happy to be back in school,” high school Principal John Sovich said. He said around mid-August, he received numerous calls from parents who feared their children would be starting school online. He said he assured them that the kids would be back in a brick-and-mortar classroom on time, and he was right. He echoed the sentiments of many other administrators who spoke before him during Monday’s Agenda Meeting of the ECASD Board of Directors….

August 29, 2024

BC3 To Replace Tech Devices With $300K Grant

Butler County Community College has received a $300,000 grant from the state Department of Education that will fund the replacement of approximately 300 electronic devices that allow for network connectivity among BC3’s main campus and its additional locations in Armstrong, Butler, Jefferson, Lawrence and Mercer counties. The 95 switches and routers and nearly 200 wireless access points are nearing the end of their lifespan and will no longer be supported by the manufacturers, according to James Hrabosky, BC3’s vice president for administration and finance. New devices are expected to last 10 years and will provide additional functionality, faster network speeds…

August 26, 2024

CCBC and Penn State Beaver Sign New Agreement

Monaca, PA – The Community College of Beaver County (CCBC) signed a new articulation agreement with Penn State Beaver to make it easier for students who have earned their associates degree to continue to complete a bachelor’s degree. “Community College of Beaver County and Penn State Beaver have joined together to create local, affordable, quality educational pathways in areas such as cybersecurity, criminal justice, and business,” said Katie Thomas, dean of the School of Professions and Transfer Studies at CCBC. “We’re excited for the future of this partnership and higher education in Beaver County.” The agreement applies to other Penn…

August 23, 2024

PHOTOS: Annual Panther Night

The annual Panther Night was held Thursday at Riverside Memorial Stadium. Panther Night is a community event celebrating back to school and Fall sports teams and kicked off with the Riverside Marching Band performing and the introduction of the athletes. The event features food booths run buy many of the district booster organizations along with two food trucks and an array of apparel offerings available to help support student athletes as well. The Riverside Panthers Varsity Football team hosts Northgate on Friday, August 30th at 7:00 p.m. to kick off its regular season.

August 8, 2024

ECASD’s Board of Directors Approve Traffic Study at Site of Proposed Softball Field

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors approved a traffic study of the Ewing Park Property where a softball field is proposed to be built during Thursday’s regular meeting. The study will be conducted by Gateway Engineers, at a cost not to exceed $4,000. All directors except for Norman Boots, Kathy Galbreath, and Kevin Boariu voted in favor of the study, and Director Claire Fauzey was absent from the meeting. Galbreath asked if the study is necessary at this time, and Superintendent Dr. Wesley Shipley said that the zoning board will require the study so doing it now…

August 2, 2024

Riverside School District Kindergarten Orientation and ‘Meet The Teacher’ Planned For August 26th and 27th

Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year! On August 16th, Riverside parents will receive an automated call and email with kindergarten teacher assignment. Teacher announcements will also go live on Skyward on August 16th for Riverside Elementary 1st and 2nd Grades. Kindergarten Orientation will take place Monday, August, 26th. This event acclimates you and your child to our district;parents will be given valuable information, and your child will get to tour a bus, eat in the cafeteria, and play on the playground. Kindergarten sessions are dependent upon the child’s last name as shown below; you must attend the session corresponding with…

July 31, 2024

Ellwood City School District Offices and LHS Offices Closed August 5-9

In a temporary closure to help address plumbing upgrades, the Ellwood City Area School District Offices and Lincoln High School Offices will be closed for a week beginning Monday, August 5th. “We are closing because water has to be turned off the entire week for plumbing upgrades,” said Wes Shipley, Superintendent, in an email. Due to the construction, the August School Board Meetings will be held at Perry Lower Intermediate School on Monday, August 5th at 7:00 p.m. and  Thursday, August 8th at 7:00 p.m. According to Shipley, this minor closure and plumbing upgrade is the only remaining work scheduled…