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Education

January 13, 2022

ECASD Hires Head Football Coach; Approves COVID Health and Safety Plan

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors hired Daniel Bradley to serve as head coach of varsity football. Bradley received unanimous support from the board. He will be paid $7,000. “The students are elated,” said Brian Partridge, football boosters president, who was in attendance at the meeting. Bradley has a decade of experience serving as head coach. During that time, he has a 80-33 record. He has appeared in four WPIAL title games, with a winning title in 2018. His career includes: 2012-2013: Sto-Rocks, 23-3, 2 WPIAL title games (2012, 2013) 2014-2015: Ambridge, 8-11, 1 playoff appearance (2015)…

January 13, 2022

Lincoln High School Releases Updated COVID-19 Policies

With the new COVID-19 variant lurking, schools are now taking a closer look at their policies and making changes they see fit. Lincoln High School has made some changes and updates to their mask policies and what to do about positive cases. These policies will go into effect starting Friday, January 14th. The masks will remain in the school. Students and staff who are identified as possible exposure IN SCHOOL ONLY, can avoid quarantine by masking while in school for 10 calendar days. Students and staff who experience symptoms must quarantine. Students and staff who are unable to wear a…

December 22, 2021

Oral Argument at the Pennsylvania Supreme Court

For the past 10 years, I have taken my United States Advanced Placement Government & Politics class to Philadelphia to hear oral argument at the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. I have solicited all the funds for the trips from community business owners, my former steel mill buddies, and from my good friends and family. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention them in this article: Tommy Pietrcollo, Judge Dom Motto, Robin Fazioli, Carol Fazioli Cutajar and her husband Paul, Michael Perry, Sandy Carna, Michael Neupauer, Joann & Michael Smith, Jeff Foley, Gregory Manzo, Dan Miller, Springfield Group, Johnny Martini, Catalyst,…

December 20, 2021

Riverside School District Issues COVID-19 Isolation Procedure Update

According to information made available by superintendent Bret Trotta and information made available on the school district website, Riverside Beaver County School District has issued a COVID-19 Isolation Procedure Update. In a statement made available by Trotta, he advises the district held a school board meeting to revisit our Health and Safety Plan on Friday. Mask will remain optional; however, we highly recommend using face-coverings. In addition, the district has revised the isolation protocol and will implement a Mask to Stay / Test to Stay concept. “We trust this plan will allow us to maintain in-person learning while maintaining the…

December 13, 2021

Ellwood City Area School District Board of Education 2022 Meeting Schedule

The Ellwood City Board of Education has released their schedule for the 2022 committee and regular meetings. All regular meetings will start at 7:00 p.m. and will be held in the Board Room a Lincoln High School, 501 Crescent Avenue, Ellwood City, PA 16117. The schedule is as follows: Committee Meetings: January 6th, 2022 February 3rd, 2022 March 3rd, 2022 April 7th, 2022 May 5th, 2022 June 2nd, 2022 July 7th, 2022 (combined meeting) August 4th. 2022 September 1st, 2022 October 6th, 2022 November 3rd, 2022 December 8th, 2022 (combined reorganization) Regular Meetings: January 13th, 2022 February 10th, 2022 March…

December 10, 2021

Biehls, Rozanski to Lead ECASD Board; Pitrelli Appointed to Vacant Seat

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors held its reorganization and regular voting meeting Thursday night. Current Board President Jean Biehls was again named president in a unanimous vote as was Board Vice President Gary Rozanski. They will lead the board in 2022. Kathy McCommons and Norman Boots were relected and will continue their efforts along with Claire Fauzy and newcomer Kathy Tillia. The four directors were sworn in by Biehls. The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors appointed Claire Fauzy during the August 5, 2021 committee/voting meeting to fill the position left vacant after the…

December 9, 2021

ECASD Announces Plans for Flexible Instruction Days (FIDs)

Ellwood City Area School District recently released a letter to families announcing Flexible Instruction Days (FIDs). FIDs allow the district to conduct remote learning when the weather prohibits safe travel to in person learning at the school facilities. According to Superintendent Dr. Wesley Shipley, the district has been approved to use up to five FIDS during inclement weather conditions. When weather prohibits the safe transportation of students, the District may announce that school is “CLOSED-Flexible Instruction Day.” “This means that schools will operate remotely as we learned to do during the pandemic closures,” Shipley said. “When an FID is called,…

December 8, 2021

ECASD to Move to Remote Learning for Three Days

Ellwood City Area School will temporarily move to remote learning for the three days leading up to the Christmas Break. The days include Dec. 20, 21, and 22. Teachers and Instructional aides will work remotely with students for a full day on Monday and Tuesday and a half-day on Wednesday. “This is an effort to reduce exposure to COVID prior to the holidays,” said Superintendent Dr. Wesley Shipley. He said although the case number is low, the decision was based on many factors including: The district currently has over 70 students out on quarantine due to community contacts—this would provide…

November 24, 2021

Community Helps BC3 Create, Distribute 45 Meals for Thanksgiving

(Butler, PA) “We were helping out a young person last week,” Jennifer Taylor begins, “and she didn’t know anything about the turkey dinners.” The student at Butler County Community College, a 22-year-old separated mother of boys ages 3 and 1, was gathering cereal, apple juice, and canned vegetables and beans from BC3’s Pioneer Pantry. “I told her, ‘I am going to send you an email,’” Taylor said. ‘“I want you to sign up to get a free turkey dinner.’ “And it was like we had given her gold.” This November is the third in which BC3’s Pioneer Pantry has distributed…

November 12, 2021

ECASD: Mask Requirement to Continue

Although Governor Tom Wolf announced a possible end to the mask mandate in schools, the filing of an appeal has forced the Ellwood City Area School District to stay the course and require masks to be worn. During Thursday evening’s board of directors meeting, Superintendent Wesley Shipley said that appeal locked the mandate back in place. “Until January 17 the mask mandate will stay in place,” he said. Solicitor Jennifer Dambeck said for now, until any formal official end of the mandate the school is advised to comply. “We are in a waiting pattern once again,” she said. Governor Tom…