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Education

November 9, 2021

Parents Demand Change for Football Program

A group of parents urged the Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors to consider naming a new head coach for the football program. The parents place the blame for three seasons in a row with a losing streak to current head coach Joe Lamenza. The main complaint expressed was a lack of inspiration and encouragement. The parents claim that the environment of losing has had a severe impact on the mental health of the players and that it is preventing future generations of players from wanting to play. Lamenza, a 1996 graduate of Lincoln High School, was named…

November 9, 2021

ECASD: Nationwide Shortages Impact School Lunches

If you have noticed empty shelves at the grocery store, you are not alone and the trend is starting to impact local school districts. During the most recent meeting of Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors, Superintendent Wesley Shipley reported that the district is only receiving 60 percent of its normal inventory. He said items in shortage include trays and cutlery as well as food in general. According to Shipley, the district serves portions that are larger than the national average but have had to cutback because of the pandemic. In order to address the shortage, he said…

November 8, 2021

Gov. Wolf: State Anticipates Returning K-12 School Mask Requirement to Local Leaders January 2022

Governor Tom Wolf today announced the intention to return the commonwealth’s K-12 school mask requirement to local leaders on January 17, 2022. Upon the expiration of the statewide mandate, local school officials will again be able to implement mitigation efforts at the local level. At that time, schools may continue requiring mask-wearing based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance. “The school mask order has been critical in ensuring Pennsylvania’s children could safely learn and grow in an in-person classroom setting at the beginning of the school year,” said Gov. Wolf. “During the announcement, my administration made clear that we would continue to reevaluate the status of the school…

October 27, 2021

NOTICE: Ellwood City School Board of Directors Special Meeting

In a notice made available by the Ellwood City Area School District this week, the Board of Directors have scheduled a Special Meeting on Friday, October 29, 2021 at 3:30 p.m. The Special Meeting will be pertaining to Delinquent Real Estate Taxes. This meeting will be held virtually. A link will be provided on the school district website the day of the meeting.  The school district website can be found at, www.ellwood.k12.pa.us.

October 22, 2021

ECASD Changes Date of December Board Meeting

In a notice made available Monday afternoon, the Ellwood City Area School Board of Directors have changed the date of their December board meeting. According to the notice, the December board meeting that was originally scheduled for December 2, 2021 has been moved to December 9, 2021. The re-organization meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m. and the Combined Committee Meeting and Regular Meeting will immediately follow. The meeting will be held in the Board Room at the Lincoln Jr./Sr. High School.

October 20, 2021

NOTICE: ECASD Board of Directors Schedules Special Meeting Friday

In a notice made available by the Ellwood City Area School District this week, the Board of Directors have scheduled a Special Meeting on Friday, October 22, 2021 at 3:30 p.m. The Special Meeting will be pertaining to Delinquent Real Estate Taxes. This meeting will be held virtually. A link will be provided on the school district website the day of the meeting.  

October 15, 2021

ECASD Names New Solicitor

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors voted Thursday evening to name Tucker Arensberg as the new law firm to represent the district. The name of the associate that will serve at the meetings was not announced, but the decision comes following the resignation of the district’s current solicitor, Jennifer Dambeck, of the Beard Legal Group. Dambeck resignation is effective Dec. 2. She said the decision is not a personal one, and that Beard Legal Group plans to represent school districts that are closer to its office in Altoona. Dambeck was appointed solicitor in August of 2020, following…

October 4, 2021

Nearly $385,000 Awarded To Help Local Students Stay Connected

NEW CASTLE – Grant funding of $383,660 will help ensure students in two Lawrence County school districts don’t fall behind because they lack the tech tools to stay connected. Sainato, D-Lawrence, said New Castle Area School District was awarded $273,880 – including $219,880 for technology equipment and $54,000 for internet services – and the Laurel School District was awarded $109,780 – including $104,200 for tech equipment and $5,580 for internet services. “Kids can’t compete in a modern academic setting without reliable access to technology and the internet,” Sainato said. “Unfortunately, providing those resources can be challenging for some families. Securing…

September 27, 2021

Ascent of NFL Focus of BC3 Lawrence Crossing Noncredit Course

There is no reason “in the world,” Mark Elisco said, that the National Football League should have survived its first two decades, the 1920s and the 1930s. Founded in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, what would be renamed two years later as the NFL had difficulty against the “vastly more popular” college football, which drew up to 80,000 fans per game to the professional league’s 4,000, Elisco said. “Owners were losing money,” Elisco said. Elisco in October will instruct a noncredit Butler County Community College course at BC3 @ Lawrence Crossing, New Castle, that will examine how the…

September 23, 2021

PHOTOS: Ellwood City Announces Homecoming Courts

Lincoln High School will celebrate its 65th Annual Homecoming on Friday, October 1st, when the Ellwood City Wolverines host the Neshannock Lancers at Helling Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. The Homecoming Queen’s Court will be announced on the field during pre-game ceremonies that begin at 6:30 p.m., and the 2021 Homecoming Queen will be crowned during halftime. Members of this year’s homecoming court in the picture below are (left to right): Bottom row: Bryn Gray, Angelina Ricciuti, Kyla Servick, Angelina Nardone; Middle row: Jaidyn Leviere, Katelyn Wehman, Asiah Barnhart, Alyssa Jeffcoat; Top row: Brianna Francis, Tess Kohnen, Jenna…