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Education

August 31, 2021

Wolf Administration Requires Masking in Schools, Early Learning and Child Care Settings

With a focus on protecting students and keeping them in classrooms, Governor Tom Wolf joined the departments of Health, Human Services and Education today to discuss the current state of COVID-19 and a new Secretary of Health order requiring masks to be worn inside K-12 school buildings, early learning programs and child care providers. The order takes effect 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021. “My office has received an outpouring of messages from parents asking the administration to protect all children by requiring masks in schools,” said Gov. Wolf. “The science is clear. The Delta variant is highly transmissible and dangerous to the unvaccinated, many of whom…

August 30, 2021

Local Mom Earns Diploma Through Adult Literacy Program Aided by BC3

(New Castle, PA) Katlin Phillippi earned A’s and B’s and C’s at Lincoln High School in Ellwood City and in the health assistant program at the Lawrence County Career and Technical Center in New Castle, then dropped out in her sophomore year. She was the mother of 2-year-old daughter and her boyfriend, Trevor, the father of Sophey, had just been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Trevor was temporarily confined to a wheelchair and could no longer work at his job at a Lawrence County warehouse. “I felt like I had to drop out,” Phillippi said. “I felt like it was my…

August 26, 2021

New Sunshine Act Changes Take Effect, Apply to Local Government, School Board Meetings

HARRISBURG – Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) today alerted Pennsylvanians to an upcoming change to the state’s Sunshine Act, which would increase transparency in government. The new provisions will take effect on Sunday, Aug. 29, and require public agencies, including municipalities and school districts, to post public meeting agendas at least 24 hours prior to the start of a meeting. The changes are a result of Act 65 of 2021, which was signed by Gov. Tom Wolf in June. Bernstine championed the measure in the House of Representatives. “With heated school board and local government meetings taking place across the state…

August 20, 2021

Riverside School District Receives Half a Million

Riverside School District was awarded $500,000.00 from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for redevelopment of the school’s natatorium. Riverside is one of the schools in Beaver County with a swimming pool that not only offers recreation to the students within the district, but to the public as well. Installed in 1976, the pool is in need of multiple repairs and redevelopment. Between inadequate regulation slope depth for diving, lane line anchors, cracks in the aluminum, and a need for a new air filtration system, the pool, while still functional, needs these repairs. “We are very pleased that the Department has awarded…

August 19, 2021

BC3 To Temporarily Require Face Coverings To Be Worn Indoors

(Butler, PA) Butler County Community College will temporarily require face coverings to be worn indoors at all BC3 locations because of an increase in community transmission levels of COVID-19 in the counties the college serves. The requirement applies to students, faculty, staff and visitors, regardless of vaccination status, and takes effect Aug. 19 at BC3 locations in Armstrong, Butler, Jefferson, Lawrence and Mercer counties. The college encourages, but will not require, a COVID-19 vaccination for students, faculty and staff. Students and faculty in BC3’s credit and noncredit health care programs who attend clinical experiences at health care facilities may be…

August 18, 2021

BC3 Education Foundation Golf Outing Raises Record $115K

(Butler, PA) A golf outing that raises funds for the Butler County Community College Education Foundation on Aug. 6 raised the most money in its 26-year history. The 2021 single-year record of $115,000 follows then-records of $100,000 in 2020 and of $95,000 in 2019. The outing attracted 29 teams representing six western Pennsylvania counties and was held for the 11th consecutive year at Olde Stonewall Golf Club near Ellwood City. The event since 1996 has raised more than $1.2 million in unrestricted funds to support scholarships and opportunities beyond the classroom at BC3, which has locations in Armstrong, Butler, Jefferson,…

August 16, 2021

NOTICE: Ellwood City School Board of Directors Special Board Meeting

In a public meeting notice announcement, the Ellwood City Area School District and its Board of Directors have scheduled a Special Board Meeting. The meeting will take place Wednesday, August 18, 2021 starting at 6:00 p.m. The meeting is scheduled for the purpose of awarding bid contracts and any other general business purposes that may come before the Board. This meeting will be held virtually and a link will be posted on the website the day of the board meeting.

August 13, 2021

ECASD Board Makes Masks in School Optional, Required on Buses

Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors voted Thursday night to leave the decision regarding wearing masks in school up to families. Masks will however be required on the buses. District Superintendent Dr. Wesley Shipley said he is encouraging families to do what they feel is best. “If you feel more comfortable wearing a mask, we encourage it,” he said. Although the school will not be mandating masks (other than on the buses), Shipley reminded the board and visitors that should a mandate come down from the state or federal government, that could change. Masks on buses is based…

August 13, 2021

McCommons Wins LHS Class of ’57 Scholarship Competition

Molly McCommons was the top winner in the Lincoln High School Class of 1957 scholarship competition. She won the $5.000 scholarship and the $500 award for writing the best essay. Molly, daughter of Kathy McCommons of Wood St., will continue her education at Grove City College where she will “follow my passion for history and political science” in preparation for law school. Her goal is to be a child advocacy lawyer and possibly run for political office. Valedictorian of her class, she used the essay competition to explain her journey as a child abuse survivor and how she overcame many…

August 12, 2021

Riverside Beaver County SD Set To Begin School August 31

The Riverside Beaver County School District is set to return to school on Tuesday, August 31st. The RBCSD District Board of Directors approved a Health and Safety plan to open school full-time for the upcoming school year. Below are excerpts from the Health and Safety Plan from the district website: Unnecessary classroom furniture and items were removed to allow for extra spacing. Student seats (classroom/cafeteria) will remain separated no less than three feet and facing the same direction to the extent possible, and outdoor spaces will be utilized whenever possible. Cleaning and sanitizing will continue, hygiene practices will be reinforced,…