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Education

February 8, 2021

Lincoln High School Moves To Full Remote Learning

According to information made available on the district website, and effective Tuesday, February 9, 2021, Lincoln High School is moving to full remote learning. Throughout the day on Monday, February 8, 2021, the district received notice of five additional cases of COVID-19 within Lincoln Jr/Sr High School. The district will notify a parent/guardian directly if his or her child is identified through contact tracing to be a specific risk. Per the press release, and together with the three previous cases reported on Friday, Lincoln has exceeded the number of cases allowable by the Pennsylvania Departments of Health and Education. Therefore,…

February 8, 2021

$912 Million COVID-19 Relief Package Enacted

A comprehensive $912 million relief package to help restaurants, schools, employers, and tenants impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic received final legislative approval and was signed into law by the Governor on Friday (February 5), according to Senator Elder Vogel, who strongly supported the bill. Senate Bill 109 (Act 1 of 2021) amends the state Fiscal Code to allocate $569.8 million for Rental and Utility Assistance, $197 million for education programs, and $145 million to support Pennsylvania’s struggling hospitality industry as it copes with the devastation created by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Governor’s mandated closings and restrictions. The new law…

February 4, 2021

Venezie Sporting Goods & Apparel Announces 2021 Scholarships

Venezie Sporting Goods & Apparel has announced its annual scholarship opportunity for area students this year.  The scholarship, now in its third year, will be available to four local school districts. “We love our community and we love our students, and it is time we continue to recognize them for all their hard work inside and outside of the classroom,” said Vice President of Operations, Vanessa Venezie. Venezie Sporting Goods will be awarding a scholarship to an Ellwood City, Riverside, Beaver Falls, and New Brighton senior this year. Each scholarship is valued at $500.00. Venezie came up with the idea…

February 2, 2021

Local Website Company Announces Scholarship

A local website design company is offering a $1,000 scholarship to an Ellwood City or Riverside student planning to study marketing or web development. Heartbeat Websites, a web design and development company that offers complete website solutions for one monthly price to small businesses, has partnered with a local entrepreneur to offer the opportunity. Heartbeat’s owner, Matt Reider, said the scholarship is a way to help students take the next step in toward their professional goals. “It’s a way to give back and help students avoid debt,” he said. Although this is the first time Heartbeat has offered the scholarship, Reider…

January 28, 2021

BC3 Announces President’s List, Dean’s List and Graduates for Fall 2020

Butler, PA – Butler County Community College is proud to announce the names of students who have made the President’s List and Dean’s List for the Fall 2020 semester, as well as the names of those who have graduated recently. Three Ellwood City area students earned President List accolades, a fourth Ellwood City area student earned Dean’s List accolades, and overall twenty-one area students graduated. Students who have achieved a cumulative GPA (grade-point average) of 3.75 or higher are named to the President’s List following completion of at least 12 semester hours or upon completion of degree requirements. Students who…

January 26, 2021

Historical Society Set to Award Two Scholarships To High School Seniors

Attention ALL Lincoln High School & Riverside High School Seniors — the annual Ellwood City Area Historical Society Scholarship submission is quickly approaching! Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the entry deadline has been extended, and is now due Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. The Ellwood City Area Historical Society will award two $1,500.00 scholarships to two (2) graduating seniors. Graduating seniors from Lincoln High School and Riverside High School who have been accepted to attend a college, Trade School or Performing Arts are eligible. Applications may be received from the High School Student Guidance Counselor or from the…

January 8, 2021

ECASD to Transition to Hybrid Learning Model on January 25

Ellwood City Area School District will return to a hybrid model of learning starting January 25. The district’s board of directors voted unanimously Thursday evening to implement a hybrid model where students will attend school in person two days a week and will attend school virtually three. Directors Norman Boots and Jennifer Tomon were absent from the meeting. Until January 25, students will continue full-time virtual learning. The meeting opened with a statement from Board President Jean Biehls who welcomed Wesley Shipley as the district’s superintendent. She said Shipley will have a starting salary of $150,000 and will lead the…

December 18, 2020

ECASD Board of Directors Officially Hires Superintendent

During a “Special Board Meeting” conducted at 5 p.m. on Friday, December 18, the Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors voted to hire Interim Superintendent Dr. Wesley Shipley. The special meeting was announced on Monday. His five-year contract adds up to more than $1 million. Directors Jennifer Tomon and Erica Gray were the lone “No” votes. Tomon said her vote was because of budgetary reasons. “This compensation package, that averages over $212,000 year, sets a dangerous precedent,” Tomon said. “This board is saddling the public with this expense. The same people who were left unemployed when the Medical…

December 3, 2020

ECASD Board Names New President, Changes to 2021 Meeting Schedule

Ellwood City School District’s Board of Directors held their reorganization meeting Thursday evening where Director Jean Biehls was named president and Director Gary Rozanski was named vice president. Biehls and Rozanski were the only directors nominated for their positions and both nominations were opposed by Director Jennifer Tomon. Director Erica Gray was not in attendance. Biehls said she will make committee appointments in the next couple weeks. The board also established a plan for the meeting schedule for 2021 and announced that meetings will be held on the 1st and 2nd Thursdays of the month. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic,…

December 3, 2020

ECASD to Remain Full Virtual Until January 11

Students in the Ellwood City Area School District will not be returning to the school buildings any time before January 11. The District’s Board of Directors voted Thursday evening unanimously to continue virtual learning up to that date. The board and administrators will revisit Covid-19 numbers and community spread during the board’s January 7 meeting. Until then, Acting Superintendent Dr. Wesley Shipley will work with administrators, teachers, and staff to develop a hybrid plan in the hopes for partial return to classes on January 11. Shipley said he believes that is the best way to proceed for the safety and…