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Education

September 3, 2020

BC3 News: 7.4-pound Veteran Therapy Animal Focus Of Lawrence Crossing Course

(New Castle, PA) Victoria’s presence encourages elementary school pupils to read aloud in front of others. Her companionship elicits smiles and nuzzling from nursing home residents. And her disposition, enhanced by a year’s worth of certification training, is to ignore sudden noises, her ears being tugged and nearby animals. The 7.4-pound, nearly 1-foot-tall Maltese will accompany her handler to Butler County Community College’s additional location in New Castle this month for a noncredit course that introduces students to therapy animals. “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Therapy Animals” will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sept. 8…

August 25, 2020

LHS Class of ’57 Awards Two Scholarships

Two Lincoln High School students received scholarships from the Lincoln High School Class of 1957. Hannah Rose Keally is this year’s recipient of the $5,000 scholarship given by the Lincoln High School Class of 1957 while Levi Alexander Smith received the $500 best essay award from the Class of ’57. Hannah is majoring in fashion design in the College of Arts at Kent State University which gave her a president’s achievement award and an honors distinction award. Her goals include designing clothes and starting her own brand of clothing. Daughter of Frank and Katy Keally, Nannah was only 6 years…

August 25, 2020

ECASD Board Passes Health and Safety Plan, Approves Start of Fall Sports

Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors passed a Health and Safety plan Monday night in anticipation of the return to school. The details in the plan were not made available to the public, but Interim Superintendent Wes Shipley said the plan will be posted to the district’s website today. (Read the plan posted on Tuesday here.) Board members wanted clarification in the plan to state that “team” teaching would be the method during in person classroom teaching. The team teaching option was a board compromise after some directors favored self-contained teaching over team teaching. Self-contained teaching, according to…

August 21, 2020

ECASD Issues Info On Chromebook, Open House & Orientation

In a letter circulated this week, the Ellwood City Area School District announced Chromebook distribution, Meet The Teacher Open House, and 7th Grade Orientation information in a letter to parents circulated this week. According to the letter, and with the current restrictions in place, the district is limiting the number of individuals in the building for the open house which also serves as time for parents and/or students to pick-up their Chromebook and first day packet of information. Included in the packet of information will be a summary of operational logistics for the high school under the ECASD return to…

August 20, 2020

EC School Board of Directors Announces Special Meeting

The Ellwood City Area School Board of Directors has scheduled a Special Board Meeting to take place on Monday, August 24, 2020 starting at 5:30 p.m. The meeting is scheduled for general business purposes and whatever may come before the Board. The meeting will be conducted virtually to maintain recommended social distancing precautions. You can access the link to the meeting on the school district’s website. The Ellwood City Area School District can be found at www.ellwood.k12.pa.us RELATED: ECASD Board of Directors Appoints New Solicitor RELATED: ECASD Board to Consider Virtual Broadcasts for Sports Spectators

August 19, 2020

Local Firm Contracted To Work Exclusively with Pittsburgh Public Schools

Ellwood City-based marketing company Thought Process Enterprises (TPE) recently entered into a partnership with Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS) that will facilitate the placement of banner advertisements on the district’s website as a means of generating revenue for the district. With school districts facing increasing financial difficulties, some districts have looked for alternative means to raise money beyond tax revenue and government funding. TPE helps districts in their search for additional income. Through their online advertising division, EDGEclick Advertising, TPE has created a network of public school districts here in the Commonwealth that earn supplemental revenue through banner advertisements on their…

August 18, 2020

ECASD Board of Directors Appoints New Solicitor

Ellwood City Area School District Board of Directors announced the appointment of Beard Legal Group and Jennifer Dambek as the new district solicitor. Dambeck is an associate in the Beard Legal Group, and focuses on labor and employment law, education law, and municipal law. The Beard Legal group is headquartered in Altoona, Pa According to the firm’s website, at its inception in 1989, the Firm represented approximately two School Districts as Solicitor and just a few more in Labor Relations matters. Today, the Firm serves as Solicitor to more than 44 School Districts and Career Centers across 16 counties in…

August 12, 2020

Lincoln High School Posts Return to School Plan Survey For Parents

Ellwood City Area School District announced on Tuesday a ‘Return to School Plan Survey’ for Lincoln High School parents via a Google Forms survey published on the district site. [The district is] asking all parents of students in grades 7-12 complete the google form survey by Sunday, August 16 at 10:00 PM. There are currently three options on the table for students in grades 7-12. Parents and students can review the options as well as a Q & A document on the district webpage. If a parent does not complete this survey, then Option 1 will be the assumed option…

August 11, 2020

ECASD Board to Consider Virtual Broadcasts for Sports Spectators

Ellwood City Area School District’s sports could be virtual for spectators come Fall. The board is set to consider a proposal that would include a $2,000 cost to stream home games. “It is a great way to get our sports out there,” said Interim Superintendent Wes Shipley. With the continuation of Covid-19, state mandated restrictions and regulations will cause a new look to the upcoming sports seasons. This plan to stream the games for spectators will enable parents to still see the kids play via video and will leave room for the most participation by students as cheerleaders and the…

August 10, 2020

Bernstine Announces School Districts, Career and Technical Schools Receive Grants

HARRISBURG – Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) today announced the Continuity of Education Equity Grant (CEEG) has been awarded to school districts and Career and Technical Schools in the 10th District for the 2020-21 academic year. “These grants may be used to purchase computer equipment, such as laptops, tablets and internet hot spots, or used to provide instruction materials, such as paper lessons and coursework,” said Bernstine. “Schools with the highest percentages of students lacking access to resources were given priority in receiving these grants.” Those receiving grants in the 10th District include: Ellwood City Area School District – $8,590. Butler…