Education

Riverside Superintendent Discusses Continuity of Education During Coronavirus Crisis

Riverside School District Superintendent Bret Trotta said the district is successfully continuing education for the nearly 1,400 students served by his staff. The Riverside team of administrators and teachers are taking the review and enrichment approach to education during the Coronavirus crisis. He said they are working to meet the needs of all the students of the district. According to Trotta, getting everyone up and running with at home learning was a challenge. He said because a portion of the district is settled in more rural areas, some students lacked access to Internet. Others, he said, simply did not have…


Superintendent Provides Update on School’s Progress During Coronavirus Pandemic

The superintendent of Ellwood City Area School District said the last few weeks have been a challenge, but that district staff have come through in a big way. During Monday night’s online meeting of the Ellwood City Area School District Board of Director’s meeting, Joseph Mancini gave a personal thank you to the administrators, teachers, and cafeteria workers for a “continuity of education” and dedication to district students. “They have all gone above and beyond in this 180-degree pivot,” he said. Mancini said at least 978 students were fed today and 1,000 on Friday, numbers he found pride in. He…


Wolves Club Announce Scholarship Deadline Extended

The Ellwood City Wolves Club is once again offering scholarships to graduating high school seniors residing in the Ellwood City Area School District and Riverside Beaver County School District who plan to attend a four-year college, community college, trade or technical school following graduation. The deadline to return applications has been extended due to the recent school closures. Completed applications may be submitted by mail to the Wolves Club Scholarship Committee at 313 Petain Street, Ellwood City, PA 16117, postmarked no later than May 1 or returned to the high school Guidance Office if schools reopen prior to that date….


Ellwood City Resident Among Eight Students To Enter BC3 Int’l Academic Honor Society

New Castle, PA) Eight Butler County Community College students from Lawrence County this spring have accepted membership into BC3’s Rho Phi chapter of an international academic honor society that has attained Phi Theta Kappa’s ultimate five-star status for the fourth time since 1968. Members of Phi Theta Kappa, the society for two-year colleges and academic programs, must have a minimum grade-point average of 3.5. “By receiving an invitation to join Rho Phi, it shows students’ commitment to their academics,” said Morgan Rizzardi, BC3’s associate director of admissions and primary adviser to Rho Phi. “To have a 3.5 grade-point average or higher…


ECASD, RHS Release COVID-19 School Closure Information: Food Services

*Press Release from Ellwood City Area School District The Ellwood City Area School District will be providing meals to any child 18 and under. Breakfast will be from 8 to 9 a.m. and Lunch will be from 11:30-12:30. The locations for meal pick up are as follows: North Side Primary Perry Lower Intermediate Lincoln/Harman Any child 18 and under is eligible for free meals regardless of district, free, reduced or paid status.  Any child can go to any location – they do not have to go to the school they attend.  The child or children must be present to get…


Ellwood City Area School Directors Pass Amended Kindergarten Admission Policy

The Ellwood City Area School Directors approved Policy 201 Admission of Students during the Thursday night voting meeting. The policy was amended for early admission to kindergarten. The amended section regarding early admission to kindergarten now states: Physical, social and emotional maturity must be adequate to function satisfactorily in the Ellwood City Area School District’s kindergarten program. Criteria for early entrance includes the following: The child must turn five years old by September 15 of the school year of enrollment. The child seeking early entrance must have completed two years of preschool experience. A written letter of request from the…


Riverside School District Releases Statement Regarding Coronavirus

According to information made available on the district website, the Riverside Beaver County School District superintendent Bret Trotta released a statement this week regarding the coronavirus epidemic and what the district is doing to prevent any potential spread of the virus. The statement reads: We are writing today due to the recent news of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and want to inform you on how our schools are responding. Please trust that proactive steps are being taken on campus to help avoid an illness outbreak of any kind. Teachers and staff members have been well informed of the PA Department of…


Ellwood City Area School District Superintendent Addresses Coronavirus

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is the hottest topic in the world today. Ellwood City Area School District Superintendent Joseph Mancini said the district is having discussions regarding the disease, but that no major moves or changes have been made as of yet to address the situation. He said district administrators are staying on top of the reports, discussing, and researching the disease’s reach on a daily basis. He said the district is taking the stance right now of “don’t panic, but prepare.” “There has been increased cleaning of high touch areas,” he said during the Ellwood City Area School District’s Board…


BC3 Course Focuses On Preventing Military Veterans’ Suicide

(Butler, PA) Among Peter Albert’s patients at the Butler VA Health Care System are those who tell him that they’ve known more fellow fighters who killed themselves than those they’ve known who were killed in combat. Nearly 6,140 U.S. military veterans nationwide died by suicide in 2017, marking the 10th consecutive year in which the number exceeded 6,000, according to the VA’s 2019 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report. Among them in 2017 were 254 from Pennsylvania. Veterans who die by suicide, Albert added, may not have served in combat. Butler County Community College on March 23 will offer a…


Ellwood City School Directors Approve Personnel, Spring Coaches

The Ellwood City School Board Directors voted during Thursday’s board meeting to approve personnel hires. Among the appointments were Michael Elmer who was hired as an instructional aide and David Poore and Megan Rosenberger were approved as mentors for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year and for the first semester of the 2020-2021 school year. Heidi Feltrop, secondary librarian was granted tenure. Board directors also voted to update the ACT 93 Agreement to include Paul Pishioneri and his salary increase to $72,000 for the 2020-2021 school year. Spring coaches were also appointed (Director Gary Rozanski Sr. abstained from the…