Education

All Aboard! Students Treated To A Special Christmas Program Aboard “Ellsworth”

In a unique, cooperative effort among the Ellwood City Area Historical Society, All Aboard Ellwood Inc., and the Ellwood City Library, kindergarten students from North Side Elementary School and second graders from Riverside Elementary School were treated to a special Christmas program aboard “Ellsworth,” the Ellwood City Area Historical Society’s replica trolley. Mrs. Rachel Biermeyer, an associate Librarian at the Ellwood City Library, read a Christmas story and sang songs with the children during their individual class’s 30 minute session aboard Ellsworth. The Historical Society’s trolley, sponsored by All Aboard Ellwood Inc., was parked at the respective schools on Tuesday…


North Side Students Give Back to Ellwood City Community

North Side Primary Students and Staff welcomed many Community Members and Partners to our school on Monday, December 18th. During the month of December, students are learning how good it makes all of us feel to GIVE. The students put this into practice when each classroom made a very special, giant sized Holiday Card thanking the local community agency and partner for the services they provide Ellwood City. North Side students made a total of 22 Holiday Cards, with many of our community partners attending the winter festivities. North Side students participated by sharing a ‘GIVING’ poem and singing a…


10 BC3 Students Receive Department Of Defense-Funded Financial Awards

Steven Pander and Ralph Mulneix, both of Portersville, were among ten Butler County Community College students who received $7,500 this fall in programs that emphasize cybersecurity education and that have collectively grown in enrollment by 32 percent since January. The distribution of financial awards through the use of a U.S. Department of Defense grant brings to at least $32,287 the amount BC3 has provided in 2023 to students in four associate degree career programs and in one associate degree transfer program within its business and information technology division. BC3 has applied $18,500 toward tuition and expenses for 19 students, $12,037 to…


Legislators Must End Funding Delay for Community Colleges

NOTE: The following is an op-ed related to the state funding impasse and signed by members of the Butler County Community College board of trustees and the BC3 Education Foundation board of directors as provided by BC3 in e-mail. Nearly six months into the fiscal year, Butler County Community College and Pennsylvania’s 14 other community colleges have yet to receive operating funds authorized in the state’s FY 2023-24 budget. In fact, community colleges are the only public higher education institutions in Pennsylvania still awaiting state payments. The state budget included a two percent operating fund increase for the community colleges,…


BC3’s College Within the High School Program Sets 3 Records

A 26-year-old Butler County Community College program that offers qualified high school sophomores through seniors the opportunity to earn reduced-cost, transferrable college credits has set records this fall in enrollment, in seats occupied and in credits pursued. BC3’s College Within the High School program this fall enrolls 523 students. The all-time high includes a record 57 students in an Early College Pioneers program on BC3’s main campus, a record 16 in a Riv-Ell Entrepreneurship program in Ellwood City and a sophomore who was 14 when his three-credit BC3 course in marketing began in August at Mars Area High School. “I…


North Side Primary School Recognizes First 9-Week Perfect Attendance

North Side Primary School is excited to partner with Vinny’s Restaurant and Pizzeria to encourage and reward perfect attendance at school! Any student who does not miss a day in a nine week period earns the chance to win a quarterly attendance incentive that includes a $50.00 gift card to Vinny’s. North Side Primary School prides itself on establishing the connection between students, families, community, and our school district. “On the K-2 level, we recognize that it takes the ENTIRE FAMILY to help our little Wolverines get to school each day,” says school counselor Debbie Wiech in a statement. “We…


Ellwood City Area School District Seeking To Fill School Board Vacancy

According to a press release made available by the district this week, the Board of School Directors for the Ellwood City Area School District is seeking letters of interest and resumes to fill a vacancy for a two-year term on the School Board. The position became available upon the untimely passing of Mr. Gary Rozanski who had just recently been reelected. Mr. Rozanski served the district honorably for fourteen years holding positions of leadership several times. Interested parties should submit a letter of interest and resume to the district by noon on Friday, December 1, 2023. Letters can be emailed…


BC3 Provides 57-Plus With Thanksgiving Meal Packages

She’ll slide the round, dark-wood table from the living room, where she and her intellectually disabled 24-year-old son will have watched the morning parades on television, into the dining room. Fifty-eight-year-old widow Marci Lockhart will then smooth the wrinkles on an “autumn-colored” cloth. Light a “pumpkin spice-scented” candle. And return to the kitchen. That’s where the 15-pound turkey she will have begun to roast for her and Ralph the night before “will smell delicious.” Just after noon Thursday, she will sit next to Ralph, the second-youngest of the five children she raised after her husband, Richard, passed away in 2007,…


ECASD Board of Directors: ‘We Remain Steadfast in Our Support for this Field’

Emotions regarding the proposed girls softball field continued to run high during Thursday night’s regular meeting of the Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors. Board President Kathy Galbreath made a statement on behalf of the board. “We remain steadfast in our support for this field.” She cited that the board’s unanimous vote to construct a field at the location of the old Ewing Park School is based on facts and information along with a commitment to district goals. The board members aren’t the only ones remaining steadfast to their convictions regarding the field. Area residents also aren’t budging…


HHSDR Engineers, Architects Discuss Timeline for Proposed Softball Field, Cost of Concession Stand

HHSDR engineers and architects offered information about the proposed softball field in Ewing Park during Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors committee meeting Monday night as residents continued to express opposition to the location. During a presentation regarding construction updates, Superintendent Wesley Shipley asked HHSDR representatives to discuss the proposed field’s timeline and details regarding the proposed $500,000 concession stand that is part of the project. HHSDR reps said the project would take a year from start to completion. The proposed timeline includes a bidding process which would begin in April of 2024 and continue through June 5…