Recent Stories

Ellwood City Area School District Board of Directors

August 11, 2026

ECASD Board of Directors Denies Proposal for Charter Student Recruitment

Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors voted against a proposal from the Allegheny Intermediate Unit to assist the district with implementation of charter student recruitment. The proposal included a basic $2,995 package to assist with implementation of charter student recruitment; opposition research for production of marketing documents, phone scripts, and talking points; graphics support for design of digital and physical marketing documents (Documents included brochures, postcards, and website content, with materials not included in cost of agreement); and coordinate and assist district administration with one day of door-to-door visits. Four board directors voted “Yes,” including Jean Biehls, Jennifer…

August 4, 2026

ECASD Board of Directors Appoints Joyce Cirelli to Fill Vacant Board Seat

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors voted unanimously to appoint Joyce Cirelli to fill the vacant seat on the board during Monday night’s agenda meeting. Cirelli’s appointment follows the July 31, 2026, resignation from the board of former Board Director Kevin Boariu. Cirelli was one of four potential replacements that were publicly interviewed during Monday night’s meeting. Joyce Cirelli Cirelli said she has more than 30 years of experience in Education in healthcare and played an integral part in moving schools at Heritage Valley Health System to the Community College of Beaver County. “I created five academies…

April 14, 2026

ECASD Board of Directors Consider Employee Furlough

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors considered a move to study the staffing needs of the district for a possible employee furlough during Monday night’s combined meeting of the board. Ultimately the motion was defeated in a 4/4 vote. “No” votes came from Board President Kathy Galbreath, Board Vice President Norman Boots, and Board Directors Kathy Tillia and Nick Mancini. “Yes” votes came from Board Directors Jean Biehls, Claire Fauzey, Erica Gray, and Kevin Boariu. Board Director Jennifer Tomon was not present at the meeting. The consideration came to the table as the district is facing a…

March 12, 2026

ECASD Board of Directors Approves Bids for North Side Primary Capital Improvements

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors voted to award bids for improvement and renovation projects at North Side Primary and Lincoln High School during its regular monthly meeting. The board awarded the following bids for North Side Primary work: General Construction – Fred L. Burns, Inc in the amount of $746,450.00; HVAC Construction – Renick Brothers Construction Co. in the amount of $1,577,000.00; Plumbing Construction – Renick Brothers Construction Co. in the amount of $126,200.00; Electrical Construction – Blackhawk Neff, Inc. in the amount of $529,545.00; and Testing, Balancing, and Commissioning, to WAE Balancing in the amount…

February 10, 2026

ECASD Board of Directors Table Hiring of Head Football Coach for Special Meeting

Although the Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors, according to the agenda posted on the district’s website, was set to vote to hire a new head football coach during Monday’s meeting, a coach was ultimately not hired. The 7 p.m. public meeting was delayed 50 minutes as the board held an executive session for interviews. When the agenda item was up for a vote, the board tabled the vote for a special meeting to be held on Friday, February 20, at 6 p.m. The board did hire Lilliana Scrima to fill a cafeteria worker position and also approved…

December 5, 2025

ECASD Board of Directors Reorganizes, Welcomes Newcomer, Announces Meeting 2026 Dates

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors held its election of officers for 2026 during Thursday’s combined meeting. The meeting began with swearing in re-elected and newly elected board members including: Norman Boots, Claire Fauzey, Kathy Galbreath, Nick Mancini, and Kathy Tillia. Galbreath will serve as board president for 2026. She was nominated by Boots and received votes from Boots, Director Kevin Boariu, Tillia, and Mancini. Board President for 2025, Jennifer Tomon, was also nominated by Director Jean Biehls and received votes from Biehls, Director Erica Gray, and Fauzey. Boots will serve as board vice president for 2026….

November 15, 2025

ECASD Board of Directors Vote to Fund North Side, Hartman Capital Improvements

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors voted 5-3 to Adopt a Resolution, as prepared by Bond Counsel, authorizing the issuance of General Obligation Bonds, in an amount not to exceed $11,905,000, for capital improvements to the School District’s educational facilities  (View a copy of the study here). Directors Kathy Galbreath, Kathy Tillia, and Kevin Boariu voted “No” on the motion. Director Norman Boots was absent from the meeting. Before the vote, district resident Lynn Jones spoke out against the resolution citing a concern for a raise in taxes. She said that residents cannot afford yearly increases to…

September 11, 2025

ECASD Board of Directors Vote to Retain Architectural Firm in Consideration of North Side and Hartman Construction Projects

Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors voted Thursday night to retain HHSDR to design projects relating to the North Side and Hartman Facility Studies (View a copy of the study here), create bid documents, and seek bids for the projects including alternative bids with options for the project’s scope. The projects, according to the study, come with a probable cost of approximately $9.9 million. Board members Norman Boots and Kevin Boariu voted “No” citing concerns of cost as well as current construction projects already underway. Boariu said the board needs to have extensive discussion before moving forward with…

August 15, 2025

Ellwood City Girls Softball Team to Seek Neighboring School District Fields for Home Games

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors voted to allow the girls softball team to use neighboring school districts’ fields for home games during the August 14th Regular Meeting. The girls previously played at Stiefel Park on a field owned by the borough, but they will not return to Stiefel in their upcoming season. The board expressed safety concerns and a deterioration of the field as the reasoning for seeking play at neighboring districts’ fields. Board members also stated that they no longer wish to invest money into any improvements to the field at Stiefel Park. “I’m not…

July 28, 2025

NOTICE: Ellwood City Area School Board of Directors Updated August Meeting Location

In a notice made available by the district, the Ellwood City Area School District has updated the location of its August board meetings. The meetings will now take place in the LHS Board Room The full notice reads as follows: Meeting Notice Changes: The Ellwood City Area School Board of Directors following meetings are changed as follows: The Monday, August 11, 2025 Committee Meeting and Thursday, August 14, 2025 Regular Meeting will now be held at 7:00 p.m. in the Lincoln High School Board Room. Notice: July 28, 2025