Ellwood City Area School District Board of Directors

Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors voted Thursday night to leave the decision regarding wearing masks in school up to families. Masks will however be required on the buses. District Superintendent Dr. Wesley Shipley said he is encouraging families to do what they feel is best. “If you feel more comfortable wearing a mask, we encourage it,” he said. Although the school will not be mandating masks (other than on the buses), Shipley reminded the board and visitors that should a mandate come down from the state or federal government, that could change. Masks on buses is based…

Following more than a year of ups and downs, uncertainty, masks and social distancing, Ellwood City Area School District plans to begin the 2021-2022 school year on a normal note. During Thursday’s Special Meeting of the Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors, District Superintendent Dr. Wesley Shipley announced that the district’s ARP ESSER Health and Safety plan will not include masks for back to school. He said that his administration believes that learning is a social activity and as such requires students to interact without masks or social distancing. “We have every plan to open full-time, mask-free, and…

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…

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…