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Ellwood City Area School District

October 29, 2019

Part Two: Ellwood City School Director Candidate Q&A

This is the second in a two-part series featuring a Q&A with the candidates for Ellwood City School District’s Board of Directors. Today’s Q&A features Gary Rozanski and Kathy Pansera. Yesterday’s Q&A featured Leroy Cortez and Jean Biehls. The following candidates declined to participate: Jennifer Tomon, Erica Gray, Danielle Woodhead. Elections are just around the corner. Residents will be able to place their votes for numerous offices including Ellwood City Borough Council on November 5. To find your polling location, click here. To learn more about the voting process and how to cast your vote, click here. Take a moment…

October 28, 2019

Part One: Ellwood City School Director Candidate Q&A

This is the first in a two-part series featuring a Q&A with the candidates for Ellwood City School District’s Board of Directors. Today’s Q&A features Leroy Cortez and Jean Biehls. Tomorrow’s Q&A will feature Gary Rozanski and Kathy Pansera. The following candidates declined to participate: Jennifer Tomon, Erica Gray, Danielle Woodhead. Elections are just around the corner. Residents will be able to place their votes for numerous offices including Ellwood City Borough Council on November 5. To find your polling location, click here. To learn more about the voting process and how to cast your vote, click here. Take a…

October 17, 2019

Ellwood City School District Police Q&A

This is Part Two in a series featuring the Ellwood City School District Police Officers. EllwoodCity.org wanted to learn a little about the Ellwood City School District Police Officers. Find out what they had to say in this exclusive Q&A:   Officer Brian Speer Q: What are you most looking forward to when working with youth as opposed to adults? A: The goals of the Ellwood City Area School District Police Department is providing a safe learning environment, providing valuable resources to school staff members, fostering positive relationships with youth, developing strategies to resolve problems affecting youth and protecting all…

October 16, 2019

EC School Police Officers Strive To Promote Safety, Guidance For Students

This is Part One in a series featuring the Ellwood City School District Police Officers. Read Part Two tomorrow. For the Ellwood City School Police Department officers keeping the students safe is the number one priority, but both see the job as more than just that. Making a positive difference in the lives of youth is what the officers hope to do in their newly created roles in the Ellwood City Area School District. With more than 20 years as a police officer, Brian Speer, said his most memorable incident as an officer was not “busting” a violent criminal. Speer…

October 15, 2019

EC Student Strives for Better Water, Better Planet

Makena Hall, Lincoln High School junior, is on a mission to encourage her school and her community “to come together to create a better tomorrow.” Hall, is fundraising to implement the installation of water bottle filling stations at Lincoln. She is hoping to raise $5,000 which is enough to cover three of the stations. Her motto: “One school, one community, one planet” has a two-fold motivation. One is filtered, good tasting water to keep students hydrated and the second is less plastic bogging down our environment. According to Hall, although her peers get thirsty, they don’t want to drink water…

October 14, 2019

Cortez, Neupauer Recognized For Years of School Director Service

The Ellwood City Area School District recognized Leroy Cortez and Mike Neupauer for their dedication and years of service on the Ellwood City Area School District Board of Directors. Cortez has served for 16 years, Neupauer has served for 12. School Superintendent Joseph Mancini said during the board’s Oct 10 meeting that they were honored by the Pennsylvania Boards Association (PSBA), which recognizes for years of service from 8 to 36 years. “The legacy of school board service is firmly embedded in the history of our nation and its commitment to public education,” Mancini said. “The PSBA, has a rich…

October 11, 2019

School Board Recommends Policy Revision to Support Outside Agency Lunch Debt Collection

Ellwood City Area School Board voted during its October 10 meeting to recommend a revision to the Food Services Policy 808. The move was prompted by a continued rise in school lunch debt. The new policy would give the district the allowance to use an outside agency to collect unpaid debt. The board could vote to adopt this policy during its November 14 meeting. Richard Zarone, district business manager spoke at the October 7 board committee meeting. He said the debt has reached $3,600 already for the year. He said there would be no cost to hire an agency as…

October 11, 2019

EC School Directors Table Conflict of Interest Policy

During the October 10 voting meeting the Ellwood City Area School Directors voted to table the policy and refer it to the policy committee. The proposed policy was introduced during the Board’s Monday Night agenda meeting, at which time District Solicitor John DeCaro, said the change could force board members to choose between maintaining their board position or maintaining their participation in leadership roles in other organizations such as boosters, clubs, and PTO. It was met with strong opposition from Board Directors Barabara Wilson, Kathleen McCommons, and Renee Pitrelli, who viewed the proposal as a target aimed at certain board…

October 9, 2019

School Lunch Debt Continues Rise Into Thousands Prompting Consideration Of Collection Agency

Because the school lunch debt is continuing to rise, the Ellwood City Area School Board will vote on Thursday whether to hire an outside agency to collect that debt. Richard Zarone, district business manager, said the debt has reached $3,600 already for the year. He said there would be no cost to hire an agency as it would paid by the fees incurred by the debtor. He said the four-tier process would include two warning letters, one certified warning letter, and then the matter would be turned over to the collection agency. This proposed solution follows a good gesture in…

September 13, 2019

Ellwood City School Board Approves Soccer Funding

The Ellwood City School Board voted unanimously Thursday to approve funding of no more than $4,300 to the boys and girls teams for transportation and referee costs. Before the vote, during the visitors comment portion, numerous soccer supporters spoke on behalf of the teams. Jerry Hermann, visitor, told the board saying no is saying no to a dedicated group of kids. “Be encouragers, not discouragers,” Hermann said. Jean Biehls, visitor, encouraged the board to “open their minds” and look at funds dedicated to other athletics. “We need to let them know that they are just as important,” Biehls said. Lisa…