Recent Stories

Ellwood City Area School District

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…

September 12, 2019

Ellwood City School Board to Vote on Soccer Program Funding

The soccer debate continues within the Ellwood City School Board. During the board’s September 9 agenda meeting, board continued the back and forth discussion regarding whether or not funding should be provided to the boys and girls soccer club. Three players from the boys “club” were in attendance. One player Levi Smith spoke on behalf of the team. He assured the board that the team is dedicated to the season as well as growing the roster through recruiting efforts. He said moving forward the boys team should have no problem maintaining a roster as there are only two graduating seniors…

September 10, 2019

School Officials: Waterline Issues Resolved at Northside

Ellwood City School Officials said they have resolved water line issues that caused some condensation and dripping onto ceiling tiles at Northside Elementary School. A recent Facebook post had parents taking to social media to voice complaints and concerns about the condition of ceiling tile in a classroom at Ellwood City Area School District’s Northside Elementary school. In a post on the Ellwood City Crime Watch & Breaking News page, one parent posted a picture of the tile which appeared brown and black. She noted that the photo was taken in her son’s classroom during the school’s open house. Paul…

September 10, 2019

School Lunch Debt Rising Again; Parents Urged to Apply for Assistance

Despite a good gesture by Baierl Toyota of Mars to pay off more than $20,000 in school lunch debt for Ellwood City Area School District, it’s beginning to climb again. During the September 9 school board meeting John Dzurina, Food Service Coordinator for the District said the debt is already at $500 after just two weeks. He explained that the $500 is just for lunches or breakfast not a la carte items or second lunches. This trend of constant debt has prompted the school board to consider partnering with an outside collection agency to try to stay on top of…

September 4, 2019

Ellwood Fall Sport Senior Q&A: Part 2

School is back in full swing and so are high school sports! Those sports wouldn’t be the same without a big dose of school spirit, and that’s where the Wolverine Cheerleaders shine. We caught up with the coaches of the cheerleaders, and she couldn’t be happier with this year’s squad. “Going into my 19th year of varsity cheer coach this group has kept me young for sure,” said Coach Karen Steilner. “They are a young and newer group and have really improved since camp at beginning of August. I am so proud of them and know that they will only…

August 30, 2019

Baierl Toyota Deletes School Lunch Debt for Ellwood Schools

More than $22,000 of school lunch debt will be gone for parents and students of Ellwood City Area School District. Baierl Toyota of Mars, PA will present a check to Superintendent Joseph Mancini and John Dzurina, Food Service Coordinator for the District Friday afternoon at the dealership. “All in all, we are very appreciative of Baierl Toyota and their generosity to the students and families of Ellwood City,” Mancini said. Michael Hull, General Manager of Bariel Toyota of Mars, stated in a KDKA report that “we have a lot of customers that come in from Ellwood City and we wanted…

August 16, 2019

Board to Re-evaluate Soccer Program Funding in September

During  a special board meeting on Friday morning, Ellwood City School Board decided to allow the soccer program to use the Ewing Park School property for practice and to order nets to facilitate those practices, according to District Superintendent Joseph Mancini, who was reached for comment following the meeting. He said the games will continue to be held at Stiefel Park. He added that the board will re-evaluate the funding request at the September board meeting. Practices are being moved to Ewing Park to allow for more practice availability time in the hopes to attract additional players. This “special meeting”…