Recent Stories

Ellwood City Area School District

September 6, 2022

Ellwood City Fall Sports Q&A

This is part one of a two part series featuring area athletes in fall 2022 sports. The start of fall sports is upon us, so we took the opportunity catch up with the athletes of those teams to see what they are doing to prepare for the upcoming rivalries and to offer some perspective on the season ahead and their plans for the future. [VIEW PART 2 – RIVERSIDE Q&A] Ellwood City Athletes Golf Maddy McCommons Grade? Senior How many years have you been played golf?  6 years What do you feel is your biggest strength in golf? I feel that my drives…

August 31, 2022

Ellwood City School District Closed Friday For District-Wide Safety Training

The Ellwood City Area School District will be closed on Friday, September 2nd for a district-wide safety training. The district will also remained closed on Monday, September 5th in observance of the Labor Day holiday. “The entire faculty and staff will be participating in an active shooter training on Friday,” said Superintendent Wesley Shipley in a statement. “Because this training is designed for all employees of the district, all district offices and buildings will be closed for the entire day on Friday.” Shipley advised to not be alarmed if you see an increased number of police personnel and vehicles around…

August 9, 2022

Ellwood City Area School District Provides Construction Update

In advance of the back to school season, the Ellwood City Area School District has provided an update to various construction projects on school grounds. According to the district website, the update is to provide the community with current information regarding the capital improvement projects that are underway throughout Ellwood City Area School District.  The focus of the projects is to create a safer learning environment for our students and staff. Helling Stadium All field drainage work is complete and the field base has been set.  All of the buildings on the site have been repainted.  Fencing, concrete and asphalt…

June 10, 2022

ECASD Board of Directors Hires Boys Basketball Head Coach

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors hired Scott Dibble to serve as the head boys basketball coach. In 2019, Dibble stepped down after serving for two seasons as Bishop Canevin’s girls basketball head coach and two years previously as an assistant. The Crusaders won WPIAL titles three of the four years and were state runners-up in 2017 and 2018. He also coached the girls teams for three seasons at New Castle and a dozen at Erie’s Villa Maria, where his teams reached the finals six times. In addition, High School Principal John Sovich, and School Police Officer…

May 18, 2022

NOTICE: ECASD Proposed Final Budget

In a notice made available by the district, the Ellwood City Area School District has proposed its final budget.  The notice reads as follows: NOTICE is given that the Proposed Final Budget for the General Fund of the Ellwood City Area School District for the 2022-23 fiscal year in its most recent form is available for public inspection at the school district offices, 501 Cresence Avenue, Ellwood City, PA 16117 and will be presented for adoption as a Final Budget at a school board meeting to be held in the Board Room of the Lincoln High School Building, 501 Crescent…

May 11, 2022

PHOTOS: Parent Career Day At North Side Primary

Dozens of different careers were on display at North Side Primary last week as part of Parent Career Day on May 5th. School to work director, principal and 28 different careers were on display for 5, 6, 7 and 8-year-olds. Baby cows, goats, military, tow truck, engineers, EC Forge, EC Fire, Chippewa PD, Vinny’s, a welder….to name a few! North Side Primary School is a K-2 building in the Ellwood City Area School District. Mr. Dan Parson is Elementary Principal/Federal Programs Coordinator.

May 6, 2022

ECASD Board of Directors Puts Hold on Stadium Lights

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors decided during its Thursday Agenda Meeting to put the purchase of new lighting for Helling Stadium on hold. Dr. Wesley Shipley, school superintendent, said that the project was quoted by Musco lighting at a cost of at minimum $275,000. He said the “Cadillac” lighting system would cost the district at least $344,000. The lighting was not included in the original $2,562,405 budget for the stadium project. All directors agreed that the lighting is a cost that cannot be taken on by the district at this time. The board also has yet…

April 15, 2022

NOTICE: Per Capita Tax

In a release made available the by district and district superintendent Dr. Wesley Shipley, ECASD is considering establishing a per capita tax. The official legal notice reads as follows: The Ellwood City Area School District, County of Lawrence, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, will consider a resolution establishing a per capita tax of ten dollars ($10.00) levied on each indiviudal eighteen years of age or over residing within Ellwood City Area School District. The complete text of this resolution may be viewed at the office of the school district, 501 Crescent Avenue, Ellwood City, PA 16117. The resolution will be considered for…

April 11, 2022

North Side Primary School Gets “Chill Room” for Social Emotional Regulation

Ellwood City Area School District’s North Side Primary School now has a place where students can “chill.” More than a hangout, the Chill Room has a specific purpose for promoting positive social emotional awareness. Debbie Wiech, the district’s k-2 school counselor and k-12 community liaison, said the room is meant to help students regulate emotions. The room is part of the district’s cognitive behavioral plan and goes along with the district’s positive action curriculum. “We are teaching kids how to regulate emotions,” Wiech said. “To be able to get out of their heads and work through what they are feeling.”…

April 8, 2022

ECASD Board of Directors Approves Helling Stadium Project

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors awarded the Helling Stadium project to Fred L. Burns, Inc., Shippenville, Pa, at an overall cost of $2,562,405. The major portion of that project will be the installation of Astro Turf at a cost of $2,420,000, which includes removal of dirt, addition of drainage, and labor. In addition to the Astro Turf, the track will be resurfaced with a long-lasting synthetic material at a cost of $64,150 and $7,380 for the school colors to be added. Electrical work, including wiring to the poles, work on the timeclock and other electrical work…