Recent Stories

Ellwood City Area School District

December 3, 2020

ECASD Board Names New President, Changes to 2021 Meeting Schedule

Ellwood City School District’s Board of Directors held their reorganization meeting Thursday evening where Director Jean Biehls was named president and Director Gary Rozanski was named vice president. Biehls and Rozanski were the only directors nominated for their positions and both nominations were opposed by Director Jennifer Tomon. Director Erica Gray was not in attendance. Biehls said she will make committee appointments in the next couple weeks. The board also established a plan for the meeting schedule for 2021 and announced that meetings will be held on the 1st and 2nd Thursdays of the month. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic,…

December 3, 2020

ECASD to Remain Full Virtual Until January 11

Students in the Ellwood City Area School District will not be returning to the school buildings any time before January 11. The District’s Board of Directors voted Thursday evening unanimously to continue virtual learning up to that date. The board and administrators will revisit Covid-19 numbers and community spread during the board’s January 7 meeting. Until then, Acting Superintendent Dr. Wesley Shipley will work with administrators, teachers, and staff to develop a hybrid plan in the hopes for partial return to classes on January 11. Shipley said he believes that is the best way to proceed for the safety and…

November 12, 2020

Ellwood City School District to Remain Virtual; Winter Sports to Begin

Students will not be returning to the school buildings for classes in the Ellwood City Area School District before November 30. During Thursday night’s board of directors meeting, Superintendent Dr. Wesley Shipley said he has been keeping a close eye on community spread. “The numbers I’ve been keeping based on data shows we have more cases this week than last,” he said. However, the school will move forward with winter sports including boys and girl’s basketball and varsity wrestling. The board approved hiring of winter coaches. Practices for those sports will begin on Monday with adherence to WPIAL and PIAA…

November 2, 2020

ECASD Transitions to Full-Remote Learning

Ellwood City Area School District has transitioned to full-remote learning beginning Tuesday, November 3. In a short statement made available on the district social media account Monday afternoon, the school made the initial announcement. @ec_high will be starting full remote learning on Tuesday, November 3! Students are required to join a google meet at the beginning of every class period according to the one hour delay schedule! #EC_Proud #ec_lincoln @ecdotorg @ECLedger @NewCastleNews — EC Lincoln High (@ec_high) November 2, 2020 In an email to Ellwoodcity.org on Monday afternoon, District Superintendent Dr. Wesley Shipley said, “The county data has us in…

October 28, 2020

ECASD to Assess Community Spread of Covid-19; Schools Not Closing Doors Yet

Ellwood City Area School District will access the community spread regarding Covid-19 on November 2nd to decide whether to keep schools open or transition to full-remote learning. In a letter issued Wednesday by District Superintendent Dr. Wesley Shipley, administrators announced a plan in moving education forward during the pandemic following meetings with the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Department of Education and Lawrence County Commissioners. “This past Monday our county moved into the substantial range of community spread,” Shipley said. “The Department of Health and Department of Education both recommend that we move to full-remote learning if our county is in the…

October 10, 2020

Hudson Qualifies For PIAA Golf Championships

Ellwood City’s Joey Hudson shot a round of 83 at the par-70 Allegheny Country Club Thursday afternoon to finish 11th overall in the WPIAL boys golf championships, helping qualify for the state championships later this month. “My round at Allegheny was a roller coaster as I had many ups and downs throughout,” Hudson said. “The playing conditions at the course were tough as the winds were very high and the greens were lightning quick. I had only played one time at the course before the WPIAL finals.” Despite the challenges, Hudson nailed the most vital shot to his success—the tee…

October 9, 2020

ECASD Board Approves Phase Two Reopening Plan

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors voted to move ahead with a Phase Two Reopening Plan proposed by Acting Superintendent Wes Shipley. The 5-4 vote will allow administrators to limit choices for families when it comes to choosing in school learning, a hybrid model, or a full cyber option. Directors Barbara Wilson, Matt Morella, Erica Gray, Jennifer Tomon, and Gary Rozanski supported the following plan proposed by Shipley during an Oct 5 Committee of the Whole Meeting: On Nov 2 families will have three options—full five day in school instruction, three day in school instruction, and Ecava….

September 21, 2020

ECASD Board Votes to Allow 1/4 Capacity at District Events

The Ellwood City School Area School District’s Board of Directors voted to allow spectators at events at ¼ capacity, but those in attendance will be required to wear masks, to social distance, and to sign a waiver excusing the district from liability. In a 6-1 vote the board decided that Ellwood City sports will now be played with the support of the community. Director Gary Rozanski was the lone No vote, and Directors Kathy McCommons and Norman Boots were not in attendance during the vote. The vote came following a September 14 federal court ruling that deemed Governor Wolf’s state…

September 11, 2020

ECASD Board of Directors Push for Spectator Attendance at Games

There’s no doubt the Ellwood City Area School Board of Directors support student participation in Fall sports, but they also made it clear that they want spectators in the stands, on the sidelines, and cheering on the athletes. At Thursday’s meeting, Director Erica Gray insisted the board find a way to make that happen. Although Superintendent Wes Shipley agrees with the board, he said the board’s and the district’s options are limited and opening the “gates” to events could open a flood gate of liability for the district. Current state mandates regarding Coronavirus limit spectators at outside events to 250…

August 25, 2020

ECASD Board Passes Health and Safety Plan, Approves Start of Fall Sports

Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors passed a Health and Safety plan Monday night in anticipation of the return to school. The details in the plan were not made available to the public, but Interim Superintendent Wes Shipley said the plan will be posted to the district’s website today. (Read the plan posted on Tuesday here.) Board members wanted clarification in the plan to state that “team” teaching would be the method during in person classroom teaching. The team teaching option was a board compromise after some directors favored self-contained teaching over team teaching. Self-contained teaching, according to…