Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors

May 13, 2026

ECASD Board of Directors Pass Preliminary Budget with Tax Increase; Consider Financing Plan for Budget Shortfall

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors passed a preliminary budget—which calls for a 4.9 percent tax increase—and authorized administration to work with PFM Financial Advisors LLC, as Municipal Advisor on a financing plan as the district faces a more than $1 million budget shortfall. (view the preliminary budget here) Board directors and school officials have a big financial job ahead of them in the coming months as they seek to increase revenues while decreasing spending to work toward a more structurally balanced budget. Melissa Maze of PFM said this financing plan is strictly a strategy for cash…

June 27, 2025

ECASD Board of Directors Takes Action for Upcoming School Year; Bids Farewell to Superintendent

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors took action on a long lineup of business in preparation for the upcoming school year and bid farewell to Superintendent Dr. Wesley Shipley during Thursday’s voting meeting. Shipley in attendance at his last meeting before Dr. Amy Anderson takes over as superintendent said his time at Ellwood is a time he will treasure and miss. “It was by far the best five years of my administrative career.” Shipley said working with the administrators and staff at ECASD was truly a pleasure and feels that they all accomplished a lot together. He…

July 12, 2024

ECASD Board of Directors Vote to Hire Building Clerk and Director of Pupil Services and to Create a Dean of Student Affairs Position; Debate Elimination of Nepotism Policy

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors voted to hire Elizabeth Tomon for a building clerk position at Perry Lower Intermediate during the July 11 combined regular meeting. Board President Jennifer Tomon abstained from voting as Elizabeth Tomon is a relative. Elizabeth received “Yes” votes from Board Vice President Jean Biehls and Directors Erica Gray, Kathy Tillia, Kevin Boariu, Robyn Nicklas and Dr. Claire Fauzey. “No” votes were cast by Directors Kathy Galbreath and Norman Boots. Elizabeth’s hiring followed nepotism policy votes during both the May and June regular ECASD Board of Directors Meetings. A motion was made…

March 14, 2024

Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors Cut Ribbon to Signify, Celebrate Completion of the Perry School Project

Thursday evening’s Ellwood City Area School District Board of Directors meeting was preceded with an open house for the public to see the renovations of Perry Lower Intermediate School as well as a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate and finalize the project’s completion. “What a great opportunity for us to look at what is created and what is finished,” Dr. Wesley Shipley, ECASD Superintendent said during the ribbon cutting ceremony just before Board Director Kathy Galbreth took the jumbo scissors and cut the ribbon with the rest of the Board by her side. The project included updating the…

January 11, 2024

ECASD Board of Directors Nominate Candidate to the MIU IV Board; Ewing Park Residents Speak Against Field Usage

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors unanimously nominated new Director Kevin Boariu to the Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV (MIU IV) Board. Director Jean Biehls made the motion to nominate Boariu. The MIU IV Board will now have to accept the ECASD Board’s nomination. According to the MIU IV’s website, “it is one of 29 IU’s serving schools in Pennsylvania. The intermediate unit serves the 27 school districts and three vo-techs in Butler, Lawrence and Mercer Counties. In addition to providing programs and services requested by area school districts, MIU IV also implements programs mandated by the Pennsylvania…

November 8, 2023

ECASD Board of Directors to Consider Construction Proposal for Lincoln High School

Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors are set to vote to approve bid advertisements as presented by HHSDR Architects for renovations to Lincoln High School during Thursday Night’s Regular Board meeting. HHSDR representatives attended the ECASD Board of Directors Committee meeting Monday to present a timetable and probable costs of the renovations. The high school was built in 1926, with additions added in 1961. It was renovated in 1982 and again in 1998. The building consists of 213,370 square feet. HHSDR reported that the project would begin in February of 2024 and would take approximately 2.5 years to…

April 27, 2023

Election Q&A: Ellwood City Area School District Board of Directors Candidates

The Municipal Primary Election will take place on May 16. We caught up with the candidates for Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors and the candidates for Ellwood City Borough Council. This is PART ONE in a TWO-PART SERIES featuring Q&As with the candidates. Part 1 features the ECASD Board of Directors candidates. Part 2 will be published tomorrow and will feature the Ellwood City Borough Council Candidates. Where Do I Vote? The Polling Place Search tool will help you locate a polling place for Election day: Find your polling place. Important Dates Upcoming Elections – MUNICIPAL PRIMARY –…