Renovation of an educational facility in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania. Completed plans call for the renovation of a educational facility.

https://www.ncnewsonline.com/news/local_news/ellwood-school-board-approves-north-side-renovation-bids/article_1ac78e67-d02a-4052-be6b-d4d363f33c56.html The Ellwood City Area School Board approved school renovation measures during its meeting on Monday. Bids were approved for the upcoming North Side Primary School renovation project. The bids were: Fred L. Burns Inc., $746,450, general construction; Renick Brothers Construction Co., $1,577,000 and $126,200, HVAC and plumbing; Blackhawk Neff Inc., $529,545, electrical; WAE Balancing, $61,000, testing, balancing and commissioning. Superintendent Dr. Amy Anderson said those were the lowest bids, and, in total, came in $1 million under projections. The district will apply for $1,214,778 in state Commonwealth Financing Authority funding for HVAC work with the upcoming Hartman Upper Intermediate School renovation project. The board will pay for both projects using an $11-million bond. North Side, built in 1992, needs the most immediate work to its loading dock, parking lot, roof, heating and air systems, fire alarms and handicap accessibility. Work is scheduled to start this month and last through next March. Hartman’s work is not immediate and includes the front retaining wall, the mechanical room, updated handicap accessibility and parts of the flooring and plumbing. Bids will be advertised and received in September. Construction will start in October and last through December 2027. The board agreed to pay $38,200 to All American Athletics to resurface the Lincoln High School gym floor and $89,884, from a grant, to Open Systems Pittsburgh to upgrade the school’s public address system. The Lincoln High School renovation project is set to finish in August after three years of work. DISTRICT RESPONDS TO DATA BREACH The board approved an agreement with Chester County-based Mullen Coughlin LLC, a cybersecurity and data privacy law firm. After the meeting, Anderson said the district suffered a data breach in February. She is unsure at this time if the district was affected or if any information has been compromised or stolen, hence the need for the special firm. PBIS TEAM HIGHLIGHTED North Side’s Primary Behavioral Interventions and Supports team was highlighted during the meeting. School Guidance Counselor Debbie Wiech said the team encourages kindergarten to second-grade teachers and staff to instruct students on behavioral skills like a school subject. She said it’s a way for the staff to prevent bad behavior instead of reacting to it. “All kids are learning how to be a student,” Wiech said. The model the school uses is based on the five Cs — Connect, communicate, collaborate, create and crossover. Wiech said they teach students how to follow “The Wolverine Way,” which is to be positive, respectful, responsible and safe. Elementary technology teacher Matthew Skoczylas received a $500 grant for the sixth-grade Remake Learning Labs, which will be used for their class projects. The district will host its annual senior citizens prom night from 5-7 p.m. at the high school. There will be light refreshments, games and prizes. OTHER MEETING MATTERS The board accepted the following retirements: first-grade teacher Pam MacMurdo, second-grade teacher Heather Haswell, learning support teacher DeAnna McMillen, fourth-grade teacher Lisa Beatrice, high school gym teacher John DiBuono and high school custodian Mike Nocera. Nocera’s retirement is effective Aug. 6, while the rest are effective June 6. North Side cafeteria worker Jodi Bird resigned on Feb. 13. Other business included: Haeley Barker and Sarah Edinger were hired as cafeteria workers; Tammy Blank as a full-time custodian; David Davis, Nancy McCool, James Mings and Tiffany Cass as bus drivers; John Love as a van driver, Patricia McClean as a bus monitor; Kristin Aquino-Tritt as a cafeteria worker; Todd Emswiler as junior high assistant baseball coach; Steven Simeoni a volunteer baseball coach, Steve Santillo as assistant softball coach and Britney Bischoff a volunteer softball coach. Hartman special education teacher Mia Edder was granted tenure. Other board actions included: •The proposed 2026-27 Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV operating budget is $4,552,816. A majority of the school boards in the district have to approve the budget before adoption. •The district’s comprehensive plan from 2026 to 2029, moving the commencement ceremony on June 4 indoors to Lincoln High School, allowing police Chief Brian Speer to purchase additional safety and security items, allowing a teacher’s child to attend the district at no cost and a new exemption from instruction policy. -------------------------------------------------- Improvements and renovations for the North Side Primary School, Ellwood City Area School District. Separate contracts will be entered into for: General Construction, HVAC Construction, Plumbing Construction, and Electrical Construction. Bids must conform to contract documents prepared by HHSDR Architects/Engineers. Bids shall include a Bid Security Bond or Certified Check, payable to Canon-McMillan School District, in an amount of five percent (5%) of the bid, in accordance with the Instructions to Bidders included in the Contract Documents. UNLESS SPECIFICALLY INDICATED OTHERWISE, ALL WORK SHOWN ON THE ELECTRICAL DRAWINGS IS NEW WORK TO BE PROVIDED UNDER THIS CONTRACT. THE CONTRACTOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ENTIRE PROJECT DOCUMENT SET, INCLUDING ALL SPECIFICATIONS, CONTRACT DRAWINGS, ADDENDUMS, ETC. PRIOR TO THEIR BID, THE CONTRACTOR SHALL REVIEW ALL CONTRACT DOCUMENTS. IF WORK ON OTHER TRADE DRAWINGS OR WITHIN OTHER DIVISION SPECIFICATIONS HAS EQUIPMENT, DEVICES, APPURTENANCES, ETC. INCLUDED WITHIN THEM REQUIRING ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT OR POWER FEEDS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A COMPLETE OPERATIONAL SYSTEM, IT IS THE CONTRACTOR'S RESPONSIBILITY TO INCLUDE WITHIN THEIR BID AND PAY FOR ALL ELECTRICAL WORK REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THOSE SYSTEMS. THE CONTRACTOR SHALL SUBMIT REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION DURING THE BIDDING PHASE FOR ALL DISCREPANCIES, CONFLICTS, CONSTRUCTABILITY ISSUES, AND CLARIFICATIONS NEEDED IN ORDER FOR THE CONTRACTOR TO PROVIDE COMPLETE OPERATIONAL SYSTEMS FOR THIS PROJECT