KCSD Locates “Substitute” Superintendent

BALD EAGLE TOWNSHIP – The Keystone Central School Board plans to hire a veteran Columbia County school administrator as its “substitute” superintendent while its search for a fulltime superintendent continues.

School board president Charlie Rosamilia told therecord-online on Tuesday that Al Lonoconus of Catawissa is the board choice to be named as the district’s temporary lead administrator at a special meeting to be held on Tuesday, Jan. 30.

Rosamilia said the board held an executive session at Central Mountain High School on Monday of this week and Lonoconus, who had been interviewed, is the district choice. Lonoconus started as a teacher at Southern Columbia High School and rose through the ranks as curriculum director and ultimately as superintendent. He also had administrative time with the Shikellamy School District and served as interim superintendent with the Bloomsburg School District in 2016.

Rosamilia said the plans are to pay Lonoconus for three days a week at $450 a day, effective shortly after the Jan. 30 public meeting, through March 12. The latter date is the last employment date for the district’s current superintendent Kelly Hastings who did not return to her post after the Christmas holidays. After March 12, Rosamilia said, Lonoconus’s pay will be $500 a day, five days a week until a new superintendent is on board (the district is actively involved in conducting a search for a permanent replacement for Hastings who had announced her retirement last year).

Once Hastings’ official time is over, Rosamilia said, Lonoconus will be listed as interim superintendent. He is expected to serve into the spring in that capacity. Rosamilia said his compensation will be in line with guidelines from the state school board association.

Rosamilia said the school board needed to move with haste to get a certified substitute superintend on board, based on a letter from district solicitor David Lindsay who cautioned about the proper execution of legal matters without a properly certified lead administrator. He said seven sitting board members were at Monday’s executive session. Board member Wayne Koch is recovering from recent surgery and the Flemington/Bald Eagle Township/Castanea Township seat (Region VIII) is presently vacant.

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