Student government reports, CTC presentation highlight of Thursday’s school board meeting
By Christopher Miller
BALD EAGLE TOWNSHIP – Keystone Central School Board heard student government reports and a presentation on the Career and Technical Center Thursday evening.
CTC Program Presentation
The Central Mountain Media Class presented the video they created of the Career and Technical Center last night. The video showcases the high school and the opportunities that the CTC program gives for students to succeed.
Different students were showcased during the video, including one who has taken the required ASVAB tests for military service. The student ships out for Indiana on July 11 to pursue his dreams of being a Navy SEAL.
Madyson Barker, who prided herself with being the only female in the auto mechanic classes, learned how to work with others, ask questions, and get the job done right. She mentioned that she was shy as a freshman, but quickly became involved in activities at the high school.
Greg Stuber and Annalise Mann are both music majors and music students pursuing careers in the music and performing arts pathway.
Ben Temple spoke about his time taking courses in business management through Lock Haven University, Lackawanna Business College, and Penn College of Technology to amass some 39 college credits all while being a student at the high school. Though 12 credits is usually the minimum to be considered a full-time university student, with 39 credits, this puts Ben more than halfway through his sophomore year, all before even graduating high school.
Alex Acuna moved to the area recently with her parents from the Long Island, New York area. She has been involved in dual-enrollment classes and as an officer for community service-based clubs and activities. She has excelled in her Anatomy & Physiology courses at Lock Haven University and was able to achieve a full-ride scholarship to study health sciences.
Reid Leupold is making his passions for art and science work together, and he will be attending Colorado State University in the fall. He will be majoring in chemistry and will fund his dreams with his art, all learned and practiced through the CTC program.
Maia Crowell will be a broadcast journalism and telecommunications major at Penn State in the fall, and she accredits her passion for media with her time in the CTC program. She mentioned enjoying filmmaking and video editing, and her time as Miss Central Mountain representing the school in last year’s Flaming Foliage Festival in Renovo. “Just say yes to the opportunities presented to you,” she said.
Through the CTC program, Tanner Doverspike was able to complete an internship locally with Davis Real Estate and a co-op program with SWC Realty where he became a licensed realtor all before even leaving high school.
Student Government Reports
Bucktail Middle/High School
The student government representative for Bucktail High School was on hand to talk about their recent visit to State Representative Borowicz’s office in Harrisburg and the tour of the capital that they were given by a staffer in her office – Representative Borowicz had called in sick that day. Students visited the state museum and they were recognized on the House Floor, watched proceedings from the House Gallery, and stated that they learned a great deal that day.
Student body representative Kedda Bissman was also present to speak to the board about activities at the high school and the environmental club which she is heavily involved with. They helped the Game Commission stock fish in six locations along Young Womans Creek, and also recognized local mover-and-shaker Martha Sykes’ induction into the KCSD Foundation Hall of Fame. “She is a community rock star,” the students said.
Kedda spoke about the Bucktail band concert coming up on May 30, and how they recently performed at Bucktail Medical Center, and their upcoming performance at Eagle Ridge Personal Care Home and Haven Place. After testing is over, the Environmental Club will be working with Angela Poleto of DCNR to plant native plants around the buildings and perform a trash pick-up around the area. The club will also be celebrating their end-of-year picnic soon, and she remarked about her Blue Martin birdhouse project which was started in 2022, where she will donate the birdhouse to the Bucktail courtyard to replace the old one.
Central Mountain Middle School
Caroline Sidaris, the middle school government representative, informed the school board that she did not have many updates due to preparing for the state assessments, and that the 8th graders had finished their science PSSA tests yesterday. The snack cart is up and running, but participation was not what was expected and that the student government will look into more advertising efforts to sell snacks. Caroline also mentioned that there has been a significant improvement in behavior with referrals being down by 20% and that middle school students feel empowered to rise to the occasion of improving behavior schoolwide. The student government is also excited to collaborate with administrators, set high expectations, and see positive growth.
Central Mountain High School
Student government representative Claire Bowman reported that many students are involved in end-of-year activities and that they are preparing for concerts, dances, and Prom. She also mentioned that the Class of 2024 graduation is coming up on June 4, and that they are a bunch of “proud graduating seniors.” Officers meet weekly to discuss various topics and the issues, and they have seen multiple good outcomes from the conversations among themselves and with administration.
