KCSD Approves AEDY Services Contracts, Outright Purchase of Leased Vehicles
By Christopher Miller
BALD EAGLE TOWNSHIP – Keystone Central School Board met Thursday evening for their voting meeting.
The school board officially adopted the proposed 2025-2026 Final General Fund Budget in the amount of $92,820,554. This sets the real estate mills at:
Clinton County 14.67 mills
Centre County 47.10 mills
Potter County 56.97 mills
Earned Income and Net Profits Tax under Act 151 – 1%
The school board voted in favor of accepting both contracts for Alternative Education for Disruptive Youth (AEDY) services through River Rock Academy and Nittany Learning Services.
The contract with River Rock Academy includes five seats for $143,375, or $28,675 per seat, or $163.86 per day for a pre-paid seat. Additional seats are charged $246 per day.
The contract with Nittany Learning Services includes five seats for $87,500, or $17,500 per seat, or $100 per day for a pre-paid seat. The district also gets one “free” seat with the five they plan to purchase, so those numbers effectively change to $14,583.33 per seat, or $83.33 per day. Additional seats are charged $145 per day.
The school board also voted in favor of approving the administration recommendation of a buyout for seven district Enterprise leased vehicles totaling $62,673.47 upon the end of each vehicle lease. The recommendation to buy out the vehicle lease was based upon low mileage on each vehicle and the useful life of an additional 10 years producing an estimated savings of approximately $620,000 for the district.
The vehicles are as follows:
2020 Ford F-550 (12,060 miles)
2021 Ford E-450 Cutaway (30,726 miles)
3 – 2020 Ford Transit-150 Passenger (26,117, 25,034, and 15,721 miles)
2 – 2020 Ford Transit-250 Cargo (19,064 and 18,323 miles)
The board also voted in favor of accepting the donation of two TRAK Machine Tools for the Career and Technical Center (CTC) program. The donation value amounts to $109,212 and consists of a TRAK TMC5 Mill and TRAK 1630RX Lathe.
These machines will be used for the Machine Trades and Agricultural Mechanics programs.
Lastly, the school board voted in favor of establishing a Competitive Cheerleading program at Central Mountain.
In personnel news, the following was approved:
LEAVE OF ABSENCE
Professional
Leave of Absence for Moriah Ulmer, Learning Support Teacher, at Central Mountain Middle School, effective approximately August 22, 2025 through approximately December 18, 2025. Absence is partially compensated.
Leave of Absence for Bridget Smith, Guidance Counselor, at Mill Hall Elementary School, effective approximately September 12, 2025 through approximately January 5, 2026. Absence is partially compensated.
Administrative
Leave of Absence for Deborah Kline, Assistant Principal, at Central Mountain High School, effective June 23, 2025 through approximately September 22, 2025. Absence is compensated.
EMPLOYMENT
Support
Employment of Drue Allison, Library Assistant, at Keystone Central School District, effective the first day of the 2025-2026 school year, at a rate of $14.50/hour, paid from the General Fund per the ESP Contract. Hiring is contingent upon receipt of all required paperwork including, but not limited to, all necessary background checks that meet the appropriate standard(s) as required by Pennsylvania law. Filled due to vacancy.
Employment of Marian Berry, Cafeteria Under 25, 4 hrs/day, at Central Mountain Middle School, effective August 5, 2025, at a rate of $14.50/hour, paid from the General Fund per the ESP Contract. Hiring is contingent upon receipt of all required paperwork including, but not limited to, all necessary background checks that meet the appropriate standard(s) as required by Pennsylvania law. Filled due to vacancy.
Employment of Erin Fetzer, 210 Custodial Floater, at Central Mountain High School, effective July 7, 2025, at a rate of $14.50/hour, paid from the General Fund per the ESP Contract. Hiring is contingent upon receipt of all required paperwork including, but not limited to, all necessary background checks that meet the appropriate standard(s) as required by Pennsylvania law. Filled due to vacancy.
Employment of Joseph Gardner, 210 Custodian, at Central Mountain Middle School, effective July 7, 2025, at a rate of $14.50/hour, paid from the General Fund per the ESP Contract. Hiring is contingent upon receipt of all required paperwork including, but not limited to, all necessary background checks that meet the appropriate standard(s) as required by Pennsylvania law. Filled due to vacancy.
Employment of Lela Vanartsdalen, Cafeteria Under 25, 4.5 hrs/day, at Central Mountain High School, effective August 5, 2025, at a rate of $14.50/hour, paid from the General Fund per the ESP Contract. Hiring is contingent upon receipt of all required paperwork including, but not limited to, all necessary background checks that meet the appropriate standard(s) as required by Pennsylvania law. Filled due to vacancy.
Employment of Kellie Mantle, Cafeteria Under 25, 4 hrs/day, at Central Mountain Middle School, effective August 5, 2025, at a rate of $14.50/hour, paid from the General Fund per the ESP Contract. Hiring is contingent upon receipt of all required paperwork including, but not limited to, all necessary background checks that meet the appropriate standard(s) as required by Pennsylvania law. Filled due to vacancy.
Approve the following head custodians for Summer 2025, effective 6/10/2025 through 8/15/2025, at an additional $.80/hour paid from the General Fund per the ESP Contract:
Abigail Alexy
Tammy Andrus
Approve the hour adjustment for Denise Bean, Head Cook at Robb Elementary School, from 6.5 hrs/day to 7 hrs/day, effective August 5, 2025.
Professional
Employment of Abby Novak, Music Teacher at Bucktail Middle/High School, placed at M, step 2, with a salary of $59,600, effective the first day of the 2025-2026 school year. Salary and Benefits are according to the ACCE Contract. Hiring is contingent upon receipt of all required paperwork including, but not limited to, all necessary background checks that meet the appropriate standard(s) as required by Pennsylvania law. Filled due to vacancy.
Employment of Amanda Gearhart, Art Teacher at Bucktail Middle/High School, placed at M, step 12, with a salary of $74,450, effective the first day of the 2025-2026 school year. Salary and Benefits are according to the ACCE Contract. Hiring is contingent upon receipt of all required paperwork including, but not limited to, all necessary background checks that meet the appropriate standard(s) as required by Pennsylvania law. Filled due to vacancy.
Employment of Ashley Russo, Autistic Support Teacher at Robb Elementary School, placed at M, step 6, with a salary of $64,250, effective the first day of the 2025-2026 school year. Salary and Benefits are according to the ACCE Contract. Hiring is contingent upon receipt of all required paperwork including, but not limited to, all necessary background checks that meet the appropriate standard(s) as required by Pennsylvania law. Filled due to vacancy.
Employment of Kevin Ransom, Long Term Substitute, Social Studies at Central Mountain High School, placed at B, step 1, with a salary of $55,900, effective the first day of the 2025-2026 school year. Salary and Benefits are according to the ACCE Contract. Hiring is contingent upon receipt of all required paperwork including, but not limited to, all necessary background checks that meet the appropriate standard(s) as required by Pennsylvania law. Filled due to leave of absence.
Employment of Shan Packer, as part-time Pre-Apprenticeship Program/Adult Education Job Training Coordinator, to be paid a stipend of $6000 per year, for the 25-26 school year.
TRANSFERS
Support
Transfer of Amanda Ringham, from Personal Care Assistant at Central Mountain High School to Personal Care Assistant at Central Mountain Middle School, effective the first day of the 2025-2026 school year, at a rate of $21.50. Filled due to vacancy.
Transfer of Rebecca McCullough, from Personal Care Assistant at Central Mountain High School to Personal Care Assistant at Robb Elementary School, effective the first day of the 2025-2026 school year, at a rate of $20.60. Filled due to vacancy.
Transfer of Amy Knight, from Building Assistant at Central Mountain High School to 210 2nd shift Custodian at Central Mountain High School , effective July 11, 2025, at a rate of $18.25/hour, paid from the General Fund per the ESP Contract. Filled due to vacancy.
Transfer of Maranda Ditty, from Building Assistant at Bucktail Middle/High School to Building Assistant at Renovo Elementary and Bucktail Campus, effective the first day of the 2025-2026 school year,, at a rate of $19.94/hour, paid from the General Fund per the ESP Contract. Filled due to vacancy.
Transfer of Deandra Nevill, from Building Assistant at Central Mountain Middle School to Library Assistant at Keystone Central School District, effective the first day of the 2025-2026 school year,, at a rate of $15.73/hour, paid from the General Fund per the ESP Contract.
Transfer of Nina Weaver, from Cafeteria Under 25, 4.25 hrs/day at Central Mountain Middle School to General Cafeteria Worker, 7 hrs/day at Central Mountain Middle School, August 5, 2025, at a rate of $14.75/hour, paid from the General Fund per the ESP Contract.
Professional
Professional Transfers for the 2025-2026 School Year:
Transfer of Jacque Newlen to Transition Coordinator/Autistic Support at Central Mountain High School.
Transfer Josh Day to Biology Bucktail High School/Enrichment Teacher K-12 Bucktail Campus.
Transfer Shana Kinley to 4th Grade Teacher at Robb Elementary.
Transfer Marie Snyder to ESL Itinerant Teacher K-12 at Keystone Central School District.
Administrative
Transfer of Christina Manning, from Director of Pupil Services to Director of Pupil Services/Principal Woodward Elementary, effective July 1, 2025.
RESIGNATIONS/RETIREMENTS/TERMINATIONS
Support
Resignation of Sharon Gerhard, General Cafeteria Worker, 7 hrs/day, at Central Mountain Middle School, effective August 15, 2025.
Resignation of Destiney Phillips, Behavior Intervention Assistant, at Central Mountain Middle School, effective July 14, 2025.
Professional
Resignation of Katelynn Herron, Art Teacher at Bucktail Middle/High School, effective June 17, 2025.
Resignation of Allison Haines, Speech-Language Pathologist at Robb Elementary School, effective August 25, 2025.
