Keystone Central School District is Broken
To The Editor:
“Without question we have had a breakdown in the sense of community. The solution is to restore a sense of community…and doing within the school.” James Comer
Keystone Central School District is broken. That is the concern of many parents, students, business leaders, citizens, district employees, school board directors, and government leaders in Clinton County. This group believes that it is time for “A New Deal” for Keystone Central School District. The culture of our schools is in turmoil and must evolve quickly so that our children and our communities in Clinton County can fit into the scheme of today’s global culture. We are out of date with our thinking and are making decisions that hold us back. Trust is a concept that has become foreign throughout the district as well as between the district and the community it serves. To function as an environment that will support and promote change and rebuild trust, our schools and district must consciously and deliberately focus on building and maintaining a healthy climate and culture. This is what a few of the board members see as the major issue facing Keystone Central School District. It is why they are calling for new leadership for the district.
The Keystone Central School Board is considering the need to hire a new superintendent of schools. While some board members would like that search to begin at least 5 years from now, three KCSD board members believe that, given current circumstances, the search should begin immediately. With the impending vote on a possible extension of the superintendent’s contract, which expires at the end of this school year, board members are at odds over why the contract should be allowed to lapse versus why the superintendent should be rewarded with five more years of employment as CEO of Keystone Central School District.
Recently, KCSD board member Charles Rosamilia asked for an inquiry regarding reasons for students leaving our schools for other choices. To many of us, the negative climate and culture involved with the administration of our school district came to mind immediately. The literature regarding what constitutes a healthy culture and climate in a school district is definitive and well-documented. How we treat those two concepts determines the personality of our school district and, yes, our community. Healthy schools are schools that focus on goals, communication, shared power, effective use of resources, cooperation, morale, freedom to innovate, autonomy, adaptation, and respect for problem-solving. Research is also very clear about how important a healthy school climate and culture is to student achievement. In that case, just how do we define the personality of our district at this time? How do others outside the district view us? According to many local community leaders, that is one of our major concerns at this time regarding attempts to attract business and industry to our county. What has the school board and superintendent done to assure that our district has a healthy climate and culture?
That being said, the research and literature further places the responsibility for promoting and maintaining a healthy school culture and climate squarely on the shoulders of district administration from the superintendent to the school principals. The only entity to oversee that our administration is behaving appropriately in this regard is the KCSD board of directors. Working in concert with the superintendent, our school board sets the tone for how things function in the schools among administration, staff, and students. Interestingly, they are also responsible for setting the tone for how our community is able to interact with the school system.
While a large portion of Clinton County is unaware of specifically troubling issues in KCSD, there is a general concern about the reputation of Keystone Central School District and it’s ability to adequately serve the needs of students and our community. On the other hand, others within the school district and within the community are aware of issues that are troubling and serious enough that any turn in the direction of building a healthy climate and culture for a learning environment in our schools can only happen with a change in attitude by the board and a change in administration.
It is reasonable to believe that all KCSD board members have the same information and, hopefully, the same concerns as the three who oppose renewing the superintendent’s contract. Likewise, each of the board members has a reason for voting as they will , be it directly related to issues with management of the district or otherwise. Regardless the outcome of the vote, the board and this community will sooner or later need to seriously concern itself with a bigger and more pressing issue… choosing the next superintendent.
Respectfully,
Rich Wykoff
Retired Teacher, KCSD
