Keystone School Board updates community on school safety steps

BALD EAGLE TOWNSHIP, PA – It had not been part of the original agenda, but the Keystone Central School Board used a school safety public meeting on Wednesday night to update the community on steps the district will be implementing in the wake of community concerns about safety in the schools, specifically at Central Mountain High School.

Nine members of the audience (estimated at between 50 to 60 people) offered their concerns and suggestions on the school safety issue at the meeting called by board President David Dietrich to gather community input. But rather than end the meeting after those comments, board member Butch Knauff, who earlier had been told by the president he and fellow board members could not offer comment, led a board effort to offer a board update.

A 20-minute board executive session followed, attended by district solicitor David Lindsay and superintendent Jacquelyn Martin. Once the board returned, Knauff went to the auditorium floor to use the microphone set up for comments from meeting attendees; Dietrich had the only other microphone set up.

Knauff, chairman of the board’s Safety & Security Committee, offered assurances to those in attendance that the board and the district are in the process of implementing many of the suggestions that had come forward Wednesday night. He said it had been planned to give an update at the next board meeting, its work session on April 13.

But after listening to the nine audience members for just over an hour, the board decided to deliver its initial response Wednesday night. Knauff told those in attendance, “Most of what you’ve talked about, we’ve already talked about,” all towards creating a safe environment in the schools. He did note there is “a society problem” and students have to have discipline at home.

Among responses the district is considering, Knauff said, are mental health/behavioral assistance, the denying of student privileges, more security and hall monitors and enforcement of cellphone usage regulations pertaining to students. He noted some of the suggestions from the audience cannot be implemented because of the law; one of those, he later noted, cameras not allowed in restrooms.

The nine speakers ranged from two students who had addressed their concerns at previous board meetings, parents, a substitute teacher, two school board candidates in Mary Ann Clark and Chris Scaff and Clinton County Watchdog official/county commissioner candidate Michele Whitney.

Collectively they offered a variety of suggestions to improve security. Two called for the placement of students on the school board. Other suggestions included no cellphone use, hall/restroom monitoring, a female support staff member, a staff presence at the front door when students come to school and consequences for bad behavior. One parent said his children “do not like coming to school.” A student speaker said students are “unsure of their safety” and called for a council of students, teachers, parents and the school board.

Afterwards superintendent Martin offered the media an update on her efforts in the safety matter:

“In addition to the safety committee meetings that have been held, my recent meetings with students, along with communications from community members have yielded some viable options for us to consider as we continue to improve our school safety efforts.

“Students, families and community members are encouraged to contact the principals and me to share their concerns and any ideas for improvement.”

Board President Dietrich, who had called the meeting by himself, clearly had perturbed some board members by his initial refusal to allow them to comment. He had served as moderator of the session as board member Elisabeth Lynch wrote down audience comments on poster paper.

Knauff took exception to Dietrich’s unwillingness to let him speak early in the meeting and Knauff later told The Record, “I feel he has denied me the right to comment. As a board member I was elected to represent my constituents. His role as president is to lead not stifle the rest of the board.”