KC school board hears from Robb Elementary students, German exchange program, Liberty-Curtin build
By Christopher Miller
BALD EAGLE TOWNSHIP – Keystone Central School Board met on Thursday evening for their November Work Session.
Student and “staff-ulty” representatives of Robb Elementary were on hand to speak to the board about what makes Robb Elementary School an excellent school to attend in the district. Principal Tyler Barth started by announcing the Veterans Day program happening on Monday, November 11 at 9 a.m.
Robb Elementary School’s overall theme for this year is “we are…” talking about the different themes that students of the school are studying about. November’s theme is “grateful.” Student representatives of each class were on hand to tell the board who they are and what they are learning about and their characteristics.
School board members also heard a presentation from Central Mountain High School German Teacher Douglas Madenford and his update on the German-American Exchange program.
The exchange program is with Burghardt Gymnasium in Buchen, Germany, a rural area in southwest Germany. The exchange program has been in place since the 1990s beginning at Lock Haven High School. This year, Central Mountain hosted 18 students and two teachers from Germany. German students came to CMHS for a 10-day stay.
While in Pennsylvania, the exchange students participated in a trip to Harrisburg, Penn’s Cave, ice skating and ice cream at Penn State University, sporting events, and an American-style picnic.
“The Germans that were here got to experience a new culture, and our students got to experience it with them,” Madenford said. “One of the German students asked why we use so much plastic here in America.” Doug Madenford formally thanked the school administration, the board, the KCSD Foundation, local organizations that donated financially, and the CTC Culinary Arts Program at the high school.
“We cannot wait to go over to Germany with our Central Mountain students in June,” Madenford concluded. “The Mayor of their town has a picture of Lock Haven with an American flag hanging in his office, so we are thrilled to be able to meet with him when we visit.”
The school board then heard a presentation from Jeff Straub, representative of the architectural firm Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates Architects, the firm in charge of the Liberty-Curtin Elementary School build. They report that the school board appears to be around 60% complete with various components such as electrical and plumbing being on schedule as well.
School board member Elisabeth Lynch asked if furniture, which has not been purchased yet, could be an area where money could be saved in the overall project scope. “I don’t know if the rest of the board wants administration to lower the cost or not,” Lynch said. With Superintendent Frank Redmon adding that the school is “looking at cost measures, but some of the 40-year old furniture from the old building looks like 40-year old furniture and some would not be compatible with the new building.
“We don’t want to put chipped, damaged, 40-year old furniture into the new building,” Redmon said.
The board heard from retired school district educator Rich Wykoff, who spoke of the Greater Renovo Area Heritage Park’s connection with the children of the Renovo area.
“We believe in our kids and our school,” he started. “We are very fortunate to have on board now Frank (Redmon) and Randy (Zengara) assembled here and they understand where the district needs to go. We have been working with kids on 4H and Robotics, and we are really excited about it and figuring out where to go with it. We have a mentor now in State College who is running the 4H program, and we have the beginnings of growing this program further with our kids to grow a maker space.”
Community member Elisabeth Lynch then spoke to the board in continuation in regards to the TCC, Keystone delegate, and the tax office.
While unveiling the 25-26 school calendar, board member Elisabeth Lynch spoke out, mentioning how it is not unusual that the schools in the state take the Monday after Thanksgiving as a day off of school for the first day of hunting.
“I want to propose expanding that for May 20 and November 4 to start a new tradition and to have those days off: for the primary election and the general election that this has value in our community,” she proposed to the board. “We would have to push the calendar into the second week in June,” Superintendent Frank Redmon said.
“I think it is important and a standard we should set that election day is equally as important as the first day of hunting,” Lynch said. “Having students or staff work at the polls or being more engaged, I am just asking if the team who put this together may see it possible for a half-day this day, or just a lesson to be taught in elections and voting and maybe not for the next year but maybe for the year after.”
Later in the meeting, a list of donations and support to the school district Homeland Security program was read aloud.
Renovo Fire Dept. – Helmets $5,000.00
Chapman Twp.- Rescue helmets, Spanner wrenches, Hose Couplings $1,400.00
Lock Haven Fire Dept.-SCBA masks bags- $300.00
The board will vote at their next meeting on Thursday, November 14, to accept these donations.
An executive session was held from 5:35 to 6:34 p.m. to review legal and personnel issues.
At the conclusion of the meeting, school board president Butch Knauff thanked Dr. Redmon, the board, staff and administration for their cards of “get well” wishes.
All board members were in attendance.
