Letter to the Editor

Editor:
This message is written out of frustration and concern regarding what many of the friends of Keystone Central School District and residents of Clinton County are feeling regarding the turmoil that is being generated at school board meetings by a sub-set of board members. While this is not new, it is especially counter-productive at this time when we all need to pull together for the survival of our families and our community.

School board members have a big responsibility as community leaders, to be worthy of everyone’s respect. Not an easy task, but a necessary and reasonable expectation. To that point, we have the right to hold each school board member to the same standard that we demand of teachers, administrators, and those others who serve the needs of our children be they in a bus, cafeteria, or classroom.

To those board members who were involved in hiring and putting together the best administrative team we have seen in over 40 years, thank you! This is a team that truly puts kids first. They understand that it takes commitment, patience, understanding, and tolerance to fend off the intolerant and immature forces that fear change and fight to anchor our kids firmly in our past rather than do what is necessary to create a great experience that readies them for life in a rapidly changing future. Thank you for having the insight and vision to find and hire professional educational leaders that have the experience and know-how to build the student-centered 21st Century educational system that we so badly need especially in Clinton County.

We are in good hands with Frank Redmon, Randy Zangara, Elizabeth Barnhart, and Megan Hull. What a team! We are just halfway into the school year and many of us have been able to see first-hand that great things are happening for our kids and our schools as a result of this team’s talents, leadership, and vision.

So… what could possibly mess this up? Well… shenanigans at meetings for one… be they public or private (A wasteful and time-worn problem for boards going back 50 years to the formation of KCSD) Politics… (nothing new about that) Stubbornness, ignorance, and fear of change… ( The biggest reason for communities and their school systems to choose the comfort of living in the past over progress and prosperity) Sounds kind of foolish… right? Maybe it would help stave off a good bit of that nonsense if the focus became the priorities laid out recently in the revision of the strategic plan. Maybe start with finally nailing down the priority for making our schools and school buses safe places to live, learn, and explore? You know… enjoy and value learning and being smart.

Those who were involved with hiring such a dynamic team deserve high praise for having the forethought and consideration for the futures of our kids and our communities. We see and appreciate you. Kudos for a job well done!

Those who are struggling with not having been part of that effort would do well to bide their time, learn from those who are leading the way forward, support their administrative team, and be ready to receive the accolades that will come when they have done their parts to help our kids succeed in a system that has their (the students) best interest in mind.

The whining, nit-picking, and intimidating banter that poisons board meetings is boring and useless. It feeds the embarrassing derision and jokes people make about our school district and county. (You know… like, Pennsyltucky. …not funny!) It needs to stop. Returning to the much better, and more accepted, civilized methods of discussion, debate, and decision-making at board meetings is needed and necessary. We all must remember… the kids are watching!

Thanks for your consideration and support for our administration.

Rich Wykoff
Lock Haven, PA