Hastings Retained as KC Superintendent
Vote 6-3 at Heated Meeting
MILL HALL — Kelly Hastings has been given a second five-year term as superintendent of the Keystone Central School District.
The 6-3 vote for Hastings came at the end of a contentious Thursday board meeting that lasted three hours. Voting for a contract renewal were board president Jack Peters and members Albert Jones, Butch Knauff, Wayne Koch, Tom Shafer and Greg Strouse.
Voting no were Roger Elling, Charlie Rosamilia and Debra Smith. Rosamilia and Elling moved to postpone a vote until a later date, but their effort was voted down.
Rosamilia offered a blistering criticism of the district administration and asked to see recent test scores from adjoining school districts. His call for a look at test scores followed a report from curriculum director Terry Murty that showed district scores had made significant gains compared to the previous year. Rosamilia asked that a decision on the superintendent be delayed until June, Hasting’s current contract to expire at the end of that month.
Earlier in the meeting Peters had lauded the improvement in district test scores and said there have been significant score reductions in surrounding districts.
After the meeting Hastings said, “I appreciate the support of the majority of the board members; I am going to do everything in my power to make them proud.”
Seven district residents addressed the board during the public comment period. They included Clinton County Commissioner Joel Long who charged the district’s reputation is at an all-time low. He said one of his daughters will do well in school, but said he was “afraid it will be in spite of the school district.”
Fellow commissioner Jeff Snyder also spoke and said the superintendent’s contract is “too important” for a 6-3 or 5-4 vote and asked the board to delay a decision.
The meeting saw one member of the public escorted from the Central Mountain Middle School library by district police officer Brandon Coleman. Peters ordered the unidentified woman (carrying an infant) removed after she refused to be silenced; she had not signed up to address the board, as is required. Board member Smith said she was “embarrassed” by Peters’ directive.
