KCSD superintendent praised as board approves her retirement

BALD EAGLE TOWNSHIP, PA – While Keystone Central School District’s retiring Superintendent Jacquelyn Martin was not present for Thursday’s school board meeting, multiple board members had nothing but good things to say as they approved her retirement notice which had been submitted in early July.

School board vice-president Roger Elling, who presided over the hour-long meeting, said he was “not one of her biggest fans” when she came on board three and a half years ago. Over that time, he said, his respect for her has “increased 100-fold.” He praised her for bringing a team approach to work collectively in dealing with issues before the district. He said he would reluctantly vote yes on the list of personnel matters on the board agenda; the list included her retirement effective at the end of January 2024 when her four-year contract ends.

Sugar Valley area board member Wayne Koch echoed those comments and said he had a conflicting position on his vote, saddened that the district “is losing a good superintendent” but voiced “great joy” that Dr. Martin, a fellow Sugar Valley High School graduate, “had achieved this station in her life.”

Board members Jeff Johnston and Butch Knauff also praised the superintendent’s performance, Johnston stating she did “a tremendous job” in a “tough situation” and made “light years” worth of improvements to the district’s curriculum. Knauff repeated earlier comments, stating she leaves the district in better shape than she found it in the areas of finance and academics.

The board, on a 7-1 vote, okayed a new pre-school and post-school program at three district elementary schools. Those schools’ principals from Renovo, Robb and Woodward elementaries, detailed the program, beginning at 6 a.m. and ending at 6 p.m., wrapped around the school day.

It would be carried out by Champions, a for-profit, non-local organization, a point which drew the lone no vote from board member Elisabeth Lynch. She said, “I can’t believe it’s on the agenda.”  Board member Johnston said such a program “has been needed for a long time.” He said the 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. window offers flexibility for parents: Knauff said there is “no downside” and Elling said, “It benefits everybody.”

The meeting, scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m., did not start until 7:19. Vice-president Elling said the board had been in executive session on “legal matters.”

The principals said the program provides an affordable option for families to provide an all-inclusive childcare setting before and after school. The program is fee-based and discounts are available for KCSD staff, military and those with multiple children involved.

The Discover Champions website lists the program in operation all across the United States, including three elementary schools in Pennsylvania.