[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6389467,"mediaKeyId","2113306-434efa31d7209b69b4305ab24e9aa9a5","parentId",2113306,"title","Parents and board raise transportation concerns; board considers committee to address long rides and safety complaints","audioSeconds",408,"startMs",4579000,"endMs",4987000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2113306-434efa31d7209b69b4305ab24e9aa9a5&start=4579&end=4987","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2113306-434efa31d7209b69b4305ab24e9aa9a5/thumbnail_4579000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6389467/Pennsylvania/Parents-and-board-raise-transportation-concerns-board-considers-committee-to-address-long-rides-and-safety-complaints","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6389467-760741b2d360c992be7df9d27e0f7371/orig.mp4?Expires=1775557823&Signature=R8ft29R1rOsoSP2urEa4ksFL8B~Z6nfLkrAFz6Gf3O3~3Om~PqDRsiUdZ2j1SD~EJ12qdmzMyfRmTJtEWG~ZZrj8ROXf-24knbM4jQWe150-y4T4XNAc1DLVTFoH4EojsWJfwu1HKLScd98L3lfhvv2upjVXShl1r66itTc5V-6bzkLe2UvWnMgiVfMgGhD0WkDT-NSimwWX~Nyn5JaFQpS~GqlDQAnggci2Grrr2Wx~6BN3MHSd9alWsmjCMHnfZR2w9LOeB26SsKSZ5lj1YUDJPdM8yr47mb0~4K2zADFA2FOl63TZHAHdV0aKQNqBYp6hw6wj4CSF711c4AyiIQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-01-13T17:00:17Z","article","Board members reported multiple complaints from recent constituency meetings about transportation: long one‑way bus rides, student safety and driver conduct. Roger, board president, and other members said callers and meeting attendees described situations in which students rode buses for excessive durations and raised broader concerns about bus safety and behavior.

Board members said one parent reported a child riding a bus up to three hours each way; the board asked administration to investigate routing and scheduling. Administrators indicated they had investigated a specific allegation (a student becoming ill and being left to be cleaned up by peers) and found the original characterization inconsistent with the facts on the ground; board members noted that students\u000027 and parents\u000027 descriptions of incidents may differ from administrative accounts and asked for better communication and follow-up.

Members also raised extracurricular and community relations items in the same discussion: board members suggested reviewing whether students from charter schools should be eligible to participate in district extracurricular activities such as the district\u000027s shooting club, with a view toward shared programming where appropriate.

Several board members urged formation of a transportation committee (even a small working group) to coordinate solutions, evaluate routes and pursue safety improvements; members asked administration to bring data and routing information to a future work session. The board also requested copies of the charter-school contract and related documents (for the last five years) to assist the ad-hoc committee’s review and to inform potential policy adjustments on shared activities.

Ending: The board asked administration to collect transportation data, provide routing options and supply charter contract records to the ad‑hoc committee; the board will consider creating a committee and scheduling a work session to develop a plan.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","January 09, 2025 - Work Session","oneSentenceSummary","Board members said community meetings flagged transportation problems including long bus rides, rider safety and driver conduct; the board asked administration to gather more information and proposed forming a committee to develop solutions and examine charter-school participation in district activities.","taxTitle","Keystone Central SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",67877,"location","Pennsylvania","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6389472,"Board reviews maintenance-planner job and temporary tax-office hires; members raise staffing and communication concerns",206,4374000,4580000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2113306-434efa31d7209b69b4305ab24e9aa9a5&start=4374&end=4580","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2113306-434efa31d7209b69b4305ab24e9aa9a5/thumbnail_4374000.jpg","/articles/6389472/Pennsylvania/Board-reviews-maintenance-planner-job-and-temporary-tax-office-hires-members-raise-staffing-and-communication-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6389472-1717109705f37a7370bd7d96f9fbd942/orig.mp4?Expires=1775557823&Signature=NvE0YdYhKHMkBsoch57h0jc1KzOYwSY1DLYPF~8uCpOuDzAUVwb0KrGPdNzlTGSZ0sWybdhftCj~3yVvCt~C12~1l28QbeDr4o8xqEVojJyPADnc66aCae61Tad0~s3cotQ1QWJAvyUTB98fSzoPfUZcp5wzVMiQNzG6pDlBUldneN2yRzBP0bVGtDZk2nq9OS0nSd0n5x1HeLkxM5EoK4tKo9SLWk9sSI~gq6daIWGIdDHRs2et1yF6B6YEdG1Kzk9pQZx1dIFvhzeIbT-UxUyQ4FeTSftkvnEYjwRfcX6IACRQ1qNK9SbDrmCFiDVrZ2guKUhbt95dbydZJgI5Zg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Board members discussed a proposed maintenance-planner position and a related memorandum of understanding with the union, and heard explanations about several temporary hires for tax-office work.

District staff said the maintenance-planner role will be posted publicly once the MOU is completed. Joanie, a district staff member, said the position is intended to centralize scheduling, preventive-maintenance planning and parts procurement across nine buildings and to operate a computerized maintenance-management process; she said the position is a repurposing of an existing role and not an additional headcount. Some board members expressed concern that the role might add supervisory layers; administrators offered to meet with property-services employees to explain the transition and address concerns.

On personnel, the board approved hiring two temporary fiscal tax-office secretaries, Laurie Jones and Tanya Hackenberg (names listed on the agenda), to perform tax-office duties after the board's decision to stop collecting earned-income tax (EIT). District staff said the temporary hires will work 35 hours per week, be background-checked and bonded, will be district employees covered by union protections for the temporary period but will not receive permanent seniority rights tied to those positions; if the district no longer needs the roles, the temporary employees understand their positions will end.

Board members asked for clarity on the division of supervisors and workers in property services; administrators said they would meet with employees who expressed concern. The maintenance-planner posting will proceed after the MOU is finalized and the position will be advertised publicly.

Ending: The board directed administration to finalize the union MOU, post the maintenance-planner job, and meet with property-services staff to explain the organizational changes. Temporary tax-office staff were engaged at 35 hours per week pending the district\u000027s operational needs.","The board reviewed a proposed maintenance-planner job (requiring a union MOU) that repurposes an existing position rather than adding headcount, and approved temporary 35‑hour tax‑office hires to cover tax-collection work; some staff voiced concerns about perceived supervisory staffing levels and requested follow-up meetings with administration.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6389477,"Board delays vote on River Rock Academy Services contract; asks for presentation and program data from providers",338,3617000,3955000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2113306-434efa31d7209b69b4305ab24e9aa9a5&start=3617&end=3955","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2113306-434efa31d7209b69b4305ab24e9aa9a5/thumbnail_3617000.jpg","/articles/6389477/Pennsylvania/Board-delays-vote-on-River-Rock-Academy-Services-contract-asks-for-presentation-and-program-data-from-providers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6389477-6cceb4aa5ca254fa24a51f5a6f407871/orig.mp4?Expires=1775557823&Signature=GykqmK7zJSpMCV7EmyjaiH5VgwFSGe~e585sIUHaEzUtAk6ZKwOv7K7cycZ8~Uv78NgIAaQb9UqqRXwppizsdu3EEHAbn~uFHI33zgqDiUqyfcX4qPDLSZsdEZpjwfTOhJdBaK9hKgLIpCoSjHP9ljreZh0TymqzTqpIFB0ohncxmQ8ZaGdmuipJpPD8N~1kB8CtV~2H6ekmNpHC9D-mMywbLt0b~yQhL~TqhSzGZJ0UogVix7Hbt0Ru0ZsVBWtEjowZyPdpj2Z1n9ADLtecVMKKewRUEEfgR9VRGsTUoA61lS4mYFRVPlDt6dTpCP55deN8t66Y9cEwp22UP1Vx7w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Board members discussed a proposed services agreement with River Rock Academy Services — a new placement option for students who require alternative or out-of-district educational placements — and agreed to request a presentation from the provider before voting on the contract.

District staff described the River Rock agreement as a per‑diem arrangement (the district would pay only for days students are enrolled) rather than a prepaid block arrangement the district used with Nittany Learning Services (NLS). Christina, district staff, told the board River Rock was currently under capacity and could accept students; she said NLS currently serves 10 students and that two students were expected to transition back to regular programming in February.

Several board members, including Elizabeth, said they would not vote on the contract without a provider presentation. Elizabeth specifically asked that River Rock representatives join a meeting by Zoom so board members could ask program-specific questions; another board member asked that administration obtain and present quarterly performance reports for NLS — a data item reportedly requested during last year\u000027s contract review but not yet seen by the board.

Christina said the proposed River Rock contract would not obligate the district to pay unless students were placed there and that River Rock would charge on a per‑diem basis. Board members asked administration to arrange a provider presentation at an upcoming meeting and to bring any existing usage and performance reports for NLS so the board could compare options before acting on the River Rock agreement.

Ending: The board deferred action on the River Rock agreement and directed administration to schedule a provider presentation (Zoom acceptable) and to circulate NLS placement and outcome data ahead of the voting session.","District administrators and board members discussed a proposed contract with River Rock Academy Services for alternative placements, raised questions about capacity and reporting, and asked staff to arrange a presentation before any vote; district currently uses Nittany Learning Services for several students.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6389482,"Auditors give Keystone Central School District \"unmodified\" opinion, note one significant deficiency",2417,93000,2510000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2113306-434efa31d7209b69b4305ab24e9aa9a5&start=93&end=2510","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2113306-434efa31d7209b69b4305ab24e9aa9a5/thumbnail_93000.jpg","/articles/6389482/Pennsylvania/Auditors-give-Keystone-Central-School-District-unmodified-opinion-note-one-significant-deficiency","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6389482-df2bc08c6d58153bd4e2a4d47c2b7cee/orig.mp4?Expires=1775557823&Signature=aXMR-4bnIpLg0Nqdgs3OtRd8ho0uMT3RLh3PNsf~hepxxsCTSqFuKZXmsvW7~FiNNAfjDxOPcno8qLsaOXaMZ22bVTLSf068J7lSOrIrka4Me6dDDAE6jCFrdLS~2Eic3hAQQE99omhgnA9fPglvLdA-hEKHZxW3Z8CrbWNTT-uKg3HhAkN1iohoCODa4dh40BiVMRTsABubLxr-kiXjGWv-UsE~rPfkSZ339Z0Wun9ZezcBixKBVds2K5suMl8Wctb6PXGYX-o0d5V2qX1ej54LPxOSStrYYmUsxPQdGAtaMH7sT7l46U1~lfRSlM87aB9ro2uxbRHdNE~6bBtR8w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Baker Tilly presented the results of Keystone Central School District’s single audit for the year ended June 30, 2024, telling the board the firm issued an “unmodified opinion” on the district’s financial statements and on compliance for its major federal program, the ESSER COVID funds.

The auditors said the district’s general fund balance rose by about $1,300,000 to roughly $21,000,000 at June 30, 2024, after total general-fund revenues of about $90 million and expenditures near $87 million. Baker Tilly noted that general-fund expenditures exceeded the final budget by about $1.9 million (roughly 2.2 percent), and that a large driver of that variance was higher-than-expected cyber charter tuition payments.

The audit team reported one finding described as a “significant deficiency” in internal control over financial reporting. John, a Baker Tilly auditor, said the deficiency related to proposed audit adjustments involving lease arrangements, capital-asset records and accrued medical claims; management agreed to the adjustments and posted them. The auditors said none of the proposed adjustments were material to the financial statements but that professional standards require reporting them to the board.

Board member Elizabeth pressed the auditors for more detail on the causes of the adjustments and on a sentence in the summary that tied the budget miss to increased cyber charter tuition. John told the board the audit summary could be worded more precisely — for example, “in part due to increases in cyber school tuition payments” — and said auditors can provide the adjusting journal entries to the business office and the board on request.

Baker Tilly also reviewed key financial metrics: roughly 43 percent of general-fund revenues came from local sources, about 49 percent from the Commonwealth, and about 8 percent from federal sources. The auditors described the composition of the district’s fund balance (committed about $11.7 million; assigned about $6.9 million) and compared available fund balance with a Government Finance Officers Association guideline of two months’ typical operating expenditures (approximately $14.8 million for the district’s 2024–25 budget). The district’s total fund balance exceeded that two‑month guideline.

The auditors flagged the district’s proportionate share of the Pennsylvania School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS) liability — about $97 million at June 30, 2024 — and noted the district’s FY2024 PSERS contribution was about $11.4 million. Baker Tilly said contribution rates have fluctuated and project to rise (the auditors noted a projected 37 percent contribution rate in 2028 in their commentary).

Auditors said they will issue a short audit results document with required communications soon. Board members requested the final audit report and asked Baker Tilly and district staff to provide greater detail about the finding, including the adjusting journal entries and clearer wording in the summary about charter tuition drivers.

Asked about root causes, John told the board that while turnover in business-office positions has in prior years contributed to control weaknesses, Keystone Central’s business office had greater stability during the audit year and that 2024 showed improvement from the prior-year material weakness. The auditors said the draft report remains in final closeout and should be available in the next few days.

Ending: The board left the audit discussion open for follow-up: the auditors agreed to provide the adjusting journal entries and the district will circulate the final audit report when issued so the board can request any additional detail at a future finance-committee meeting.","Baker Tilly reported an unmodified opinion on Keystone Central School District’s June 30, 2024 financial statements and federal ESSER compliance, while citing one significant deficiency tied to audit adjustments and internal-control items; board members pressed for the final audit report and more detail on charter tuition variances.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Parents and board raise transportation concerns; board considers committee to address long rides and safety complaints

Board reviews maintenance-planner job and temporary tax-office hires; members raise staffing and communication concerns

Board delays vote on River Rock Academy Services contract; asks for presentation and program data from providers

Auditors give Keystone Central School District "unmodified" opinion, note one significant deficiency