[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6159073,"mediaKeyId","5456890-eee76fc105fed64a95a45f65479cde2f","parentId",5456890,"title","Board approves MOU on ‘trading days’ for ACE employees; administrators say safeguards limit substitute costs","audioSeconds",518,"startMs",3538000,"endMs",4056000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5456890-eee76fc105fed64a95a45f65479cde2f&start=3538&end=4056","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5456890-eee76fc105fed64a95a45f65479cde2f/thumbnail_3538000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6159073/Pennsylvania/Board-approves-MOU-on-trading-days-for-ACE-employees-administrators-say-safeguards-limit-substitute-costs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6159073-3c5007ac90389f8216bae6aa8f240f6a/orig.mp4?Expires=1774961880&Signature=Fhv5wPvDTJnHfdQy41mLzctTBgb4Pzwp~b94nJ-LcfgFVwpUYZIVAQsJ2ekDJB-e7xwLCJE8psvIkwD0P9uUMtwcjqCJgFa5hSE0ktVoP2mwVF~2ddLL6o1iSgRxh660WHx0NblBb~6RGtQA8mcYBPnruh5dgONeVFRdha-9kWYMyPBE3nISNgK9zjAsivCFHvNBjU3pua5h3mxNLiVsI5S3Ll7dNMROGgrUoEj2fQL3UJkFZFcNd6-785I7mtcVfac~tfsUXKCRI5zr8OAP4FnzUJvd6oFbkGJu~vULbiG9Ez6hAwytnQoHoFVAOMljd~St3o8ZfHQYhGwH27koZQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-07-22T11:27:40Z","article","The Keystone Central School District board voted July 17 to approve a memorandum of understanding with the ACE bargaining unit that allows administrators to offer optional work outside the standard contract days in exchange for traded days during the school year.

Board members raised concerns that the language—allowing up to three trade days or 18 hours—might create additional substitute costs if employees used trade days during the school year. A member who had circulated questions by email asked whether the provision effectively increased paid days and could raise district costs for substitutes.

Randy, a district administrator who helped draft the MOU language, told the board the practice had precedent in other districts and that it was intended for necessary summer work—counselor duties and time-sensitive enrollment work—not broad voluntary summer employment. He said administrative approval would be required for any trade-day arrangement and that principals would not approve requests that would obligate substitutes for routine summer projects. “It has to be administratively approved... the only approvals will take place for somebody that won't need a sub,” he said.

The board approved the MOU on a roll call of eight yeses and one no. Administrators said the MOU should reduce per-diem costs in situations where staff would otherwise be paid per diem for necessary summer work, but they also acknowledged that, if administrators approved summer work that required paid substitutes during the school year, the district would incur those substitute costs.

The MOU passed with the expectation that principals run trade-day requests through central administration so the district can confirm no substitute-related costs will be created or, where necessary, record and budget any such costs.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Jul 17, 2025 - Voting Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The board approved a memorandum of understanding allowing certain ACE bargaining-unit members to trade summer work days for school-year days with administrative approval; administrators said the provision is intended for necessary summer tasks (for example, counselors) and that principal approval will limit substitute costs.","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},6159078,"Athletics report: steady overall participation but board notes drop in girls' sports and referee shortages",757,371000,1128000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5456890-eee76fc105fed64a95a45f65479cde2f&start=371&end=1128","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5456890-eee76fc105fed64a95a45f65479cde2f/thumbnail_371000.jpg","/articles/6159078/Pennsylvania/Athletics-report-steady-overall-participation-but-board-notes-drop-in-girls-sports-and-referee-shortages","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6159078-b03541cf22abd1c7128047b144bc9e28/orig.mp4?Expires=1774961880&Signature=m7AfYmjhROAknWJhANZs5ms8ntjxIgokm6K~ZedfcqfB1ewyvKsGn9ClmHj4KJxJLcn2cXPj1C95yPwmI5qczaLI33UbLJPmPVd8puzsrLinwzRcLGfbTtws520ZPxIuCWP7bApL7TcWpg1A4cW7HALwEs48guMXZD218jBb9C0nZTQtdLfKndZ4z9iTJdx7XiNz7U-8xkWHUGiisUNRNXOu0UPYArqoeC0pNOGFjSgRaEYpY22GHxkvKkBRKNmE64V09m~5rduG9A7zEw-B~qzE64aqlEOEm5Zf8pLWRNR-qiCHOsKhKTFM4Cu0d~ZKUZ2yEwJzU0F5x8294iXq1w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District athletic staff presented participation data on July 17 showing generally steady numbers across Central Mountain, Bucktail and junior-high programs but a notable and repeated decline in girls' participation in several sports.

The athletics presenter said winter-year trends showed “a drop in girls basketball” and that similar declines appeared “across all 3 seasons this year.” He added that some sports—wrestling and swimming—saw stable or improved numbers and that track participation at the varsity level reached nearly 90 students. He said participation patterns include relatively few three-sport athletes, “a fairly large portion of 2 sport athletes, almost 30%,” and “around 65% played 1 sport throughout the year.”

Board member Elizabeth praised the presentation and asked staff to return with follow-up on why girls' participation is falling. “I would love if you folks would consider coming back to us maybe next year and say, you know, we talked with student government, we talked with the principals... give us some feedback. What do the girls want?” she said.

Staff also described referee shortages in some sports and noted operational steps intended to ease the problem: the district pays a conference assigner, has encouraged respectful treatment of officials to retain them, and plans to move middle-school soccer to the spring so officials are not scheduled against varsity/JV games. The athletic director said that strategy was intended to increase the pool of available officials and provide middle-school teams greater access to turf facilities.

Board members discussed the Clay Target team’s request to move from a school-approved club to a school-sponsored activity; staff said the request would allow the team to establish a booster club and expand fundraising, and that the team’s participation remained solid. The board did not take further action on junior-high baseball proposals at this meeting beyond noting that committee conversations and potential updates would continue.","District athletic staff reported generally steady participation across schools but highlighted a recurring decline in girls' participation across several sports, success in swimming and track, new junior-high programs, and referee shortages; board asked staff to return with follow-up on barriers to girls' participation.",{"_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},6159083,"Board questions large bills and parent-transportation payments during July meeting",170,2666000,2836000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5456890-eee76fc105fed64a95a45f65479cde2f&start=2666&end=2836","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5456890-eee76fc105fed64a95a45f65479cde2f/thumbnail_2666000.jpg","/articles/6159083/Pennsylvania/Board-questions-large-bills-and-parent-transportation-payments-during-July-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6159083-2d74bff21826b847ed8c92252bf0cdfd/orig.mp4?Expires=1774961880&Signature=LVcoQ8Q9LmIl5gG~QHDUQWfcY7uPbx8tS~9kFtVgO8oymm7SvB6UDNgnpoUurjsaw9vecUW6Pt2OagcxGi59NNyf6U4fpZb9-8fxLBZhgWAHCP--OYzFpPQk7u--DUorTj9Cnqkuy-A1mUvrzns3cHL97EZGgazQbY~qaGwJc~C9N6H9dxF5N1V9KkusyhUxrZS3vdFNW2jZrAOh81WJpfD7Zf~2CaYuk9VtjWTJ88G2ETrU4AE0RpdsLJWeLrrfvn5nZcFwipTdKPbvSJ9zy5iGzdsMAxQZ2Ra5Qj-xCZvW8wWjYScVWRIrG1AnG39Hwu~eW5CNZopwXbGIluUq-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Board members at the Keystone Central School District voting meeting on July 17 pressed staff for an explanation of why bills had roughly doubled compared with the same time last year and asked for details on several parent-transportation payments appearing on the bills list.

A board member asked specifically about multiple parent-transportation line items, including charges of $649.50, $101.50 and a larger item of $3,542.04. A finance staff member said some parent-transportation agreements are paid monthly in installments and that the larger line item reflected a lump-sum payment, including back mileage and reconciliations for agreements previously approved by the board.

On the broader question of why ledger balances and bills increased, staff told the board auditors were on site to begin the annual audit and that the district had a large employer PSERS payment that posted in June and likely accounted for approximately a $4,000,000 swing. Staff also said charter-school reconciliations had been processed and contributed to the increase. The staff member said he would provide a more detailed accounting at a future meeting.

The board approved the bills-for-payment motion; the roll call recorded seven yes votes and two no votes.

Board members requested a written follow-up explaining the month-to-month variance, a breakdown of large one-time payments, and the schedule for any coming reconciliations so the board can track cash-flow impacts.","Board members asked why month-to-month bills doubled compared with a prior period, citing a $4 million PSERS payment and charter reconciliations; staff said auditors were on site and pledged a follow-up with a detailed explanation.",{"_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},6159088,"Board approves alternative-education contracts; members note pricing and math clarifications",313,2973000,3286000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5456890-eee76fc105fed64a95a45f65479cde2f&start=2973&end=3286","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5456890-eee76fc105fed64a95a45f65479cde2f/thumbnail_2973000.jpg","/articles/6159088/Pennsylvania/Board-approves-alternative-education-contracts-members-note-pricing-and-math-clarifications","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6159088-aaf41f4b00ece64ef895205114a90a05/orig.mp4?Expires=1774961880&Signature=hOScDsGpmuzJsc2qXu6f8yhksEUhpLvIm0sVqxPr9OhWJrzpqidu4p81l-1KxGOoFCIyS40n9xgUeY4uLNslchFYiQV7gM31fy20LM2jh0~K5auORel5no~caEIYAxd9vLdtH~s44FO0EHYy8vjh8LFD3AUn6lc3Dvk0yAg-pZ3edf5QSaZIbmRcyDJCYgOkbgkU~QcOPjmymx~yxHQDyCoSR8yK7O4QSt7CGX2yyV5hUd5rNSxhYr8XKg9EhHZvAqy96WgRsaXRszO-rXcRghpgKiTO3X2KNnA5dyJAMD7aXGvEak7XPTIIoRGav9q9p9oBO4B1VRNobruKvnEUnw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Keystone Central School District board on July 17 approved multiple service contracts for alternative-education placements and special-education services for the 2025–26 school year, voting to authorize River Rock Academy, Midland Learning Services and a New Story program contract along with an ID agreement.

Dr. Redmond, the superintendent, clarified the River Rock contract math after board members raised concerns that the per-seat numbers discussed at a prior meeting differed from the agenda document. “If you look on the contract itself ... it lays it out, pretty specifically for 5 seats, a total cost over the course of the year of a $142,375. And that is broken up into 10 monthly installments, each installment being 14,337,” he said. He explained that different ways of presenting the same contract (total cost, monthly installment or per-seat figures) can make comparisons appear inconsistent.

Board votes recorded in the meeting minutes and roll call were: New Story (spectral education programming) — 9 yeses, 0 noes; River Rock Academy (five seats) — 8 yeses, 1 no; Midland Learning Services (five seats) — 8 yeses, 1 no; ID agreement — 8 yeses, 1 no. Dr. Redmond said the River Rock agenda item was presented as a five-seat contract at a total annual cost of $142,375, which the superintendent described to the board as equivalent to monthly installments of $14,337.

Board members asked officials to ensure future agenda documents present per-seat and total costs consistently to avoid confusion. Members also noted the district sometimes compares per-seat prices with other providers (such as Nittany Learning Services) and requested clearer side-by-side comparisons when contracts are on the agenda.

The motions carried were standard procurement approvals; the board did not amend contract language at the meeting. Implementation steps include administrative execution of the contracts and assignment of student slots to provider seats under existing special-education and alternative-education procedures.","The Keystone Central board approved multiple contracts for alternative-education seats (River Rock Academy, Midland Learning Services, New Story and an ID agreement). Board discussion clarified total- and per-seat math on River Rock's five-seat contract and noted differences in how monthly instalments and per-seat calculations are presented.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6159092,"Keystone Central board hears parents' concerns after student email shutdown in cyber incident",152,1914000,2066000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5456890-eee76fc105fed64a95a45f65479cde2f&start=1914&end=2066","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5456890-eee76fc105fed64a95a45f65479cde2f/thumbnail_1914000.jpg","/articles/6159092/Pennsylvania/Keystone-Central-board-hears-parents-concerns-after-student-email-shutdown-in-cyber-incident","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6159092-120d0caeba85cd858c0d7af478f24041/orig.mp4?Expires=1774961880&Signature=XAj-3Lumv~u16aU9MnmjcTBdM0l5-YFhXO~cC9O0KSS2P5VNoW7Lgh2jdhafdAZ2mrNKwQ2OVeO2W~wxBI039LypYkZLX1XglhEwQJhvT2Uxlo-RVKojhrOmncRmvUxGF0wWY2OMTQZo5~yc4n5JUkPf7Lm604kMvrELLiVnzUHZAERgbQJSHUWLf9yuv-8N~TGgck3buwwVsUzRDHPeckapTC47Ne99exQmmFpMpNktwOXT9R9OY9h8nIzp-yUaSdaZxMQGovGHVus2hnmD9-1W5p3stapU3z1kbfPcZB7N~GLWfx9TdNeRkGVWaDSkY9185G5cWmcQKBBoG0sx-w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Danielle, a community member, asked the Keystone Central School District board on July 17 who was affected by a cybersecurity incident and why parents were not fully notified. “I have concerns about a cybersecurity incident that I received an email about this week. The email stated that students' emails have been disabled. I've asked around, and parents don't seem to be aware of the incident. Who was impacted by this incident, and what information was compromised, and why weren't all parents contacted?” she said.

Dr. Redmond, the district superintendent, said the district has not identified any loss of student information and described immediate steps taken to limit further impact. “To our knowledge, we haven't, lost anything. There weren't any student information that was lost or anything like that,” he said. He and other administrators said staff and student email accounts were temporarily deactivated to reduce incoming malicious traffic while the district investigated.

Jeremy, an information-technology staff member, said the district notified parents and staff by email in the middle of the day and that officials decided not to issue a phone call because it was not classified as an emergency that endangered physical safety. “The timing of the initial announcement that went out to parents and students was middle of the day, so we did not send out a phone call to parents, as it wasn't an emergency that, you know, affected anybody's life or didn't put anybody in danger. So we decided to send it out as an email to all parents and contacts of students at the time,” he said. Jeremy added the district was “reducing and containing any potential further impacts at this time.”

Board members and the superintendent said they would follow up on why some parents reported not receiving the district email and that they were restoring accounts after verification. No formal action or vote was taken at the meeting on the incident; the board heard the report and directed staff to continue the investigation and to review communications procedures.

The board encouraged anyone with personal complaints about an employee to contact the superintendent directly, per district policy on public comment.","A parent raised questions about a cybersecurity incident that temporarily disabled student email accounts; district officials said no student data is believed lost and that student emails were shut down to contain the attack while the district investigates.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves MOU on ‘trading days’ for ACE employees; administrators say safeguards limit substitute costs

Athletics report: steady overall participation but board notes drop in girls' sports and referee shortages

Board questions large bills and parent-transportation payments during July meeting

Board approves alternative-education contracts; members note pricing and math clarifications

Keystone Central board hears parents' concerns after student email shutdown in cyber incident