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