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Board hears River Rock Academy presentation and approves district contract
Summary
River Rock Academy representatives described alternative and private academic programs; the board voted to approve a service contract and authorized district signing by the superintendent.
Representatives from River Rock Academy presented program details to the Keystone Central Board of Directors on Jan. 16 and the board approved a service contract with River Rock during the same meeting.
Brandon Huff, introduced himself as River Rock’s vice president of operations and identified John as the Bradford campus director. Huff described River Rock’s alternative education program as serving grades 6–12 via state referral through the state portal system; he said placements typically start at 45 days, include core academics and social‑skills instruction, provide individualized counseling and aim to return students to the sending district when appropriate. Huff also said River Rock seeks to add a private academic license program (7–12) for students with emotional‑support and learning‑support needs and that the organization operates multiple campuses across the Commonwealth.
Huff told the board the program provides one‑to‑one Chromebooks, smart boards and a school‑like environment, and described counseling and social‑skills instruction as required program components. Board members questioned whether teachers were certified. River Rock representatives said the programs are required under alternative education regulations to have at least one certified special‑education teacher and that, at the Williamsport campus, current instructors are certified; River Rock said it aims to have certified instructors teach core subjects.
Board discussion before the vote covered capacity at the Williamsport site, the possibility of reserving purchased seats, and reporting and progress‑report practices. River Rock representatives said they already provide weekly progress reports to the sending district and conduct 45‑day reviews; they described established reporting routines and collaboration with CareerLink and other workforce entities for paid placements.
After discussion the board voted, by roll call, to approve the River Rock Academy service contract. During discussion a board member asked who would sign the contract on behalf of the district; the superintendent indicated he would sign once the board approved the agreement. The contract approved at the meeting did not specify reserved seats; board members discussed the ability to negotiate reserved slots later and noted a possible amendment could be returned to the board if needed.
