Resident tells Keystone Central school board appointments appear predetermined; calls for transparency
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Summary
During public comment at a Region 8 interview meeting, Mary George Rome urged the Keystone Central School District board to ensure transparency and independent decision-making after prior appointments that residents perceived as decided in advance.
Mary George Rome, a resident who spoke during the hearing of visitors, told the Keystone Central School District board that recent appointment outcomes left residents with the impression decisions had been determined before public interviews concluded. "When community support and professional qualifications seem secondary to internal alignment, people actually question their decision," she said.
Rome said the newly seated board has an opportunity to set a tone of fairness and rebuild trust. She urged members to place students at the center of their decisions and to ensure the selection process is transparent and not perceived as predetermined.
The comment followed procedural announcements that the board would hold two meetings: one for interviews and a separate session to deliberate and vote. The presiding official closed the interview meeting and said the board will reconvene at 06:00 for deliberation and a vote on Region 8 appointments.
No response to Rome's allegation was recorded during the interview meeting. The board did not take a vote at the session; the formal decision is scheduled at the subsequent meeting.