Board authorizes IU10 cyber‑charter audit with full option to study exits and reintegration

The Keystone Central School District board voted to hire IU10 for a cyber‑charter audit using the full proposal (option C), which includes a family exit study, root‑cause analysis and a toolkit for outreach and reintegration of students who have left for cyber providers.

Board members spent more than an hour debating three pricing/options for the audit. Supporters said the full option will help the district understand why families leave for cyber charters and provide actionable tools — including communications and reintegration planning — to recruit students back to district schools. Opponents questioned spending up to approximately $4,200 more than the middle option and urged first exhausting or updating existing exit‑interview data.

Key vote and commitments: The board approved option C by roll call (seven yes, two no). Members asked the administration to require monthly progress updates while the vendor performs the work and to ensure the audit produces practical recommendations the district will commit to implementing or revisit for further action.

Why it matters: Board members and parents said exit interviews and a root‑cause analysis are essential to halt enrollment losses to cyber alternatives. Several trustees stressed that any study must include procedures to capture feedback from families who have already left and that administration should document when families decline exit outreach.

Next steps: IU10 is to begin the engagement; administration will receive and distribute progress updates during the study and will bring final recommendations to the board. The board also voted to proceed with the IU10 climate and culture audit discussion later rather than immediately.