PHOTO PROVIDED River Rock Academy Vice President of Operations Brandon Hoff, left, and John Imbt, Campus Director for River Rock Academy’s Bradford Campus, are pictured during a presentation to the Keystone Central School District Board of Directors.

MILL HALL — The Keystone Central School District Board of Directors approved a contract between the district and River Rock Academy for a secondary program for Alternative Education for Disruptive Youth.

According to the contract, it would be for the remainder of the 2024-2025 school year at a per diem rate of $234. The AEDY program is to serve as a secondary option in cases where the district’s current program — contracted through Nittany Learning Services — can’t be used.

“This approval would provide the district with a second AEDY program option for students who meet the criteria, offering greater flexibility in selecting appropriate educational placements for disruptive youth,” a note from the administration stated in board docs along with the action item.

Prior to a vote on Jan. 16, the board heard from River Rock Academy’s Vice President of Operations Brandon Hoff and the director of its Bradford Campus, John Imbt, about what services they provided.

River Rock recently opened a facility in Williamsport in August 2024 and is actively working to add a private education secondary license program at this campus — which would allow it to offer alternative learning for any student, not just those who may be required to participate in AEDY.

“While we are new to this particular area, we have been in the alternative education field for a pretty long time,” Hoff said.

River Rock began in 2005 in York County before branching into Berks, Cumberland counties. It would later open locations in Delaware, Schuykill counties before stretching further and opening its Lycoming County location.

In total, River Rock has 12 campuses across the commonwealth and offers AEDY for grades 6-12.

Hoff said the program offers a mix of academic and special education services for youth.

Typically a student that falls into the AEDY program must take part for a minimum of 45 days due to a disregard for school authority, weapons violations, violent or threatening behavior, expulsion or suspension.

“All those placements, unless it is an expulsion or suspension, start at 45 days. It’s a state portal system, meaning all the referrals flow through leader services — through the state portal,” Hoff said. “Students are vetted prior to coming in, there’s specific paperwork they need to have.”

If it is an expulsion or suspension, Hoff said River Rock adheres to those timelines.

In the program students split time between four core academics — math, English, social studies and science — and social skills intructions.

“We are big on soft skills. We want to teach them those skills that focus on problem solving, anger management, and conflict resolution. We have a lot of hands-on activities in those classes,” he said.

Students also received both individualized and group counseling — ensuring they meet the state’s requirement of two hours of counseling per week.

River Rock also brings in guest speakers and holds field trips.

“We want to make sure the kids are provided a true school experience. Lots of times (AEDY) programs are asked to do the most with the least. We are not like that,” Hoff said. “You walk into our buildings and you’re going to know it’s a River Rock building. It’s going to feel like a school.”

Hoff said River Rock’s staff feel it’s important for students to want to come to school, feel connected and feel a part of something.

“We want to provide an environment where they feel valued and not just some throw away kid,” he said.

On Jan. 17, Hoff said River Rock was working toward receiving its Private Academic license, which would open the door to offer instructions for students who aren’t in the AEDY program but perhaps need assistance in their education.

“We’ll look to start our private education secondary license program (in February). That is a 7-12 grade program for strictly special education students,” he said. “So if you have a kid that’s maybe anxious in high school, you can make a referral to us.”

Imbt noted this program doesn’t exist for disciplinary reasons and isn’t restricted to just a 45 day placement.

Board member Elisabeth Lynch asked if River Rock could send updates about the progress of students KCSD may send to the program.

Imbt said each student on a campus has a weekly progress report sent to an administrator in their district.

“It has grades, behaviorals, and progress towards their goal,” he said. “Then, because it’s a 45-day placement, on that 40th day we have a meeting with whomever the administrator in charge to talk to them on goals and other things like that.”

Hoff said communication is important for River Rock Academy.

“We want to over communicate with the district. We want to make sure nothing is ever a surprise,” he said.

Board Vice President Butch Knauff asked if River Rock’s teachers are certified or accredited for the core subjects they teach.

Hoff said the answer was both yes and no.

“Certified necessarily for their core subject? No. We are always required under AEDY to have one full blown special education teacher. So we always have at least one of those. Our goal ultimately is to have a certified teacher teaching,” he said.

Hoff noted, based on state regulations, AEDY programs can allow someone to “come off the street that just has a degree and teach.”

“I know that’s crazy but that’s the way it works,” he said.

However, he noted all of River Rock’s teaching staff at its Williamsport campus are certified teachers in Pa. with two certified in special education and another working toward a certification in Private Academic License.

Lynch asked if it would be possible for the district to amend its contract — which uses River Rock as a secondary AEDY program — to allow it to reserve seating in its programs.

Hoff said it would be possible to do so.

Prior to the vote, Lynch emphasized the board’s ability to have Superintendent Dr. Francis Redmon provided an updated contract to allow for the purchase of seats in the future.

“Yes, but we will have to go back and vote on that,” Board President Roger Elling noted.