Bucktail Student Government updates Keystone board
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MILL HALL -- The Keystone Central School District Board of Directors heard a brief presentation from representatives of Bucktail Middle/High School from members of its student government recently.
During its voting session Thursday, seniors McKenna Bissman and Martin Lewis provided the board a rundown of recent accomplishments and upcoming events as the 2024-2025 school year draws to a close.
The pair brought with them a set of trophies related to the Bucktail band.
"Bucktail band competed at Music in the Parks in Hershey. We placed fourth out of five bands in the Concert Band Group, earning an excellent rating," Bissman said. "We were also presented with the Spirit Decor Award."
Bissman explained the award was given to Bucktail because "we were the most professional and well behaved band attending."
Bissman explained she and Lewis brought with them the last trophy the band received in 2004, along with the recent trophy it earned and the Spirit Decor Award.
Other updates Bissman provided included:
-- Keystone Scholars from both Central Mountain and Bucktail toured Commonwealth University-Lock Haven.
-- The Art Club is busy painting a mural with acclaimed graffiti artist ARCY at Bucktail Medical Center. A ribbon cutting is planned for Friday, May 16, at 2 p.m., in the medical center Annex.
-- On Friday, May 2, two seniors held a mock car crash to spread awareness of the dangers of texting and calling while driving.
-- Multiple businesses visited Bucktail campus on Friday to showcase careers along with representatives from the military.
-- The senior class has planned its senior trip at Ace Adventure Water Park in West Virginia for three days.
-- Bucktail Band's Spring Concert is set for Thursday, May 22, with soloists to perform during intermission.
-- The Bucktail Ecology Class was invited to Washington, D.C. to tour the Capitol and observe the Senate.
In other business the board:
-- Appointed Christine Taylor as the board's secretary in a 5-4 vote. Board members Elisabeth Lynch, Chris Scaff, Dr. Bill Baldino and Cannon voted against the appointment, with members Roger Elling, Jeff Johnston, Tracy Smith, Butch Knauff and Polly Donahay voting yes. Prior to the vote, Lynch said she was voting against the appointment because she felt the board secretary should exist separately from the superintendent's secretary. Taylor serves as Dr. Francis Redmon and Dr. Randy Zangaras' administrative assistant. "The board secretary should be a stand alone position and not be a shared position with the board's employee," Lynch said.
-- Appointed Business Manager Joni MacIntyre as board treasurer in an 8-1 vote, with Board Member Tom Cannon voting no.
-- Appointed Elling and Baldino as voting delegates for the Pennsylvania School Board Association's upcoming convention on Tuesday, Oct. 21, at Kalahari Resorts & Conventions in the Poconos.
-- Approved three out-of-state-field trips for Renovo Elementary sixth graders to visit the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, N.Y., on May 14; SkillsUSA for the National Leadership Conference to be held in Atlanta, Ga., in June and Central Mountain's Band and Orchestra Club to Broadway, N.Y., on May 31.
-- Approved a flexible instruction application and a second application for the Career and Technical Center. The applications would allow staff to conduct remote learning days for students in the center in the event of bad weather.
-- Approved two policies. One involving the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence in Education and another regarding District Social Media.
-- Approved a contract with UPMC for pediatric therapy services for the 2025-2026 school year.
-- Approved lunch prices for 2025-2026 as follows: elementary, middle and high school breakfast and lunch free; milk $0.65; adult breakfast, $3.20; adult lunch: $5.35.
-- Approved a food service bid participation agreement with PRFSD.
-- Approved a membership to PSBA for the district in the amount of $18,696.36 for the 2025-2026 school year which is paid through the General Fund.
-- Approved a contract with Maxim Nursing.