PHOTO PROVIDED Keystone Central School District Board of Directors’ out-going president Roger Elling, fourth from left, offers his thanks and final thoughts at the end of his and fellow members’ Tracy Smith and Butch Knauff’s last voting session as board members on Thursday.

MILL HALL — Two out of three outgoing members of the Keystone Central School District Board of Directors offered parting words and thanks at the end of their final voting session this week.

Board President Roger Elling and Board Member Tracy Smith reflected on their time on the board and expressed gratitude to many individuals and groups on Thursday night. Board Vice President Butch Knauff, who also did not run to retain his board seat, was absent from the meeting.

At the start of the meeting, Superintendent Dr. Francis Redmon thanked all three members for their years of dedication to the board and the district’s mission. He noted Knauff served 14 years, Elling served 12 and Smith served 8.

“Thank you for all you’ve done for our students and community,” he said.

Smith said she was grateful for the privilege to serve on the district’s board of directors.

“It has been a privilege to serve this board and advocate for our students to get the best public education they can, and advocate for our faculty and staff,” Smith said. “I’ve enjoyed working with everyone and I’ve learned a lot about education. I look forward to continuing to advocate for the district from the other side of the table.”

Elling’s speech, which he noted was written down so he didn’t forget, included encouragement to new board members to be open to learning, listening and collaborating. He noted he faced challenges and an adjustment period when he first joined the board over a decade ago.

“When I first came onto the board, I was in the minority and I wanted change. It was hard. I had growing pains that frustrated me beyond belief. There were times I wanted to push forward faster than others were willing to go. And there were times where I simply didn’t get my way,” Elling said. “But those moments taught me valuable lessons – patience, respect and the importance of collaboration. They reminded me that leadership isn’t about always getting what you want. It’s about learning, listening and finding common ground.”

Elling expressed how proud he was of the work the board has accomplished over the years, which includes strengthening curriculum, stabilizing the district’s finances and improving the way the board governed.

In recent years, however, Elling said he was reminded of those early days when he felt he was fighting an uphill battle.

“I see the same fire in some of our newer board members. Passion is important. It keeps us striving for better. But passion without understanding can quickly turn into division,” he said. “Lately we’ve seen assumptions without fact, criticism without knowledge and disrespect for the process that protects this district. Instead of learning first and then leading. Some have chosen to speak first and question later. That is not how effective governance works.”

He noted the role of a board member was not to manage teachers, programs or daily operations but to set policy, approve a budget and ensure fiscal responsibility from a macro level.

Elling thanked a large number of individuals who played a part in his time on the board. This included the community members in his region that trusted him; current and past board members; the superintendents he worked with; Act 93 leadership; and teachers who are “the heart of the district.”

“Serving on this board has been one of the greatest honors of my life. I’ve learned, I’ve stumbled, I’ve grown. But I leave proud of what we’ve accomplished together. I leave tonight with a full heart, grateful for the lessons, the friendships, the challenges and the victories. Thank you for trusting me, teaching me and allowing me to serve,” he said.

Board Members Jeff Johnston and Dr. Bill Baldino, whose seats were not up for election in 2025, offered their thanks to the three outgoing members.

“It has been a privilege for me to work with all of them in these last several years. I really feel that their hearts have been in the right spot with students in mind as their first priority as it should be,” he said. “I think we’ve accomplished a lot in a lot of areas during that time. I’m very proud of what’s been accomplished. I know that those folks have been a big part of that.”

Baldino, in his thanks noted, “We all know this involves quite a bit of work and I appreciate it.”

At its reorganizational meeting on Thursday, Dec. 4, three board members who were elected to the open seats left by Elling, Smith and Knauff will be sworn in.

They include Shelby Bohartz, in Region V; John Miller, in Region VII; and Mary Kramer, in Region IX.

Also being sworn in is Manuel Rodriguez, who was approved for the position by the board last month. Rodriguez will fill the Region III seat vacated by former member Polly Donahay.

The reorganization meeting, which includes the election of board president and vice president, will lead into the board’s lone meeting for December.