Jeff Johnston

MILL HALL — For the second time in three months, a member of the Keystone Central School District Board of Directors has submitted their resignation.

At the tail end of the board’s voting session Thursday night, Jeff Johnston — who represents Region IV (Wayne Township, Dunnstable Township and Pine Creek Township II) — submitted his resignation effective Jan. 1, 2026.

In his remarks, Johnston spoke about what he felt was a growing shift in the board’s intentions in recent years.

“Over the past six years I have served on this board with, what I feel, (is) a lot of commitment and high integrity. And I’m proud of the progress we have made, particularly in the areas of facilities, curriculum, school security and other areas,” Johnston said. “However, over the past two years the direction and, many times, the conduct of this board have become increasingly concerning to me.”

Johnston touched on what he felt was a “persistent lack of trust” toward the administrative staff developing in the form of “repeated demands for information that has already, many times, been provided” and a pattern of micromanagement.

“This approach undermines effective leadership and is inconsistent with the appropriate role of a good school board member,” Johnston continued. “A board’s primary responsibility is to always act first and foremost in the best interest of students.”

In his view, this priority was replaced by “an excessive focus on cost cutting at the expense of educational quality and student needs.”

Johnston acknowledged the importance of fiscal responsibility but said, “it must be balanced with a clear commitment to student success. That balance, I do not feel, has been maintained.”

“Given the current trajectory of board leadership, I can no longer serve in good conscience; accordingly I’m submitting my resignation effective Jan. 1, 2026,” he continued.

Johnson said he was grateful to the administration and staff he’d work with since taking his position in 2019.

“I deeply respect their dedication to our students and our community and I wish them all many, many years and continued success,” he said.

Following this announcement, Board President Elisabeth Lynch requested Superintendent Dr. Francis Redmon and Board Secretary Christine Taylor begin the process of soliciting Region IV for a replacement. Johnston’s term is set to expire in December 2027.

Redmon said the administration would put out a request for letters of interest, with plans to set up interviews with the board the week of Jan. 5. Once that process is complete, he said onboarding for a new member could begin by Jan. 10.

This is the second board member to submit their resignation since October, when then-member Polly Donahay left her seat in Region III. In November, the board appointed Manuel “Manny” Rodriguez to complete her term.