MILL HALL — The start of the Keystone Central School District’s special meeting on Thursday night was a somber one, as Superintendent Dr. Francis Redmon announced the passing of one of its members, Tom Cannon.

Redmon stated the district was notified Cannon passed away Wednesday night. He asked for all those in attendance to keep Cannon’s family in their thoughts and prayers, noting the staff in the district’s hearts were with them.

Cannon held the Region VIII seat within the district, which encompasses Flemington Borough and Castanea and Bald Eagle townships.

Redmon told The Express the procedure to fill the vacancy will be similar to those involving a resignation, adding the board will discuss how to move forward during its work session on Feb. 5.

He said the process will follow Section 315 of the PA Public School Code which says when a vacancy occurs due to a director’s death, resignation or moving out of the district or election region, the remaining members have 30 days to fill the vacancy. After which, the board can still continue to search for a candidate, but voters in the region can petition the Clinton County Court of Common Pleas to appoint a representative. Ten signatures are needed for a judge to consider an appointment.

Cannon’s tragic and sudden passing marks the fourth seat the board will need to appoint a new member to in nearly as many months.

On Thursday night it met to conduct interviews to fill its Region IV seat (Dunnstable, Wayne, Pine Creek II townships). The seat was vacated by former member Jeff Johnston on Jan. 1.

The board ultimately could not come to a consensus in choosing between three candidates — Kevin Ferrara, Jason Smith and Heather Yost — and adjourned the meeting after terminating the proceedings.

The board will conduct interviews prior to its work session next week as it looks to fill a seat vacated by Mary Kramer in Region IX (Renovo, South Renovo boroughs and Leidy, Chapman, Steward, East Keating, Noyes, Grugan and Gallagher townships). Kramer resigned from the position mid-January due to her employment in Renovo Borough. Those holding public office are not permitted to be employed by a municipality.

These openings followed the district’s first resignation in recent months. It appointed Manuel “Manny” Rodriguez to the Region III (Beech Creek Borough and Beech Creek, Curtin and Liberty townships) after then-member Polly Donahay resigned in October 2025.