PHOTO PROVIDED Students from Bucktail High School, from left, Hailey Dent, Carrie Ditty and Emma Gentzyel provided a presentation to the board about the importance of the sports programs at the school.

MILL HALL — The audience at this week’s Keystone Central District Board of Directors’ meeting was a sea of red as a number of Bucktail community members turned out to question rumors of possible cuts in the western Clinton County school’s extracurricular activities.

Nearly a dozen members of the Renovo community, from current students to alumni and teachers, spoke during public comment regarding the rumors that began to circulate in recent weeks. Much of these rumors have stemmed from the district currently facing a potential $3.5 million deficit as administration works to prepare the 2026-2027 budget.

In a statement to The Express, Superintendent Dr. Francis Redmon said the district is currently confronting growing expenses and shrinking revenues due to inflation. He said the board is considering all aspects of its system across the district, “including participation rates and projected costs, among others.”

“The discussions about the budget have been wide-ranging, including the current and projected costs for athletics and extra-curriculars across the district,” he said.

Redmon acknowledged Bucktail’s football team was one aspect of the discussions. However, he said no decisions have been made.

“No decisions have been made about changes to programs or services beyond retirements and resignations of staff,” he said. “With that, the board and administration will continue to seek ways to ensure we have a responsible budget for the district.”

Community members who spoke Thursday night included Mary George Rhone, a Bucktail alumni and active member in the Western Clinton County Community.

Rhone said she first heard rumors last Friday while in Maryland at a grandchild’s softball game. She emphasized she was before them on Thursday night to seek clarity on these rumors.

“We understand there’s a huge deficit. It’s there in black and white for everybody to see. But the programs we have are not extras,” she said. “They are essential for many reasons… they keep students engaged, connected and keep them motivated.”

However, rumors such as the one regarding the potential cutting of Bucktail’s high school football team, cast a shadow on the community, she said.

“It feels like our students are being viewed as less of a priority and, to me, that’s heartbreaking,” she said. “I will say plainly, our kids are not unworthy. They are just as deserving of support, Keystone Central’s investment and a full school experience as any other school in this district.”

She asked the board to provide clear, direct information about the possible loss of programs.

Though the board does not typically engage in dialogue with those who speak at public comment, Board President Elisabeth Lynch noted if discussions about program cuts were to happen, it would be in an open discussion at a public meeting — whether a work session, voting session or within one of the board’s various committees.

“If anything is going to be discussed it is going to be discussed in a public meeting. They are all recorded, they’re on YouTube,” she said.

Others who spoke during public comment echoed much of what Rhone said.

Meg White, a Bucktail alumni and former student athlete, noted she basically grew up on the football field in Renovo.

“When I heard the rumor there may be cuts in our sports programs at Bucktail, that was obviously very concerning to me. In my opinion, sports do matter especially at Bucktail,” she said.

White noted the athletics programs help hold students accountable, creates a sense of belonging and community and connects students.

“If those sports are eliminated from our school then what do those kids have? That leaves a hole in their environment and their life. I feel like that is not good for their future,” she said.

White also questioned the logistics behind the removal of any of the sports programs, noting if students were to travel to Central Mountain High School to participate, it would add at least two hours to their school days.

“I feel it’s important you guys know what it’s like from somebody in that community to always have to fight to not be last on the list,” she said.

Cody Kanouff, a parent of two kids at KCSD, noted his youngest son — who just completed his third year in the Central Mountain youth program — has done nothing but talk about wanting to play football in high school. His older son, who just completed his first year in junior high basketball at Bucktail, has also been able to come out of his shell and develop a love for the sport.

“But lately, their dreams of playing high school sports is possibly at risk due to irresponsible money decisions being made in our district,” Kanouff said.

Similar to White, he pointed out the feeling many have that Renovo is considered an outlier. He noted it often can face cuts to help offset financial issues within the district.

“I understand you guys are in a $3.5 million deficit, but let’s take a minute to fix it and see how we got into this,” he said.

He asked if newly constructed Liberty Curtin Elementary School was needed or the astro-terf installed at Don Malinack stadium.

“Our tax dollars are not an all-you-can-eat buffet at the expense of our kids,” he said.

He said he’d heard there were rumors that bleachers at Bucktail not being up to code was a part of the consideration.

“Why can’t we build new ones? You guys built a new school over asbestos instead of hiring professionals to come in,” he said.

He told the board they were elected to “stick up for our kids” including all of them district-wide.

Four current students at Bucktail High School came out to Thursday’s meeting to voice their concerns and advocate for their extracurriculars.

Sophomores Emma Gentzyel and Carrie Ditty and senior Hailey Dent offered a brief presentation to the board on why sports were important at the high school.

They noted the strong sense of community it creates, the limited options that the school already has — with only three sports for boys and girls currently offered — and noted nearly half of the school was part of an extra curricular in 2024-2025.

In a summary to the board, Gentzyel said: Our sports bring our town together and creates a sense of pride throughout our student body. Beyond the games, these programs help develop important life skills such as teamwork, leadership, responsibility and discipline that start in high school and that are used all throughout students’ futures. Supporting this means to continue to give students these opportunities and maintain our history as a town.”

Senior McKenna Bissman, who serves as Bucktail’s student government president, also spoke about the importance of keeping sports at the school.

She noted she’s in band and plays tennis and was even recently awarded the senior superlative for most school spirit.

Bissman became visibly emotional during her comments, pausing twice to collect herself.

“Sports and everything at Bucktail means a lot to the community and we would hate to see it go,” she said. “I see so much passion in the younger students, students my age and the teachers.”

Bissman said she couldn’t believe the rumors that were circulating and said she and other members of student government would like to sit and talk with board members about the possibilities.

“I just can’t see it happen,” she said of the potential loss of programs.

Two other members of the community also spoke to the board Thursday night.

Thomas Tarantella noted that Bucktail often feels like “the poor cousin.”

“It’s because we’re always on the short end of the stick,” he said. “We understand that there are financial situations. We understand that we’re small and everything. But our kids mean the same to us as your kids mean to you. Your sports and our sports are the same thing.”

Tarantella noted the possibility the community in Western Clinton County and southern Potter County could consider creating a charter school similar to Sugar Valley.

“We do not want to threaten or offend anybody. We don’t want to go that route. But we don’t want to get kicked to the curb every time the budget goes south,” he said. “Remember, we’re not orphans up there and we want to be team players. But you’re beating us down bad.”

Last to speak was Dan Heiser, a fifth and sixth grade math teacher in Renovo, said he was surprised one night while picking up his two sons from weight lifting by how quiet they were. He noted both play football at the high school, with one set to graduate and another a freshman.

“They said, ‘dad we might not get to play,'” he said. “I said, ‘don’t worry, maybe it’s just a rumor.'”

However, Heiser — who is a volunteer coach for a number of programs and serves as coach of Bucktail’s tennis team — said he isn’t one to just sit around.

“I want to find solutions and I want to help,” he said. Those schools are central to that town.”

Heiser acknowledged the board faces difficult decisions, with aging buildings and equipment among other factors while making decisions. He encouraged them to communicate with the Western Clinton County community.

“We’re just all here tonight to say whatever we can do we’ll help. We don’t want to lose anything,” he said. “Whatever we can do to aid in this thing. I encourage the school board to just communicate with us and what we can do.”

No items were on the board’s agenda that were related to the concerns brought forward by community members on Thursday night.