MILL HALL — Faced with a large deficit at the end of the 2025-2026 fiscal year and the potential of no tax increase on the horizon for the subsequent year, Keystone Central School District Superintendent Dr. Francis Redmon is asking the district’s board of directors to approve six furloughs to help reduce expenses going into 2026-2027.

The furloughs are based on a staffing study completed by Redmon and administrators, following a directive from the board, and presented in March. At the time, the board elected to forgo the proposed furloughs at that time.

However, during its work session on May 7, Redmon again asked the board to consider the furloughs — though he noted the number was reduced to just six.

He reminded the board the study was based on the decrease of student population by about 450 in the last five years and how the district could align its staffing with the current number of students.

“Since (March) we have looked at all of the folks who are retiring or resigning from the district and found ways to close down the positions or move people around. So we have so far reduced our staff by 19 teachers between this year and next year,” he said.

Redmon told the board he was asking for permission to, based on the results of the study, reduce another six positions before the end of this fiscal year, which ends on June 30.

“That would be six fewer positions past the 19 that we’ve already done going into next year,” he said.

During board discussion, Vice President John Miller asked about a reduction in administrators.

“I’ve said it, I don’t know how many times, the bloat in this (district)… when are we going to sit at this table and hear you say ‘this is what we’re cutting from administrators?’ It’s always the dang teachers,” he said.

Redmon noted the district reduced the number of its administrators by three during the 2024-2025 fiscal year going into 2025-2026.

Miller asked about positions that were added.

“I don’t agree that all of the positions you say were added were added. There were a lot of changes in what we call things. But in terms of the addition of the number of administrators, I’m not sure we see eye to eye on that,” Redmon answered.

Miller stated it felt like no cuts were being made in the administration, but instead “all we’re doing is rearranging the furniture. We ain’t cutting nobody.”

Redmon pushed back against this claim, saying that wasn’t the case.

“The board sitting here would like to see a number, a percentage, a value of something that’s being cut,” Miller said.

Redmon reiterated that 19 positions were reduced and, if the board approved the furloughs at its voting session, that would be another six between the current year and upcoming year.

Board member Dr. Bill Baldino asked Redmon how many administrators were employed for the district when he was hired two and a half years ago compared to the current number.

“Because, in fairness, you’ve cut some positions,” Baldino said. “That’s a question I’m getting all of the time. I say they have kind of, but my weakness (is) I don’t know the numbers. I can’t give them a direct answer. If you could come up with that, I think it would be helpful in many ways.”

Redmon said he wasn’t sure the number off the top of his head but he could look into it.

Baldino said another complaint he’s heard from the community is that the reductions of staff seem to always be teachers.

“But it’s district-wide and there’s more positions involved than the teachers. But I’m not really sure they’re buying it from me,” he said. “I can understand John’s way of looking at it, it sounds like you’re rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. But there really are fewer people here than when we started two and a half years ago.”

Board member Manny Rodriguez asked if the staffing study would be made public prior to the board’s vote.

Redmon said it would be once the board makes a decision at its voting session.

Rodriguez questioned if the information could be released without including any names or information that would indicate what positions could be removed.

“Take out the recommendations and leave what you found for the public. I’m not asking for positions or names or anything to be put out there,” he said.

Redmon told Rodriguez releasing the data could still reveal what positions could be facing furlough regardless of if names are removed.

“Furloughs and reduction of staff are really, really, really hard on our staff community. I’m trying to do this in the most respectful way I can so that we have an opportunity to work with the people who may be losing their jobs because of the changes we’re making. We’re being as humane as humanly possible with these people,” Redmon said. “Just releasing all of the information out there means that people are guessing and supposing and then they start to pressure people… all of that stuff I’m trying to avoid by being very careful in how information gets out to our staff.”

Board member Rich Wykoff, a retired teacher who served as a representative for unions in the past, noted there is nuance and intricacies to these contracts that can create complications regarding furloughs.

“When Frank says these are positions that are reduced, they’re not necessarily going to turn out to be specific people they’re getting rid of,” he said.

Instead, he noted it sometimes means the removal of a position and a staff member being able to move into an open position elsewhere.

“When that position is eliminated, that person has seniority and, we don’t call it bumping but it’s basically that, goes elsewhere,” he said.

He suggested the board consider learning more about how union contracts work.

“We’re trying to understand something as new people that’s somewhat complicated for some and not for others,” he said.

Board President Elisabeth Lynch suggested the personnel committee consider bringing in an expert on the topic to present information to the board at one of its meetings.

At the tail end of the conversation, Miller said the board needed cooperation from district employees.

“Everyone is coming up to us (the board) and pounding us about the school district. We are supposed to be doing miracles, fixing everything. It’s not going to happen fast. We are getting no help from the (district) ourselves. Our (district) knows we’re broke but everyone that walks through that door says ‘give me the big raise, ‘give me the big raise.’ But we’re supposed to do miracles here,” he said. “We need help besides us nine people. The people in the (district) have to be willing to help too.”