Lonoconus addresses plant removal at Bucktail
Says district ‘will make it as right as possible’
Trending
MILL HALL -- Keystone Central School District Interim Superintendent Dr. Alan Lonconus and staff are working to address the removal of portions of the Bucktail's landscaping -- some of which were memorials to graduates and students at the school.
Lonconus previously addressed this removal of shrubs and trees at the campus in a letter to the community, which he revisited during the school board's work session this week.
He told the board he visited Renovo to address the bushes and a tree that were mistakenly removed during maintenance of the campus.
The reason for the removal of some of these, particularly rhododendrons near the building, occurred due to state guidelines regarding safety.
He explained the district, and those across the state, were advised to remove landscaping that could be possible areas of contention.
"With shooters and things like that it became a possible area of contention," he said of the rhododendrons which were donated by the Class of 1965.
The removal of these plants and a memorial tree for a Bucktail student, were two of the major concerns among Renovo residents when the landscaping changes were made this summer.
Lonoconus told the board he spoke with the parent of the child who the tree was dedicated to. He said he apologized for the mistake and that she was understanding of the situation.
"The first thing she said was 'it was a mistake, things happen,'" he said, adding she requested he ensure the grounds crew that removed the tree not to lose sleep over the mistake as well.
"I told her we're going to make it right. I asked her if she and her husband could find another plant or bush or whatever they could choose. We'll replant it, we'll do a ceremony in the fall, we'll get a plaque to ensure people know that this is a memorial," he said. "She was great about it. I couldn't ask for a better dialogue with somebody. And she understood."
He told the board the removal of these key pieces of the landscape were an example of losing institutional knowledge through staffing changes over the years.
"You lose some of that institutional history sometimes and it's unfortunate. We'll be looking at what we can replant there that would meet the criteria," he said. "We'll try to make it as right as possible and move forward."
Community member Mary George Rhone, who often attends school board meetings and speaks on behalf of Renovo residents, told The Express she was glad the district was working to correct the mistake.
"As an alumnus of Bucktail, I was very disheartened to see the landscaping disturbed. I do however believe it was a mistake but to many in our community, that mistake was very costly. Some of the removed landscaping was erected as memorials and that is the tragedy of it all. Some of it is irreplaceable but the district has promised to make it right," Rhone said. "While mistakes were made, I completely understand the disappointment of those affected the most. You can't erase memories but you can move forward and perhaps reach out to those affected for their suggestions to make it meaningful."