MILL HALL — The Keystone Central School District Board of Directors lingered on its personnel list during its work session longer than average.
During the review of the list on Thursday night, Board member Chris Scaff asked about the hiring of Francis Redmon IV for an emotional support building assistant position and if he was related to Superintendent Dr. Francis Redmon.
Redmon IV’s position would be a $14.25 per hour position, 7 hours a day at Central Mountain Middle School with a start date of Sept. 23.
Redmon confirmed the potential candidate was his son, but noted he was not part of the hiring process and is not the position’s primary supervisor.
Board member Tracy Smith, who chairs the district’s personnel committee, emphasized the hiring process for any candidate is typically the same across the board.
“We sit here week after week discussing the struggle we have finding people and keeping people. One here we have someone who we hired one date and two days later she’s gone,” Smith said. “We live in a very small community with very limited employment opportunities or limited people wanting to work in this community.”
Scaff told fellow board members he asked the question for the sake of transparency and understanding the process behind hiring personnel.
Smith said he was qualified and vetted by independent employees within the district who looked at his credentials and background checks.
“We have the transparency (and) we’ve had the need” for the position,” Smith said. “It’s not the first time a relative of an administrator has been hired in this district.”
Scaff said he was concerned with the potential for nepotism, which can be common within school districts.
“There has been no wrongdoing that has ever been proved. If he does something wrong and it’s covered up then, yes, that’s an issue. Or if he’s given favoritism. But we can’t exclude people from employment opportunities in this district just because they’re related to somebody,” Smith said.
Scaff said he didn’t feel the staff were not doing a bad job or that Redmon IV did not fit the criteria but noted when someone is hired with a prior relationship to a staff member within the district it can cause red flags for community members.
“There’s always going to be a question when that comes up. But we need people and there’s no reason he can’t be considered,” Smith said.
Other personnel items the board will consider at its voting session on Thursday, Oct. 10 are:
EMPLOYMENT
Support
— Employment of Stephanie Gregory, as 210 Day Custodian, 8 hrs/day, at Central Mountain High School, effective date to be determined at a rate of $14.25/hr, paid from the General Fund per the ESP Contract. Hiring is contingent upon receipt of all required paperwork including, but not limited to, all necessary background checks that meet the appropriate standard(s) as required by Pennsylvania law. Filled due to vacancy.
— Employment of Nina Weaver, as Cafeteria Under 25, hrs/day, at Central Mountain Middle School, effective date to be determined at a rate of $14.25/hr, paid from the General Fund per the ESP Contract. Hiring is contingent upon receipt of all required paperwork including, but not limited to, all necessary background checks that meet the appropriate standard(s) as required by Pennsylvania law. Filled due to vacancy.
— Employment of Mackenzie Kurutz, as Building Assistant, Emotional Support, 7 hrs/day, at Central Mountain Middle School, effective date September 23, 2024 at a rate of $14.25/hr, paid from the General Fund per the ESP Contract. Hiring is contingent upon receipt of all required paperwork including, but not limited to, all necessary background checks that meet the appropriate standard(s) as required by Pennsylvania law. Filled due to vacancy.
— Employment of Francis Redmon IV, as Building Assistant, Emotional Support, 7 hrs/day, at Central Mountain Middle School, effective date Sept. 23, 2024 at a rate of $14.25/hr, paid from the General Fund per the ESP Contract. Hiring is contingent upon receipt of all required paperwork including, but not limited to, all necessary background checks that meet the appropriate standard(s) as required by Pennsylvania law. Filled due to vacancy.
— Employment of Julia Smith, as Building Assistant, Learning Support, 7 hrs/day, at Robb Elementary School, effective date Sept. 23, 2024 at a rate of $14.25/hr, paid from the General Fund per the ESP Contract. Hiring is contingent upon receipt of all required paperwork including, but not limited to, all necessary background checks that meet the appropriate standard(s) as required by Pennsylvania law. Filled due to vacancy.
— Employment of Cheyanne Casper, as Building Assistant, Kindergarten, 7 hrs/day, at Woodward Elementary School, effective date Sept. 23, 2024 at a rate of $14.25/hr, paid from the General Fund per the ESP Contract. Hiring is contingent upon receipt of all required paperwork including, but not limited to, all necessary background checks that meet the appropriate standard(s) as required by Pennsylvania law. Filled due to vacancy.
— Approve Dawn Peters, Accounts Payable Secretary at Admin as mentor for Kathy Muthler, Benefits Secretary at Admin, to be paid $250 from the General Fund as per the CCESPA Contract.
— Approve the following Volunteers for the 2024-2025 school year: Fang-Yun Weaver, Linda Peters, Michele Briggs, Jennifer Raymond, Diana Andrus, Courtney Wynn, Bobbi Moser, Brittani Kline, Shannon McCloskey, Jamie Phillips, Jessica Warr, Jamie Day, Misty Mark, Danielle Lavallee, Marissa Gardner, Ashley Newlen, Jody Jolloff, Polly Donahay, Ashley Sparrow, Holly Thomas, Pattian Merrifield, Hope Winslow, Carey McCloskey, Carleigh Johnson, Teresa Kodish, Debra Moore, Ashley Baier, Angela Spangler, Barb Sverderus, Kathleen Bitner, Dana Carson, Lois Gallagher, Suzanne Turchetta, Megan Ulsamer, Sandra Westerbaan, Elysa Robinson, Beth Moore, Emily Everett, Larissa Jones, Veronica Roan, Scarlet Tobin, Tawnni Germello, Brooke Williams, Michele Hanna, Sam Weaver, Brenda Bechdel, Stacy Packer, Colleen Burfield, Kayla Toner, Marissa Crawford, Jessica Walizer, Katrina Stein.
— Approve the following SMILES Volunteers for the 2024-2025 school year: Janet DeMarte
— Approve the following drivers and aides for Susquehanna Transit for the 2024-2025 school year. Hiring is contingent upon receipt of all required paperwork including, but not limited to, all necessary background checks that meet the appropriate standard(s) as required by Pennsylvania law: Edward Danneker, driver; Martin Ludwig Jr., driver; Rose Smith, driver.
— Approve the following drivers and aides for Keep Safe for the 2024-2025 school year. Hiring is contingent upon receipt of all required paperwork including, but not limited to, all necessary background checks that meet the appropriate standard(s) as required by Pennsylvania law: Cretia Stimely,van driver/aide.
— Approve the following Diversified Occupation Student Interns for the 2024-2025 school year. Hiring is contingent upon receipt of all required paperwork including, but not limited to, all necessary background checks that meet the appropriate standard(s) as required by Pennsylvania law: Jacob Clymer, Cora Meyers, Aiden Meter
— Approve the following as Homebound Instructors for the 2024-2025 school year: Les Barnhart, Chryssie Miller
— Approve the job description of School Psychologist Assistant as shown in Exhibit. This position will be paid from the General Fund per the ESP Contract.
Professional
— Approve the MOU agreement with ACCE for the CTC Career Counselor. Part time position as per the ACCE Contract. Will be paid from grant monies.
— Approve the daily sub rate increase by $5 from $115 to $120.
— Approve the addition of a certified daily sub rate of $125. We currently do not have this category.
— Approve the increase of Building Based Subs by 2 to total 8. The district currently has six. One elementary BBS reporting to Mill Hall Elementary and one secondary BBS reporting to Central Mountain High School. Both will be able to support other openings in the district if they are not needed at their home building.
— Approve the Building Based Sub rate increase of $128. Currently the rate is $115.
TRANSFERS
Support
— Transfer Joy Baney, from Building Assistant at Mill Hall Elementary to Title I Associate at Mill Hall Elementary School effective to be determined, paid from the General Fund per the ESP Contract. Filled due to vacancy.
— Transfer Rachel Strunk, from Building Assistant, Learning Support at Central Mountain High School to Building Assistant, Learning Support at Mill Hall Elementary effective to be determined, paid from the General Fund per the ESP Contract. Filled due to vacancy.
— Transfer Sharon Gerhard, from Cafeteria Under 25, hrs/day at Central Mountain High School to General Cafeteria Worker, 7 hrs/day at Central Mountain Middle School effective Sept. 12, 2024, paid from the General Fund per the ESP Contract. Filled due to vacancy.
— Transfer April Lucas, from CTC Secretary Classification A to CTC Secretary Classification B. Transfer due to reclassification of position, effective July 1, 2024 , pay rate per the CCESPA Contract for classification B.
Administrative
— Approve 5 percent salary increase for Harlan Dickey, from July 1, 2024 through Sept. 30, 2024, for fulfilling interim Property Services Supervisor duties. Filled due to Property Services Supervisor being vacated.
— Approve 5 percent salary increase for Sheldon Gray, from July 1, 2024 through Sept. 30, 2024, for fulfilling interim Property Services Supervisor duties. Filled due to Property Services Supervisor being vacated.
RESIGNATIONS/RETIREMENTS/TERMINATIONS
Support
— Resignation of Mackenzie Kurutz, Building Assistant, at Mill Hall Elementary, effective Sept. 25, 2024.
— Termination of Patricia Confer, General Cafeteria Worker, at Central Mountain Middle School, effective Oct. 10, 2024.
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