Keystone emphasizes: No critical race theory in classrooms

Keystone Charter Academy board president Vesta Losen said she wanted to get an answer to a question that is being asked at many schools throughout the country: “Is critical race theory being taught here?”
She said she called top officials at National Heritage Academy that manages the school and was told, “No, no, and no.”
At the Oct. 14 board meeting, she asked Keystone Principal Jorvonna Drain the same question about Keystone and Principal Drain replied, “No way!”
President Losen said she was satisfied with the answers.
There are many definitions for critical race theory and both strong support and strong opposition to the idea.
In other business at the hour-and-a-half meeting, the board:
• Approved paying athletic coach stipends totaling $1,200 out of board funds. Treasurer Charlene Derrick said she would like to have baseball played at the school. She will look into setting up after-school intramurals;
• Approved spending up to $3,600 as Christmas marketing for the 65 staff members at Keystone, with the selection of the actual items to be determined by board treasurer Charlene Derrick and secretary Patricia Kirkpatrick after polling staff members for ideas;
• Approved the Parent-Student handbook with the first paragraph with regard to the closure policy removed;
• Approved the school closure policy;
• Approved reappointment of Principal Drain or her designee as the school safety liaison;
• After a closed-door session to discuss it, unanimously approved the school emergency operations plan with updated safety measures;
• Heard Drain report that currently there are 668 students enrolled. She said the girls’ volleyball team placed #1 in its region during the season and they are starting the round-robin tournament on Oct. 18. Said new hires are special education teacher Elizabeth Fulton, second-grade teacher Skyler Barbee, fifth-grade teacher Danielle Joye, educational technology coordinator Michael Yeager, and recess aide Rebecca McCloskey. She said they have vacancies for technology teacher, physical education teacher, two lunch aides, and one special education paraprofessional. A second-grade teacher and a resource room teacher are on medical leaves;
• Heard Drain announce that in the fall NWEA testing they again outperformed the Van Buren Public Schools. She said she will have to change the sign hanging that says they have outperformed other districts from “the last 12 years” to “the last 13 years”;
• Was informed the Trunk or Treat put on by the PTO will be from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 22;
• Discussed the gifted and talented testing. Drain said the teachers are using the information to form cohorts within the classrooms and not having special classes. She said one whole third-grade class is an advanced class and is moving ahead at a quicker pace. Having gifted students in the regular classrooms help raise the other students’ education because there is more critical thinking being demonstrated, said Dean Stacey Reed. Drain said parents are not informed of the results of the testing unless they contact the school;
• Heard a report from Drain on Keystone funds slated through ESSER I, II, and III and how they are expected to be used. ESSER I is $99,389; ESSER II is $221,202 (the state only has released half); and ESSER III is to be $1,139,422 when it is released. Losen reminded them that these federal funds are to settle problems caused by COVID. Board vice president Steven Harsant said he would like to spend some on a new air filtration system for the school. There was lots of discussion. Drain said she has a meeting with NHA in early November when some of the changing rules will be discussed and she will bring information back to the board. So far Keystone is planning summer school again next year, retention bonuses for staff, and more paraprofessionals;
• Heard Andrew Roth of NHA announce that NHA is not ready to proceed in Wayne County on the facility refinancing proposal because they need a hearing in the county first. Harsant had many questions on the details of the proposal and Losen suggested they wait until after the meeting they will be attending with NHA so they can ask questions directly of Bob Owen, CFO. If there are more questions, Roth said he could have an official come to the Keystone board meeting; and
• Heard Losen suggest board members study the statement from J.C. Huizenga, the founder of NHA, on the refinancing proposal.
Board member Darren Hickonbottom was not present for the meeting.