Keystone school directors OK plan to add 50 more seats

At its regular meeting on July 11, the Keystone Academy Board of Directors approved a plan to add 50 more seats to its approved enrollment for the 2024-25 school year, as recommended by National Heritage Academies which manages the school.
There will be 25 more seats for the seventh grade and 25 more seats for the eighth grade up from the 56 that had been planned in each grade. This will total 81 seats in the seventh grade and 81 seats in the eighth grade.
“This adds our third section of seventh and eighth grade back and I’m so excited,” said Principal Jorvonna Drain. She said now they will be able to provide a core class for math and then ELA (English language arts) and science and social studies.
She said she already has two teachers ready to move into the positions this opens up. This makes a total of 771 enrollment approved for the new school year.
In other business at the 44-minute meeting, the board:
• Postponed, because of her absence, the swearing-in of Charlene Derrick to serve an additional three-year term on the board, with a term to expire June of 2027;
• Noted the presence of Christina Dare, who at the last meeting was recommended by the board to succeed Derrick as the parent board member. She is waiting for official approval by Bay Mills Community College, which granted Keystone’s charter;
• Heard Principal Drain announce the Parent Satisfaction Survey results of 93% satisfied or highly satisfied putting Keystone fourth or sixth of the 101 NHA schools in its rating. “It’s really hard to please parents when you’re teaching and disciplining their children,” Drain said, noting this result was very rewarding, since anything 80% and above is considered very good;
• Discussed reports showing student proficiency and growth. “We’re really proud of where we are,” Drain said;
• Adopted the Continuous School Improvement Plan;
• Approved the 2025 Children’’s Internet Protection Act Form 479. All NHA schools and other public schools are required to take part and the schools get reimbursed for certain equipment purchases. NHA representative Andrew Roth said, as an example, NHA worked with the Michigan State Police on solving a cybercrime;
• Approved the 2025-27 Letter of Agency for E-rate Funding;
• Approved a board grant of $3,500 for Family Fun Night, held the Wednesday before school starts, to help purchase the ride. The board was advised there is $62,400, plus, in its budget to spend;
• Approved a board grant of $3,000 for Summer Learning Check to pay for all kids completing their summer workbooks so they could enjoy a roller skating or trampoline park event without cost; and
• Heard NHA representative Roth say he would like to plan something in August or September to honor former board president Vesta Losen, who retired May 1 after being on the Keystone board for 20 years. He said he thinks having the event when school is open it will be more fun and will be a chance for staff to say thank you and have kids in the background. He said it needs to be arranged and it will be non-intrusive to the school schedule.