Centerville schools, DCS address student’s brief escape

After a student left a playground and entered a nearby home for about 10 minutes before returning, Centerville-Abington Community Schools is working with Indiana’s Department of Child Services and its own employees to assess the recess escape and prevent another from occurring.

The Sept. 12 incident wasn’t discussed at CACS’ Sept. 25 board meeting. Afterward, Superintendent Mike McCoy responded to WWN’s questions, saying the situation has been dealt with.

McCoy said personnel changes have been made after the 7-year-old student left Rose Hamilton Elementary School and explored a nearby home before returning to the playground.

“It was definitely an unfortunate event and it’s something we’ve worked on our part to make sure it doesn’t happen again,” McCoy said. ” … We’re fortunate that the student is fine.”

McCoy, who became superintendent in 2020, said CACS hasn’t had anything like that occur during his 17 years of working for the district.

All employees of Rose Hamilton, which serves preschool through second grade, participated in an after-school meeting to discuss the situation. Centerville-Abington Elementary Principal Kelly VanWinkle also met with anyone who supervises its students in grades 3-6.

Beyond internal school discussions, DCS institutional staff visited CACS for about 75 minutes during the week of Sept. 16 to gather information. They will share that report with school officials when it’s completed.

In other business

• The board approved 2025 plans for capital projects and bus replacement and several funds (education, debt service, rainy day, operations and Budget Form 4) and related resolutions.
• All four building principals’ school improvement plans presented at the Sept. 11 meeting were approved. 
• Centerville-Abington Elementary’s roof leaks are believed to have been fixed, but heavy rains will confirm that. Thor Construction is to handle replacement of CAE’s chiller.
• The new transportation center is nearly complete except for a gutter leak and other small issues. Mechanics are training on the new lift.
• The board conducted a first reading on policy revisions including legal settlements, test security provisions for statewide assessments, medical needs at school, purchasing procedures/capital assets, audio, video and digital recording, student wellness, student residency verification and retention appeal procedures. The board is expected to vote on those at its next meeting at 7 p.m. Oct. 9 in the administration building, 115 W. South St., Centerville. 
• The cost to update the Honeywell Enterprise Buildings Integrator to monitor, manage and protect facilities was more than expected. Some funds will come from pandemic relief and some from the elementary building project. 
• Board members Andy Wandersee and Todd Duke and McCoy attended Indiana School Boards Association’s fall conference, and McCoy participated in a presentation on Communities in Schools. One key discussion was securing internships as part of upcoming diploma changes. McCoy has contacted Wayne County’s economic development and chamber leaders for assistance. Area schools will be competing to find internships.
• Donation: Centerville Christian Church, 83 folding chairs for Centerville-Abington Junior High.

Personnel updates

• Rehire: Mary “Catie” Lainhart, part-time Rose Hamilton art teacher
• Pending hire: Makaela Moore, grades 3-12 substitute
• Transfer: Stacie Schlotterbeck, from sub bus driver to contracted route
• Departures: Lori Hetisimer, high school cafeteria; Sally Deatline, bus driver and special ed assistant at Rose Hamilton; Jason Burdette, seventh grade boys basketball coach