Centerville schools focus on 3 goals

Centerville-Abington Community Schools has begun setting district goals as it prepares for its accreditation visit that’s three years away.

At its Dec. 11 meeting, board members heard from Superintendent Mike McCoy, Assistant Superintendent Sean Stevenson and principals about district goals.

Those goals focus on improving student learning and achievement, especially on reading and math; creating responsible citizens; and offering safe, secure and healthy environments.

Board members and administrators noted that CACS students’ testing data looks different compared to numbers from 10-15 years ago, and student needs are higher.

Centerville-Abington Elementary Principal Kelly VanWinkle said test data presented is more realistic than previous averages, which included high and low outliers. She said this information is more valuable for teachers and administrators as they determine how they can best help all students.

CACS is now giving four benchmark tests per year to analyze student learning.

In addition, behavior incidents referred to school offices are tracked as part of citizenship.

Out-of-school suspensions decreased at two buildings and increased at one between 2022-2023 and 2023-2024. Junior high decreased from 91 to 59. High school decreased from 52 to 43. However, Centerville Elementary rose from 27 to 65.

Diploma changes

In addition, CACS will focus on meeting Indiana’s new graduation pathways starting with the Class of 2029. Indiana State board of Education voted that day to change diploma requirements to blur the lines between K-12 education, higher education and the workforce.

The new rule can be found at in.gov/sboe/files/12.11.24-SBOE-Diploma-Progress-Update.pdf

Director of Student Achievement Tammy Chavis, Centerville Senior High School Principal Brian Bellew and McCoy will work with teachers to determine what changes will need to be made. They’ll plan to share more information with the board at its 7 p.m. Jan. 8 meeting at 115 W. South St., Centerville.

Member Todd Dooley attended a recent corporation improvement meeting attended by staff and parents. He said everyone expressed concern about upcoming diploma changes.

In other business

Parent Veronica Maghielse asked the board to consider making rules for unexcused/excused absences less strict, especially for junior high students. Because they’re too young to ditch school, missing is most likely a parent’s fault, she said. Indiana’s new stricter rules also mean more work for schools in tracking down families, she said.

Maghielse said CACS is much stricter than about 10 other area districts whose handbooks she examined.

In addition to allowing few reasons for excused absences, students with unexcused absences can earn a maximum of 60% on makeup work, which isn’t supportive when they’re trying to catch up, she noted.  Her comments were taken under advisement.

• The board voted to buy two full-size Thomas buses for $153,829 each. When those arrive and replace others, all buses on routes will be less than 10 years old.
• The board agreed to revise a memorandum of understanding with Indiana University East to start its teacher education program in January. Fourteen students attended an information session.

Employment

• Hires: Madison Dishmond, girls wrestling assistant coach; Cody Ladd, eighth grade girls basketball coach; Robbie Stainbrook, Rose Hamilton substitute teacher; Michael Williams, CSHS night custodian

• Pending hires: Gabrielle Duke, substitute teacher; Hailey Houghton, Rose Hamilton special education aide; Travis Isaacs, seventh grade girls basketball coach

• Departure: Liz Pruitt, CARES assistant

• Transfer: Sean Robinson, special ed teaching assistant (elementary to junior high)

• Non-certified raises were approved.