Centerville-Abington schools cut 3 jobs

“A perfect storm” of factors led Centerville-Abington Community Schools officials to eliminate three teacher/instructor positions, including one held by its superintendent’s son.

According to Superintendent Mike McCoy, more school jobs might have been cut if other employees hadn’t departed.

School board members approved the reduction in force along with other resignations, transfers and personnel updates during the June 4 board meeting. The vote was 4-0; Todd Duke was absent.

Although there were several reasons for the trim, McCoy said Indiana’s new diploma requirements and a related need to modify junior high programming are affecting next year’s offerings.

“It was a perfect storm in regards to impacting our decisions,” McCoy said.

The three positions cut belong to Eli McCoy, Centerville Senior High School social studies teacher; Jacquelynn Steele, CSHS Spanish teacher; and Shannon Nevels, whose title was lift instructor for an elementary remedial program.

CACS was able to absorb Nevels’ lift position with others and turned three positions into two, McCoy said. Nevels is also known for her work with CACS’ theater productions, but Drama Club is not affected “at all” by the cuts, McCoy said.

Centerville isn’t alone in adapting its course offerings to meet new state requirements and trimming expenses while bracing for imminent and future financial challenges.

Junior highs and high schools are re-evaluating course priorities to meet Indiana’s new diploma requirements.

One change is that students can choose to take fewer social studies and foreign language courses.

McCoy confirmed Spanish and French will still be offered.

He said the perfect storm also applied to his oldest son, Eli, because social studies became more of an elective versus a required class.

McCoy called the decision to cut Eli’s job probably one of the toughest decisions he’s had to make, and it hit him even more when the board voted on the cuts.

Eli, who carries both an English and history license, was finishing his second year of working at CSHS.

“He is a great person and will find his way,” McCoy said. “[It’s] just tough when your life is taking care of them, and then it becomes my job to do what is best for the corporation and its needs.” 

Beyond the known graduation requirement changes, school officials are learning how Indiana’s new property tax changes, signed into law this spring, will affect them.

And, schools’ overall student enrollments affect finances. Although 2025-26 registration isn’t yet complete, Centerville began bracing last fall for potential budget challenges. Each district’s head count determines state funding, and CACS’ numbers had declined.

Shortly before the state-required October 2024 count date, McCoy cautioned the board that it had about 50 fewer students than the previous spring.

At that time, CACS officials attributed the decline to several causes, such as low kindergarten numbers and an increase in homeschool attendance and online education. In addition, more people who don’t send students to public schools are buying Centerville properties, they said. 

Centerville isn’t the first local district to recently focus on reducing staffing. In March, Northeastern Superintendent Matthew Hicks said it’s in the district’s best interest not to fill some positions as they come open, such as replacing a second band teacher or a departing agriculture teacher. He said those funds might be used for raises to stay competitive.

The other personnel matters approved were:

• Departures: Kailey Abner, first-grade teacher; Darren Ridenour, CSHS permanent substitute teacher; Sheri Lucas, summer CARES instructor; Courtney Guess, Centerville-Abington Elementary Star Volunteer (AOK Club).
• Rehire: Shelley Erbse, Rose Hamilton substitute secretary
• Transfer: Myra Robinson (substitute teacher to CSHS family and consumer science teacher; Margaret Burkhart (kindergarten teacher to half-day preschool and half-day art teacher), Courtney Burgoon (kindergarten to second grade teacher); Sierra Tudor (second grade teacher to kindergarten); Victoria McFarland (preschool teacher to substitute); Nic Battista, CAE cafe cashier to RH cafe aide)
• Volunteer: Chelsie Nickell, volunteer CSHS cheer coach

Attendance updates

Board members are now considering additional 2025-26 CSHS student handbook changes.

CSHS Principal Brian Bellew said the updates are prompted by two new law changes regarding attendance and discipline involving attendance.

SEA 482 and Indiana Code 20-24-5-4.5 say schools can’t suspend or expel students solely based on absenteeism or habitual truancy.

If approved, CACS would assign long detentions for each unexcused absence after the fifth. Students will receive two long detentions for their first case of truancy.

Students with nine absences, in any combination of excused and unexcused, may be denied earning credit for the course. They would continue in the class for no credit.

Another change would exempt absences up to six days for national or state FFA or 4-H club activities if administrators approve them in advance. Participation must be for educational purposes and proposed in writing.

Board member Renee Westover asked how the school would monitor or know if the student is attending a 4-H sponsored event. McCoy said they’ll look into what types of documentation could be required.

Administrators for CACS’ other buildings are working on handbook updates relating to these law changes as well.

A vote will take place at the next board meeting, which is 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 18, in the administration building, 115 W. South St., Centerville.

In other business

• Bellew presented curriculum materials for the board’s consideration. Members had reviewed the proposal at their last meeting. They approved it.
• An unused CSHS classroom has been modified to house computer science courses for next year. Several classrooms are being moved around at Rose Hamilton Elementary.
• The East Gym flooring project will begin June 30. McCoy shared design ideas for the floor with board members and requested input.
• The board approved a $100 donation for CSHS’ Drama Club from Michael Henry and Ann Howard.
• An auction is planned for early July.