Centerville principals share improvement plans

While they note several successes in 2024-25, principals for each Centerville-Abington Community Schools also see areas for growth.

Principals presented school improvement plans to the school board and administrators during the board’s Sept. 10 meeting. Some highlights:

Centerville Senior High School

All grades had 80% or more of students at grade level for math during the spring NWEA assessment, but they were slightly below that percentage for reading comprehension. Brian Bellew said they’re confident scores will improve with a continued focus on reading strategies and individualized remediation.

Last year, CSHS didn’t make its goal to decrease disciplinary incidents because the number grew slightly, but it was consistent with previous years. Bellew also expressed confidence that with student interventions currently in place, CSHS will continue to be a safe and secure environment.

Centerville Junior High

Jason Talbot noted setting goals of 70% of students (year 1), 72% (year 2), 74% (year 3) scoring at or above the norm grade level in math NWEA tests. Those percentages increase to 75% (year 1), 78% (year 2) and 80% (year 3) for reading comprehension.

However, for discipline, the goal is to decrease incidents by 15% (year 1) and an additional 5% each in the second and third years. 

Centerville-Abington Elementary

Kelly VanWinkle was pleased that more than 80% of students exceeded their grade level or individual growth goals in reading (84.3%) and math (88.2%) on NWEA.

The school also surpassed its reading comprehension goal of 85% by reaching 90%.

Grades 3, 5, and 6 were all above the state average on ILEARN language arts.

Although fourth grade wasn’t above the state average on ILEARN language arts, students made significant gains. As third graders, the cohort was 26.5% proficient, and that increased to 37.4% as fourth graders.

Rose Hamilton Elementary

Diana Hill noted several successes in reading. ​

Kindergarten and first and second grades all hit the target of 70% of all students meeting the norm on NWEA spring testing. Grade levels show​ed 19-29% growth.

K-1 students also exceeded the 70% target for proficiency in NWEA reading foundations. (K 74%, first 71%).

All three grade levels exceeded end-of-year STAR Early Literacy (K) or STAR (1-2) levels.

Fifty-one percent of ​second graders passed the IREAD-3 state assessment, with another 22% on target to pass as third graders this year. That’s an increase from 2023-2024, when 39% of second graders passed.

In other business

• Earlier that day, CACS conducted a public hearing for negotiations with Centerville Education Association. No one from the public attended to speak.
• Floor work is done in CSHS’ east gym; new LED light installation awaits.
• Member Todd Dooley noted his participation in a fundraising bike ride for Communities in Schools.
• The board approved donations for CSHS Drama Club from Trident Restoration, $500; Jones Ventures DBA Cabinet Factories Outlet and Dickenson Construction, $200 each; anonymous, $1,500.

Personnel

• Pending hires: Katilyn Poe, teaching assistant; Kennedy See, preschool teaching assistant, both at Rose Hamilton
• Hires: Taylor Desena, National Honor Society sponsor; Linda Cottongim, part-time CARES aide
• Transfers: Ashley Thompson, from cafe sub to cafe server; Denise Scalzo, cafe server to cafe sub, both at CSHS; Spencer Hisle, from substitute teacher to permanent sub at CJHS/CSHS
• Departures: Lisa Moore, RH teaching assistant; Nicholl Hemmerling, assistant CJHS swim coach