CACS’ flood makeup plans change

Centerville-Abington Community Schools will be able to make up the instructional days missed because of August flooding during regular school hours this fall.

Superintendent Mike McCoy said Indiana Department of Education initially denied all schools’ waiver requests. However, he met with DOE officials and they discussed possible ways to get the three snow makeup days back for the second semester if needed.

Each of CACS’ buildings already attend school for additional minutes beyond what Indiana requires for an educational day. DOE told McCoy the schools can bank those minutes if they are used to accelerate learning and they can be used to make up the time lost during the three canceled August days.

Each CACS school has developed a plan on how to use those minutes. Administrators and teachers were part of this solution, McCoy said.

Any other days missed during the first semester will be synchronous learning. The first three days missed during second semester would use those snow makeup days and any days after would be synchronous learning.

Board President Todd Duke said he wasn’t a fan of the change because he believes students will be shortchanged, but McCoy said the flooding wasn’t expected and this plan doesn’t set a precedent. No board vote was required.

CACS families were to receive a letter and updated calendar on Friday, Sept. 25.

In other business

• No one spoke during public hearings for CACS’ 2027 budget (education, debt service, rainy day and operations funds), tax rates, Form 4 appropriations, and capital projects and bus replacement plans. Despite school funding challenges noted during previous board meetings, residents’ tax rates will be comparable to recent years. McCoy said the board has consistently prioritized keeping rates as low as possible for taxpayers.
• The board expects to approve the budget-related matters at its next meeting. That meeting is a week earlier than usual because of fall break. It will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7, at the administration building, 115 W. South St., Centerville. The public is invited.
• The board approved a state Common School Loan application for $158,700 for student Chromebooks and related expenses. All board votes were 4-0; Renee Westover was absent.
• Donations: Elizabeth Butler, $1,000 for cheerleading. Sunshine and Kyle Wright ($200), anonymous ($100), JD Mechanical ($250), and Trident Restoration ($500), Centerville Senior High School Drama Club.
• Seventy students from five area schools participated in the 53rd Eastern Indiana Model Legislature, which concluded that day at the Indiana statehouse in Indianapolis.

Personnel

Hire: Nick Maghielse, senior high cross country assistant coach

Rehire: Aaron Desena, auditorium tech

Pending hires: Jason Glover, junior high wrestling coach; Ashley Leslie, substitute nurse