Centerville-Abington Community Schools board members learned about new graduation pathways through a medical training school and administrators’ criteria for weather-related delays or cancellations.
Graduation pathways
The board approved a memorandum of understanding with KLR Medical Certification Training School to help CACS meet Indiana’s new diploma requirements.
Superintendent Mike McCoy and Director of Student Learning Tammy Chavis had met with KLR and state officials to discuss filling the gaps for the new diplomas.
KLR will teach online courses on vet sciences, dental careers, pharmacy technicians, certified clinical medical assistants and principles of health care starting in August for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years.
The cost to the school will depend on how many students enroll. The first year for most classes will cost $2,625, $3,150 or $3,675, and the second year is $3,150, $3,675 or $4,200. Prices will increase by 5% each year. The healthcare principles class is $18,900 (180 hours of instruction) for up to 30 students.
Board members and administrators discussed program parameters, costs and ways to fund the program. It will add multiple pathways and help students secure hours at local businesses.
The vote was 4-0; Renee Westover was absent.
Weather
McCoy, who has received complaints from parents concerned about school not being delayed or closed during inclement weather, shared details about making those decisions. Board President Todd Duke asked McCoy to share the document.
McCoy said he hasn’t put students in danger of frostbite, showing information from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that he uses to determine dangerous wind chills.
He and other local superintendents will meet to try to find more conformity in making decisions across the county.
However, the day Centerville didn’t delay while other schools delayed or closed had nothing to do with temperature. Their delays were for reasons that didn’t affect CACS, such as buses not starting, bad roads in Henry County, or blocked sidewalks.
He said he and other administrators wouldn’t intentionally put students at risk.
It’s been mentioned that some students come to school without coats, but each building has various resources to provide clothing. McCoy also considers that for some students, school is the only place for a warm meal.
McCoy and Assistant Superintendent Sean Stevenson get up at 4:30 a.m. to drive roads across the entire school district and follow the longest bus routes as they consider road conditions before making decisions that will affect families and staff.
Parents can decide to keep their children home because of weather, but need to inform school officials. Students will be counted absent and can make up work like those with excused absences.
Personnel
The board celebrated Tyna Stover, who is retiring as corporation treasurer after 24 years of service. She worked for three superintendents.
- Hire: David Hutchens, CAE day custodian
- Departure: Michael Williams, CSHS night custodian
- Rehire: Kimberly Heigle, seventh through 12th grade substitute teacher
- Pending hires: Amanda McDaniel, kindergarten through sixth grade substitute teacher; Kailee Pierson, substitute (RH & CAE)
In other business
- CACS is down seven students from the last count date, and down 62 for the entire school year.
- Asbestos removal has begun in the annex, but it is going slow because of cold weather.
- A couple of Rose Hamilton Elementary’s pipes froze, but they were thawed, and no issues resulted.
- Member Brad Lambright, who monitors state legislation, said Gov. Mike Braun is promoting a 2 percent increase in education funding. Lambright is attending Indiana School Boards Association’s Statehouse Day.
A version of this article appeared in the January 29 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.