During their July 23 meeting, the Centerville-Abington Schools board of trustees welcomed some new faces, wished farewell to a longtime educator, and wrestled with the future of the school system’s budget and testing scores.
Debbie Cox’s retirement
Rose Hamilton preschool teacher Deborah Cox is retiring from CACS after 35 years with the district. RH principal Diana Hill said that Cox had been instrumental in the success and growth of the preschool program at the school and brought a passion for teaching to her work.
Hill remarked on the important impact Cox has had on the community’s 3- and 5-year-olds beginning at the school, a formative phase of life, as children may be leaving home for the first time.
The board passed a resolution honoring Cox for her service to CACS.
In accepting the honor, Cox said that while she was retiring reluctantly, she has loved teaching preschool at “the school I love, in the town that I love.” She said she is most proud of the students and what they’ve learned, and she encouraged the board to continue supporting preschool and the long-lasting difference it can make in a child’s life.
“We want them to love school. If they love school, they’ll love learning,” Cox said. “Always keep your minds and hearts looking at preschool as a valuable part of the school system.”
New personnel
The board welcomed two new school resource officers for the 2025-26 school year. Centerville Police Department sergeant Andrew Jordan introduced Dustin Cushing and Garrick Sweet, noting that Cushing will join the junior/high school and Sweet will be with Rose Hamilton.
Myra Robinson was introduced as the new family and consumer science teacher at Centerville Senior High School. Robinson is a 2022 Earlham College graduate who recently obtained her master’s degree in secondary education and teaching from Indiana University East.
Chris Bundy is the new assistant principal at the high school, Chris Glover is the new band director at the junior high and high school, and Jason Talbot is the new junior high principal. Krystal Mathews was also introduced as a new second grade teacher at Rose Hamilton.
Policy approvals
The board went through a long list of updated school system policies that were on second reading, following earlier discussion and refinement. They touched on everything from non-discrimination and harassment to suicide prevention and awareness, release time credit for religious education to purchasing procedures.
Some of the policy updates were required after state law changed, such as one around parental rights in directing their student’s educational experience. The board unanimously approved all of the policy changes.
Budget planning
The board got its first look at a draft of the district’s budget for 2026-27. McCoy praised the work of CACS corporate treasurer Michelle Robinson in putting it together, especially with the shifting financial and policy requirements coming out of the state legislature and federal government. “The uncertainty is starting to wear on people,” McCoy said.
Despite still waiting for assessed property valuations and final enrollment numbers, McCoy said he thinks they’ve been able to make the budget work. Revenue decreases from a slight enrollment drop last year should be somewhat balanced out by a slight increase this year. McCoy said the kindergarten and first grade classes in particular are growing more than expected.
A final proposed budget will be brought to the board for approval later in the year.
In other business
The board discussed the district’s ILEARN scores. McCoy praised the teachers who had already jumped in to break down the implications of the state test results and how they might address them in the upcoming school year. The results were “not where I want to be,” McCoy said, but noted “we’ll continue to work on being tops in everything like we like to be.”
The board approved an updated agreement with Communities in Schools for the upcoming year. There will be two CIS representatives in the elementary school, which is not as many as superintendent Mike McCoy would like, noting that some other school systems won’t have any. McCoy said he still believes in the program and will keep fighting for its presence in CACS.
The board approved an increase in school lunch prices by 10 cents, bringing the elementary school lunch price to $2.65 and the junior high and high school lunch prices to $2.80. Board members noted that some other schools in the region had prices upward of $3/meal.
The board is tentatively scheduled to meet next on Wednesday, Aug. 6, at 7 p.m. in the Spencer Administration Building, 115 W. South St., Centerville. The public may attend.
A version of this article appeared in the July 30 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.