Centerville dives into school data

Centerville-Abington Community Schools principals and administrators presented their 2026-2029 goals at the school board’s Oct. 7 meeting.

Along with improvement plans and comprehensive needs for each of the four buildings, educators gave updates on goals from the previous year.

The district’s current and future goals are focused on improving math and reading/comprehension skills in grades K-12, developing responsible citizens and lifelong learners, and offering safe and secure schools, buses and facilities.

Each school’s specific goals vary. Those related to academic achievement are based on previous data benchmarks from state-required standardized testing.

Some of the state’s requirements change over time, and educators pivot to help their students meet new challenges. Indiana began relying on SAT assessment scores for high school students; Centerville no longer uses NWEA testing.

For instance, one goal is for 60% of CACS juniors to meet or exceed the SAT benchmark for reading comprehension and writing skills on next spring’s assessment.

In addition to increased academic achievement, principals also said they want to see fewer out-of-school suspensions and discipline incidents. They also set goals to increase attendance rates compared to the previous year.

Principals described several character education programs and incentives, social-emotional curriculum to encourage positive behavior, and support they receive from community mental health providers. They prefer to prevent disciplinary issues. However, some mentioned occasional needs for suspensions to maintain a good learning environment for the other students and educators.

Board members thanked principals, teachers and staff for their work toward the district’s continued increases in test scores.

In other business

No one spoke during a public hearing for the tentative agreement on the 2026-2027 teacher contract. The board plans to vote on it at its 7 p.m. Oct. 21 meeting at 115 W. South St., Centerville. The public is invited.

The board approved 2027 capital projects and school bus replacement plans and budgets for education, debt service, rainy day and operations funds, and related forms. Indiana General Assembly’s recent property tax changes are especially hitting schools’ operations budgets at the same time that costs for buses and other equipment are greatly increasing. While CACS’ fleet is in good condition compared to some districts, it’s using older buses to cover expanded routes and will still need to purchase one or two. The board is waiting to see the full impacts of the property tax changes, while also preparing for potential decreases in funding through Indiana’s local income taxes in 2029.

CACS invited food management companies to attend a prebid meeting to tour facilities and ask questions about the opportunity to run CACS’ meal program. The board recently agreed to explore outside vendors because the current in-house food service program is facing significant deficits despite efforts to trim expenses and increase revenue. Two companies attended and others have indicated interest in applying as well. Proposals will be opened Oct. 21, and administrators will present recommendations to the board that evening. Assistant Superintendent Sean Stevenson said he’s answering food service employees’ questions as best he can. Also at the meeting, CACS’ board approved food service director Tami Scalzo’s resignation, effective Oct. 23.

Approved donations: Golden Engineering, $1,000, CSHS Drama Club; Class of 2027 After Prom Committee, $1,589.75 to the Class of 2027

Personnel

Departures: Ashley Hamilton, Centerville-Abington Elementary special education aide; James “Richie” Fralick, junior high tennis coach

Hire: Cierra Bennett, substitute nurse

Pending hires: Krystal Maiden, substitute teacher (Rose Hamilton, CAE, CJHS); Crystal Breen, RH special education aide; Malia Mayberry, senior high evening custodian; Elliatt “Ellie” Weber, RH/CAE substitute teacher; Ciarra Adams, RH media/computer lab teaching assistant