Centerville-Abington Community Schools is leaving behind its much-touted Cognia accreditation to save $35,000 per year in related expenses.
The board voted 5-0 in favor of the change at its June 24 board meeting, but not before some members acknowledged ambivalence.
Board president Todd Duke said the accreditation, first awarded by Cognia in 2007, has served as a “badge of honor” for the district, verifying for the community that Centerville schools are achieving what administrators say they are achieving.
Duke said that while he had initially felt anxious about dropping it, after conversations with others in the district and elsewhere since the June 10 board meeting, he was ready.
Superintendent Mike McCoy agreed that the recognition had provided significant value and accountability in the past, but said Cognia’s process had changed in recent years. He said the work of documenting accomplishments had shifted much more to Centerville officials, who will continue providing those reports and analysis to meet state requirements and the district’s internal goals.
Board members agreed that the district should be holding itself accountable at the highest levels, while paying the fees for an external review would become harder to justify as funding cuts continue.
Later in the meeting, McCoy said that despite a recent media report about Indiana’s poor support for public education compared nationwide, he is proud to be an educator in Indiana public schools and Centerville specifically. He cited other reports that have Indiana public schools beating out Hoosier charter and private schools in areas like graduation rate, chronic absenteeism, student/administrator ratios, as well as better reading performance compared to surrounding states.
Morton and Main
The board revisited the safety of students crossing at the intersection at U.S. 40 and Morton Avenue. Assistant Superintendent Sean Stevenson said that the town of Centerville had offered to split the estimated $40 per hour costs of having a crossing guard at the location from 7:15 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. on school days.
Between improvements already in progress at the intersection and an interest in better measuring the actual need based on student population and traffic levels, the board decided to defer any changes and continue monitoring the situation for now.
Other business
The board approved unchanged administrative contracts for the coming school year, noting that further changes might be made when the budget is finalized based on student count. Members heard updates on facilities improvements, including new coating on gym floors. They voted to renew a technology services contract with Doug Ford with FCS Data Services. The board thanked Hills Pet Nutrition for a $700 donation to support the Business Professionals of America at the high school.
Personnel
- Transfer: Norma Barth, from administrative custodian to cafeteria dishwasher at the Junior/Senior High School.
- Pending Hires: Debra Dodge, daytime custodian, and Veronica Maghielse, cross country coach, both at the Junior/Senior High School.
The board’s next meeting is Wednesday, July 15, at 7 p.m. in the administration building, 115 W. South St., Centerville. The public may attend.
A version of this article will appear in the July 8 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.
