Even though new state accountability rules won’t count against Indiana schools next year, Centerville-Abington Community Schools is making changes for next fall, preparing as if those scores count.
Board members also approved a surprising change to a school calendar, discussed the upcoming cell phone ban and shared concerns about a new local program that they say drains funds from Wayne County.
Accountability scores
Superintendent Mike McCoy will explain how Indiana’s accountability rules will impact CACS in more depth at its next board meeting, 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 27, in the administration building, 115 W. South St. The public is invited.
Schools will be graded A-F, based on each students’ points. Schools earn credit based on academic proficiency and success indicators such as attendance. Students earn a point for missing fewer than 10 days of school.
Excused absences now will be included in those calculations, so achieving a 94% attendance rate is even more important. CACS is creating a consistent attendance policy across the district. Families will begin receiving monthly attendance report cards with earlier alerts. After seven absences, parents will be summoned for meetings and students will be placed on attendance contracts.
Cell phones
Changes are being made to student handbooks with Indiana’s new law requiring a ban on electronic devices for youth in all buildings. They can bring phones on campus, but they must be turned off and stored in lockers (grades five-12) and in backpacks (pre-K through grade four) between 8 a.m.-3 p.m. except in permitted circumstances.
McCoy said some Indiana schools worry the ban could prompt families to leave public schools, prompting another financial hit.
Competing school
Board members noted advertisements for Indiana University East’s new high school. McCoy said Wayne County’s public school superintendents were purposely left out of discussions about that school as it was being formed, and none of the students’ tuition dollars will go to Wayne County schools. He said Eastern Hancock will benefit financially, and that the program is not expected to be a moneymaker for IU East.
McCoy said CACS had worked hard with IU East to develop programs, and the new microschool felt like a “slap in the face” to the county’s public schools when organizers knew the impact that property tax reforms already had on limiting funds available for Wayne County schools.
Calendar
The board changed the already-approved 2026-27 school calendar, adding three snow makeup days and moving the teacher work day accidentally scheduled on Jan. 1 to Jan. 4.
Significant differences are planned in 2027-28 so CACS can match Whitewater Career Center’s calendar. Fall break is much earlier (Oct. 11-15) at the end of the first nine weeks. CACS also has only two built-in snow days.
Finances
In noting the upcoming impact of property tax reform, the board approved a resolution for a one-time allocation of supplemental homestead credit effects. CACS can move funds proportionately from rainy day or debt service funds to replace operations fund losses.
In other business
- Art teacher Chris Evrard celebrated competitors in Richmond Art Museum’s countywide high school exhibition. Those attending were Eva Hawk, who had all five art pieces she submitted accepted and won first place overall and the traveling trophy, third-place winner Hannah Beaman and participant Leona Robinson-Beckett.
- The board reviewed proposed curriculum, academic handbook and fee changes for all buildings, including a music curriculum change at Centerville-Abington Elementary. The board might vote on the changes May 27.
- After reviewing the first semester of operating CACS’ latchkey program, Richmond Family YMCA will continue the partnership in 2026-27.
- CACS will launch a new promotional video on its website featuring students.
- Donations: Belden, $1,000 to Drama Club; Wayne County Foundation, $5,000 for early childhood literacy; Realize the Dream Community Service Grant, $250 to CSHS Leo Club; CIT and Blue Buffalo, each $250 to Business Professionals of America.
Personnel
- Departures: Mark Olive, permanent sub; Ginny Bailey and Joyce Higgs, cafeteria staff; James Loxley, custodian
- Pending hire: Eric Burkhart, eighth grade volleyball coach; Karrie Day, CJHS cheer coach
- Hires: Ben Smoker, groundskeeper. Summer school: Shelley Newman and Angela Tanksley, English credit recovery; Jacob Stewart and Meagan Santner, algebra; Melanie Jones, Plato credit recovery. Summer band: Christopher Glover, Emily Arndt, Kurtis Stuckey, Tristan Migoski, Lisa Mullen and Ashlyn Bullock
- Transfer: Mary “Kay” Adams, from CAE cafeteria staff to sub at CAE/RH
A version of this article appeared in the May 20 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.
