Centerville schools: Y-Care transition positive

Richmond Family YMCA’s January takeover of Centerville-Abington Community Schools’ latchkey program has gone smoothly, school officials say.

CACS previously ran its own morning and afternoon program called CARES. Those employees could apply to work for Y-Care, which now supervises kids in Centerville elementaries.

All of Centerville’s current Y-Care staff are former CARES employees or were already working in CACS.

Assistant Superintendent Sean Stevenson said kids enjoy the Y’s games and activities.

Stevenson thanked the Y’s Ryan George for being on site the first week to assist staff and families.

Board reorganization

CACS Corporation Treasurer Michele Robinson swore in Todd Duke for another term on the board. The board also reelected Duke as president, Brad Lambright as vice president and Renee Westover as secretary of the school board. They’ll hold the same roles on the district’s board of finance.

Lambright will continue as legislative liaison. Robinson will continue as treasurer and Debbie Blevins as deputy treasurer.

The board unanimously voted to keep its compensation at 2025 levels. Members receive $2,000 per year plus $100/regular meeting and $62/special meeting.

In other business

• The board renewed CACS’ insurance through Turner & Shepherd Insurance in Centerville for $309,723, up from $302,029 in 2025. CACS’ payroll increased during that time, which also affected rates. Kyle Turner worked with a policy writer to save $24,000 from the first bid obtained. Superintendent Mike McCoy said improved safety performance also helped with workers compensation rates.
• Centerville’s softball team has raised money for facilities improvements. The board approved a $6,000 quote from J. Anderson Concrete to move softball’s batting cage to a concrete pad to the south of the diamond and add concrete pads underneath bleachers. That opens up seating along the fence.
• Approved donations: Jean Hellyer and J. Edsel Reeves Memorial Trust, $1,500 for Centerville’s new wrestling room and $1,500 to Centerville High School bowling team; Centerville Lions Club, $200 to Centerville Senior High School Choir; Sean Stevenson, $150 to CSHS Drama Club.
• CACS’ board of finance will meet at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28, before the regular school board meeting at 7 p.m. The board will conduct a public hearing on McCoy’s contract during its 7 p.m. Feb. 11 meeting.

All meetings are in Spencer Administration Building, 115 W. South St., Centerville. The public is invited.

Personnel

• New hires: Yvonne Berry, full-time bus driver; Wendy Porter, morning bus aide; Arianna Deeb, preschool bus aide
• Pending hires: Michael Holman, bus driver; Ben Smoker, bus driver trainee; Alexa Williams, CAE special ed aide
• Departures: Special ed aides Victoria Jones and Tabitha Thomas (CAE) and Clara Wampler (Rose Hamilton Elementary); Sheri Lucas, Rachael Mitchell, Luanne Moore and Pam Pruitt (discontinuation of CARES program)
• Transfers: Destinee Guess from junior high Bulldog Connection Lab to RH teaching assistant and Mikayla Miller from substitute teacher to Bulldog Connection Lab and junior high play director/Drama Club sponsor; Yvonne Berry from full-time to part-time CAE custodian; Chelsey Downing, from part-time to full-time CAE custodian
• Rehire: Barbara Gray, substitute teacher
• Volunteer: Billy Henry, wellness center; Veronica Maghielse, CJHS swim coach