While hoping for additional students this fall, Centerville-Abington Community Schools is preparing for tight budgets.
While reviewing 2027 budget drafts with board members at their July 29 meeting, Superintendent Mike McCoy said leaders have worked hard to cut upcoming expenses after losing about 120 students over the past two years. CACS’ education fund is down about $1.5 million, said Michele Robinson, district treasurer.
CACS also braces for Indiana Senate Bill 1’s cuts for operations such as buildings, transportation and other nonclassroom costs. Robinson said operations cuts (now proposed between $5,000 to $10,000) are hard because “it takes what it takes to run buildings.”
Schools have multiple budgets to juggle, including rainy day, debt service, operation and education funds, capital projects and bus replacement plans, and state tuition worksheets.
McCoy said some of the education budget’s impact was absorbed last year by changing teaching positions. That happened again for 2026-27. They were fortunate that most of the cuts didn’t result in reducing positions, he said. A few teachers have changed roles or buildings, and some positions were vacated by staff leaving for various reasons.
He’s optimistic they will gain new students and won’t lose another 60 before Indiana’s Oct. 1 count day that determines per-pupil funding.
McCoy said the budget plans for 30 fewer students, preparing for the worst. If CACS’ enrollment projection is too low, state funding catches up after the spring count date.
Robinson anticipates 2029, when $345,000 annual payments for a $5 million technology debt in 2005 end.
Lunch prices
To reduce cafeteria deficits, the board reluctantly approved 25-cent lunch increases for all buildings. Rose Hamilton and Centerville-Abington Elementary lunches are now $2.90; Centerville Junior and Senior High School lunches are $3.05.
Lunch prices increased 10 cents in 2025-26 after three years of no increases.
CACS previously had cafeteria surpluses before an approximately $80,000 deficit in the past six months, attributed to rising costs, CACS’ lesser buying power than larger districts, and fewer students buying meals.
Assistant Superintendent Sean Stevenson acknowledged increases can be a hardship for some families; they’re encouraged to apply for reduced price or free meals.
All votes that evening were 4-0; Todd Duke was absent.
Personnel
- Departures: Lisa Mullen, color guard coach; Alexi Weddle, preschool aide; Rachael Mitchell, RH dishwasher; Julie Williams, RH special education aide; Tamara Estes, sixth grade special education teacher
- New hires: Patricia Cushing, RH dishwasher; Mindy Furst and Lisa Moore, CSHS cafeteria cashiers
- Pending hires: Andrew Galt, CJHS/CSHS band director; Chloe Spicer, RH special education aide; Olivia West and Jeremy West, CJHS/CSHS substitute teachers; Maddox Prichett and Justin McClure, CJHS assistant football coaches; April Gannon, bus aide; Kristy Hayes, CAE cafeteria server
- Transfers: Brittany Kimmell, CAE cafeteria cashier to assistant head cook; Graci Plyley, CSHS cafeteria cashier to cafeteria sub
- Rehire: Alexa Williams, interim kindergarten teacher
Board approvals
- Communities in Schools will again provide site coordinators at both elementaries, close to last year’s cost
- Reappointing Connie Gareiss to Centerville Public Library’s board
- Anonymous $1,000 donation to CSHS’s boys tennis
- Girls Inc.’s curriculum and free instruction for CAE and CJHS
What’s next
The board meets at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5, at 115 W. South St. The public is invited.
A version of this article appeared in the August 5 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.
