YMCA will run Centerville schools’ child care

Richmond Family YMCA will take over Centerville-Abington Community Schools’ child care program in 2026.

During its Nov. 12 meeting, CACS’ board approved a memorandum of understanding noting the Y would take over Centerville’s CARES program when the second semester begins Jan. 5.

Assistant Superintendent Sean Stevenson said a decision needed to be made regarding CARES because of future budget concerns. He also said Centerville is Wayne County’s only school currently not using a partnership to run its after-school care.

YMCA will continue serving kindergarten through sixth grade. Its staff offer a structured environment, helping students complete homework with tutoring if needed. Those opportunities are followed by interactive gym, tabletop and art activities.

CACS officials recommended partnering with YMCA because it was willing to continue before-school care as well.

Stevenson said YMCA would take over administrative duties and communication with families. Current CARES employees can apply for the same or similar positions with better pay. Families participating five days per week will see savings. While the Y doesn’t accept state child care vouchers, it offers about $30,000 in scholarship assistance.

The program will remain in CACS’ current facilities.

However, morning care will change. Care will start at 6:30 a.m. instead of 6 a.m. Staff will condense to one location, to be determined. CARES currently has five to eight children at Centerville-Abington Elementary and a few more at Rose Hamilton before school.

The Y currently serves nearly 300 kids through after-school care at Fountain City, Richmond and Liberty and day care in Cambridge City and Richmond.

Board approvals on Nov. 12 and 19

• Roof repairs: Bids will be sought for roof repairs in the middle of Centerville-Abington Elementary. They have been on the capital projects for many years and were last repaired in 2005. Richmond-based architectural firm LWC recommends a thermal scan and taking core samples to get the most accurate analysis. Repairs will last 20-30 years. Work will be paid with funds remaining from the 2024 General Obligation bond.
• Employee pay: Noncertified staff will receive a 2% salary increase. The operations fund can currently sustain the increase, but CACS officials said they will monitor it closely to keep the budget as healthy as possible.
• Gym floor: The board approved the lowest of three quotes ($52,741.55) from Four Star Floor Care to sand and refinish the high school’s West Gym. That company also refinished the East Gym this past summer. The West Gym was last refinished in 2015 with latex, but later oil finishes left the floor discolored.
• Policies: After a second reading, policies on medical needs, controlled substance/alcohol testing, internal controls, purchasing procedures/capital assets, use of credit cards, unpaid meals, fundraising/crowdfunding, travel expenses, debt management, cash balance/liquidity and criminal organization activity were approved.
• Loan: A $162,000 Common School Loan will be used for transitioning laptops from Windows to Chromebooks, replacing failing digital white boards and installing new switches at Centerville Junior High.

Personnel

• Departures: MacKenzie Blaase, junior high math academic coach; Austin VanDevender, SADD sponsor; Aubrey Wood, Rose Hamilton teaching assistant
• Hires: Brad Whited, junior high swim coach; Ron Pennington, JH/HS substitute teacher; Sierra Smith, elementary substitute nurse and substitute teacher; Beau Bryant, Wellness Center sub
• Pending hires: Christopher Kemp, HS/JH substitute teacher; Shannon Davis, CSHS cafeteria dishwasher; Destinee Guess, CJHS Bulldog Connection Lab; Jordan Cox, Rose Hamilton preschool teaching assistant
• Volunteers: CJHS wrestling, Jason Glover and Bryce Robertson. Basketball: Tyler Roehler, seventh grade; assistant coaches Ben Smoker, sixth grade girls; Seth Biava, sixth grade boys; AJ Alexander, fifth grade boys