Central A&M schools are preparing for a season of transition as the school year comes to a close.  Staff turnover, maintenance projects, and a new sports co-op are on the horizon, and it’s keeping school district administrators busy. 

The high school recently held its graduation, and the seniors were not the only ones departing; several staff and faculty members are retiring, as well.  This includes the high school’s principal Charles Brown.  The district has hired a new principal, Larry Daly, who has served in the same role at St. Teresa High School in Decatur.  As district superintendent Sacha Young describes, the other retiring faculty members also are calling time on long careers.

The district has it all to do to find replacements.  They have been on the recruiting trail to find up-and-coming teachers eager to work and make a difference for young people.

Before the arrival of new faculty, the district will be busy this summer with renovations on the various campuses.  At the forefront are new exterior doors in Moweaqua.

There will also be repairs to parking lots, updates in technology equipment and other projects easiest to complete when students are not in the building. 

Come the next school year, football games at Central A&M will look different.  That’s because the high school has entered into a co-op with Okaw Valley for the fall sport.  Young says the process involved many meetings and community input. 

The co-op will last for two years before the schools must renew, if they choose to.  The schools’ standalone teams know each other well from regional playoff games this year; Okaw Valley beat Central A&M in basketball while the reverse result happened in baseball. 

More information on Central A&M Community Unit District #21 is available at www.camraiders.com. 

Sacha Young appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show.