CentOS is fine if you just need an office file-server or print-server.
If you are running an e-commerce website, then you need to be PCI compliant and up-to-date with the latest security patches *QUICKLY*.
CentOS updates can be unpredictable as to when they will be released. Look at Wikipedia's "Delay" column for CentOS releases.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CentOS
Due to extremely slow 2011 updates and releases, I switched to an alternative OS out of fear a CentOS update might never arrive. It did release eventually.

Does your IT staff have the time and knowledge to create their own RPM files for updating CentOS, when the closed group of CentOS volunteers fail to deliver?
If not, I would suggest either pay for RHEL updates or use current free releases of Fedora, OpenSuse, Ubuntu LTS, or Debian instead.

I think Chrome OS needs to be focused on something that would make it unique and useful... not trying to replace the desktop.
Chrome OS would make an awesome instant-on boot loader replacing GRUB, LILO, or Windows Boot Loader.
Surf the web while your OS of choice boots in the background.

Technically, Google's Android is a code derivative of DavlicVM and Apache Harmony. Apache Harmony and DavlicVM can be considered as similar to Java. However, Android is Not a subset of Java.

Some links to articles discussing the topic:
http://www.javaworld.com/community/node/2683

Some information on DavlicVM and Apache Harmony:
http://www.dalvikvm.com/
http://harmony.apache.org/

Each VM/platform has its strengths and purpose. There should be room in the IT industry for Java, Apache Harmony, Google App Engine, .NET, Mono, LLVM, Tamarin, Parrot, and many other VM's with their associated programming languages.
Hope you find this information helpful.

Confiscation of class notes depends on your school, level of education, and location.

I am not a lawyer...
However, laws have been changing gradually giving parental and personal rights to schools and government. When your child is at school, both the child and personal items with the child can be deemed as property of the state. In some locations, laws give legal guardianship to the government and school during school hours.

If you are in college or university, a forced personal search and confiscation is usually not legal. A professor or school can make part of the curriculum (by syllabus, school handbook, etc), turning over your notes as part of your class grade. However, pre-notification of curriculum is required. Students have the right to make personal copies before turning in notes, or refuse to comply thereby accepting the grade punishment. Once you turn in something, all schools (including colleges and universities) own the copyright thereby preventing you from legally re-publishing the content. Turning in an assignment is an act of publishing and transfer of copyright. You can still have the copies for your personal use, just not redistribution or re-use as inclusion in other assignments. This means you can get academically or legally punished for plagiarism if you re-use any portions of your own work and notes.

It is unfortunate that parental and personal rights are being removed. Be aware of the laws that affect you and contact your government representatives about your concerns.