ZCS Board Hearing April 2019
ZCS Board of Trustees holds first of two public hearings to consider ballot questions
The Zionsville Community Schools Board of Trustees on Monday took the next step toward putting a referendum on the ballot during the November municipal election. The board held the first of two public hearings on the issue; the second public hearing is scheduled for May 13. The hearing featured detailed information about proposed building projects and allowed public comment. After both hearings are complete, the board of trustees will consider whether or not to hold a referendum November 5.
The district is considering two referendum questions, one for a capital bond to expand classroom space, the other would be an extension of the current operating levy.
“Our schools are nearly full, and we need more space to address increasing enrollment,” said Joe Stein, board president. “Strong schools equal strong communities. If we proactively manage increasing enrollment, it will keep our schools competitive and protect home values across the district."
Increasing enrollment
The population in the communities within Zionsville Community Schools (ZCS) has roughly doubled since 2010. Enrollment in the school district has increased by 3,000 students since 2006 and continues to grow. A demographic study by the Indiana University Kelley School of Business projects 200+ new students each year for the coming decade.
"A few years ago, we recognized that enrollment would soon exceed the capacity of our buildings," said Dr. Scott Robison, superintendent. "We began a process, including studies by architects, the IU demographer, and meetings with community members, to determine our situation and identify potential solutions."
Facilities studies indicated that the district's elementary schools will be full by 2023. Some will be at or over capacity much sooner than that, with one projected to hit 105 percent of capacity by August 2019. Zionsville Community High School has already outgrown hallways, cafeteria space and lockers, and is nearly out of classroom space.
Proposed solution - two question referendum
A capital referendum is proposed to pay for a new elementary school, a high school addition, and renovations recommended by a facilities study for the other 1.7 million square feet ZCS uses to educate more than 7,000 students. Because debt is being paid off, the proposed facilities tax rate of 19.69 cents per $100 of property value would still bring the aggregate school tax rate to a lower level than the current rate. (To $1.268 per $100 of property value compared to this year’s $1.298.)
An operating referendum pays for teachers, counselors, and other core mission professionals. The district proposes to extend the current referendum, which has already been approved twice by voters, for another eight years. The current referendum term would end, and a new eight-year term would begin, all at the exact same tax rate that cannot be raised by ZCS. The operating referendum extension would continue paying for one third of all teachers and counselors, adding staff to serve new students and facilities proposed in the capital referendum.
"We are confident this solution will help us maintain the excellent service we provide to the community and to our students," said Robison. "Despite receiving the least amount of state funding per pupil of any district in Indiana, our students are learning, and we are an excellent value."
Complete details about Zionsville Community Schools’ plan to address growth in the district can be found at www.zcs.k12.in.us.
Following the hearing, four community members spoke in support of the school district and expressed their desire to keep our schools strong and property values solid.
ZCS resident, teacher and parent Bob Brennan
ZCS resident, teacher and parent Bob Brennan
ZCS resident, teacher and parent Megan Magoni
ZCS resident, teacher and parent Megan Magoni
ZCS resident and parent Mike Copher
ZCS resident and parent Mike Copher
ZCS resident and parent Mary Reid
ZCS resident and parent Mary Reid
You can listen to the public hearing and see the presentation slides here:
After public comments, ZCS moved into the regular board meeting.
Public Hearing was called to order by two Stonegate Elementary School students who were recognized for their determination
Each month the board will recognize a student or students who bring one or more of our Strong in Every Way character traits to life. Those students will tap the gavel after Board President Joe Stein calls the meeting to order. The student (s) will be gifted a gavel for showing outstanding citizenship in our schools.
This month, because of the public hearing prior to the board meeting, two Stonegate Elementary School students who exemplify determination tapped the gavel after Board President Joe Stein called the public hearing to order. Ordinarily student (s) will help open the regular meeting.
Both girls have shown tremendous determination in different ways.
Kasey Layton has a huge fear of mascots and was able to overcome her fear by attending a recent celebration with Blue from the Colts at Stonegate Elementary School. After the celebration, she had an opportunity to spend time with Blue and discover that mascots are just people in costume. Her determination to overcome her fear was recognized by her teacher and principal.
Brittany Conrad has also shown incredible determination. She lost her leg in a lawn mower accident before she was school aged. Since kindergarten she has shown incredible determination to overcome obstacles. She came wearing eleven medals that she recently earned in the Endeavor Games.
She is the perfect example of what you can achieve when you are determined.
ZCS Superintendent Scott Robison picked three district highlights as part of his report. He noted that Zionsville Middle School was recently awarded the 2018-2019 Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA) All Music Award. This is an incredible honor for our middle school musicians.
Also of note, business office employee Janet Dunmyer completed her IASBO certification program at the Assistant Chief Business Officer level.
Lastly, Robison highlighted the recent Unified Champion Preschool Game Day.
Casey Allen (Director of Unified Student Services), Bree Pittman (Physical Therapist), Kelly Antcliff (ZMS Athletic Director) and Dabney Frothingham (District Autism and Behavior Specialist) make up the ZCS Unified Champion lead team. Together with the preschool team, they created an entire day for preschool students to participate in the Unified Champion Preschool Game Day.
This day would not have been possible without the help of many team members who are devoted to youth development as well as outside partners and families who champion ZCS students.
Student handbooks were approved. Board member Jane Burgess thanked ZCS team members who worked on the handbooks this year.
ZCS Board of Trustees approved new instructional materials for middle school band, 8th grade language arts, French I and Spanish II/III. ZCS will review all instructional materials for K-12 English/Language Arts during the 2019-20 school year.
Chief Academic Officer Kris Devereaux presents to the board.
Chief Academic Officer Kris Devereaux presents to the board.
Dan Layton requested and was granted approval to purchase 30 and up to 60 laptops (depending on next year's enrollment) for rental during the 2019-20 school year.
Chief Techology Officer Dan Layton asks board permission to purchase laptop computers.
Chief Techology Officer Dan Layton asks board permission to purchase laptop computers.
The legislature recently passed a budget bill which will pay for enrollment into school for students born between August 1 and September 1 of their 5th year. There is also law stating that August 1st is still the cutoff date for automatic enrollment in kindergarten. As per the legal requirements, school districts will be able to now reinstate their early entrance to kindergarten procedures for families who wish to enroll their children early into kindergarten.
At the ZCS Board meeting on Monday our board had a first reading of the Early Entrance Into Kindergarten Policy. This policy would allow parents, who have children born after the August 1st cutoff date, to apply for early entrance to kindergarten. The application process, as in past years, involves some assessment to see if the child is ready.
The board will have the second reading of the policy and a vote on May 13th. After that date we will post the procedures for early entrance to kindergarten on our website.
If you have questions, you may contact Christine Squier at csquier@zcs.k12.in.us.
Director of Academic Services Christine Squier presents to the board.
Director of Academic Services Christine Squier presents to the board.
The next regular board meeting and public hearing will be held in the ZCS Educational Services Center on May 13 at 6:00 p.m.
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