Board Meeting December 2025

Celebrating the State Champion ZCHS Marching Eagles

Congratulations!

Fresh off an extraordinary season, Dr. Coffman invited ZCHS Marching Band Director Tom Landrum and several senior members of the Zionsville Marching Eagles to be celebrated at the meeting. The Marching Eagles not only earned several distinctions at state prelims, they went on to win the Indiana Scholastic Class A State Championship. Students carried ribbons, medals, and the state trophy that appeared on the Lucas Oil Stadium field with pride.

Mr. Landrum recapped a season overflowing with commitments: competitions, rehearsals, a return trip to Lucas Oil during the Monumental Marathon, and a performance in the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Parade following a combined New York and Philadelphia trip. He extended thanks to parent volunteers, band boosters, and an exceptional team of bus drivers who supported the band throughout the season. He also expressed gratitude to the Board for the purchase of the district’s semi-trailer and smaller transport trailers, equipment essential to the band’s competitive success.

Two senior drum majors stepped forward to share reflections.

Zainab Yisau spoke about the friendships and connection the band fosters, describing it as “a place where we’ve all built bonds,” she said. She called this final season a gift she will carry with her.

Oliver Jarrett, a four-year band member and three-year drum major, described how marching band transformed him from “an outcast freshman” into a confident leader preparing to major in music education. Band, he said, gave him a community, a challenge, and a future.

Superintendent Dr. Rebecca Coffman thanked the students for the time and heart they have dedicated to representing Zionsville.

Understanding the State’s New ILEARN Checkpoints

Following the celebration, Assistant Superintendent Kris Devereaux presented an in-depth explanation of Indiana’s new ILEARN checkpoint system, a three-part mid-year assessment process that precedes a redesigned spring summative test. She described this year as another chapter in the long “evolution of ILEARN," a system that has seen changes nearly every year since 2014.

Each checkpoint includes 20–25 questions in both ELA and math, with each checkpoint assessing a different set of standards. ZCS completed Checkpoint 1 in October, with Checkpoint 2 scheduled for early January and Checkpoint 3 in March.

Mrs. Devereaux emphasized that while the state frames the assessments as measuring content students “have already learned,” that is not always true within Zionsville Community School's research-based scope and sequence, where skills are intentionally taught in a specific order. For this reason, ZCS will treat checkpoints as data dipsticks, using them either as progress checks or pre-assessments depending on whether the assessed standards have been explicitly taught.

She also highlighted several concerns with the Individual Student Reports families will soon receive. Some language and visual elements could be misleading at first glance, such as describing students as “inconsistently demonstrating proficiency” even when they correctly answered 100% of approaching-level questions. Color-coded tables may also appear alarming. Reds and yellows mark the difficulty level of questions, not whether answers were correct.

To provide context, ZCS compared checkpoint results to fall NWEA MAP scores. In many cases, students labeled “approaching proficiency” on the state checkpoint ranked well above average nationally. For example, third-grade ELA students marked as “approaching” performed in the 73rd percentile nationally on NWEA. Seventh-grade math students labeled “approaching” scored in the 81st percentile nationally. In categories marked “proficient,” ZCS students regularly fell between the 80th and 92nd percentiles nationwide.

“One data point never tells the full story,” Mrs. Devereaux reminded the Board. ZCS will continue using a robust combination of nationally normed data, classroom assessments, and teacher insights when determining student needs.

Staff and families received a comprehensive FAQ and access instructions midweek. Mrs. Devereaux extended thanks to Corporation Testing Coordinator Gin Morgan for her extensive data work.

District Updates: Scholarships, Winter Meals, and Academic Transition Night

Dr. Coffman shared several additional updates:

• Boone County Community Foundation scholarship applications are now open for the Class of 2026, due February 4 at noon.
• Free winter break sack lunches will again be available to all Boone County students, thanks to generous community partnerships.
• Eighth-grade families have received Save the Date notices for ZCHS Academic Transition Night, an evening introducing the block schedule, diploma pathways, and program offerings.

Board Business: Consent Agenda and Community Donations

The Board approved the consent agenda, including personnel actions, contracts, field trips, and financial reports.

The Board gratefully accepted several community donations.

Middle School Program of Study Adjustment

Mrs. Devereaux returned to present a proposal to integrate the high school graduation-required course Computing Foundations for a Digital Age into eighth-grade science beginning in the 2026–27 school year. This integration preserves student choice in electives while embedding computer science standards naturally within existing lab and project work.

Students will see two courses in PowerSchool: Science 8 and Computing Foundations, with assignments categorized accordingly. ZCS will partner with Nextech for alignment support this spring. The adjustment was approved unanimously.

High School Instructional Materials Adoption

The Board approved new instructional materials in high school social studies and Honors Geometry, replacing outdated resources and aligning to updated state standards. Several courses include AP-required texts. Materials will arrive in time for spring professional learning and full implementation in August 2026.

Photography Services: Five-Year Agreement Approved

Following a competitive bid process with six providers, the Board approved a five-year agreement with Cripe Photography, the current photography partner of ZCHS. The selection reflected the strongest combination of product quality, financial structure, and family affordability, as well as Cripe’s commitment to responsiveness and flexibility. Board members noted significant community interest in this topic and expressed appreciation for the careful evaluation process led by building and district staff.

Technology Infrastructure Investment

Chief Technology Officer Dan Layton presented a request to replace the district’s aging Liebert Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), a system that cleans and stabilizes power for all district servers. The existing UPS, installed approximately 13 years ago, is no longer eligible for 24/7 emergency maintenance. The Board approved the purchase of a replacement system for $45,000 plus an additional $17,490 for professional installation.  

Board Appointment to Zionsville Park Board

Dr. Coffman announced that the district’s current Parks Board appointee has completed the maximum four consecutive one-year terms. She recommended Dan Layton, an experienced educator, long-time resident, and master gardener to serve as the Board’s appointee. The Board unanimously approved his appointment, effective January 1.

Meeting Adjourned

With no additional business, the December meeting of the Zionsville Community Schools Board of Trustees adjourned.