Board of Finance Annual Meeting

The Board of Finance Meeting was called to order by the Board President, with all five members in attendance.

ZCS Superintendent Dr. Rebecca Coffman introduced Chief Financial Officer Mrs. Regina May to present the annual finance report. This review is mandated by statute and provides an overview of the district’s financial health.

The Financial Report summarized the district’s investment policy, interest earnings, and outstanding accounts payable checks.  For calendar year 2024 investment earnings totaled $2,858,545.82 while twenty-six checks totaling $8,641.86 were declared stale and written off as such.

The Financial Indicators as prepared by the Distressed Unit Appeals Board were also presented as required by state statue. This report confirms continued strong financial health for Zionsville Community Schools and includes factors such as attendance, demographic trends, fund balances, and other financial indicators for the 2023-2024 school year.

Public Hearing on Bond Issuance for Capital Projects

A public hearing was held regarding the district’s plans to issue bonds to finance facility improvement projects aimed at addressing rising enrollment and identified campus needs. The $125 million financing targets include providing additional capacity for student programs and classrooms across elementary, middle, and high school levels while delaying the need for construction of additional school buildings.  The issuance will not cause an increase to the school tax rate. 

Mr. Jeff Qualkinbush of Barnes & Thornburg provided a detailed timeline, noting that the initial bond series likely would be issued in the fall of 2025.  This hearing followed a series of prior hearings on the topic from August and September 2024 and concluded with no public comments.

Superintendent's Report

Dr. Coffman provided an update on legislative priorities, educational updates, and community engagement opportunities.

Legislative Session Update

The 2025 Indiana legislative session began on January 8^th and will set the state budget for the next two years. Key focus areas include property tax reform and a number of bills related to K-12 education, school governance, and childcare. ZCS leaders will be following bills and providing updates during public board meetings throughout the session which will conclude at the end of April.

Indiana Diploma Updates

New diploma requirements were approved by the Indiana State Board of Education on December 11, 2024​ as a result of House Enrolled Act (HEA) 1243.​

Beginning with the Class of 2029, students will follow a new diploma structure that includes six readiness seals. Readiness seals are not required for graduation. Students earning the diploma without readiness seals must still complete a graduation pathway (current requirement for all students)​.

Emphasis remains on higher education preparation, employability skills, and military enlistment readiness.

Note: The mission of Zionsville Community Schools continues to be student growth.​

We will utilize the new diploma requirements to continue creating robust, meaningful opportunities for students and consider ways in which we maintain flexibility for students to have choice in their course offerings at the high school level.​

We will provide our students with meaningful coursework that will ready them for future goals and focus on quality instruction and experiences for all learners.

Middle School to High School Transition

Zionsville Community High School (ZCHS) hosted an Academic Transition Night for families with students transitioning from eighth to ninth grade. An overall plan for incoming ninth graders has been designed to include family orientation nights, counselor meetings, and detailed guidance on new diploma requirements. 

PowerSchool Cybersecurity Incident

Updates regarding the recent PowerSchool cybersecurity event are housed on the ZCS district website. Required reports have been submitted to the Indiana Attorney General’s office. ZCS staff will provide updates as any new information becomes available. 

Community Engagement

The Zionsville Education Foundation is hosting a winter trivia night on February 28, 2025, with proceeds supporting classroom grants and teacher development.

Approved New Business

• Board Reorganization
  
  New leadership appointments for 2025 include:
  
  President: Katie Aeschliman
  Vice President: Michael Berg
  Secretary: Michael Coussens
  
• Middle school curriculum adjustments to align with new diploma standards starting in August 2025
  
  World Language Changes
  
  A two-year language course (Level I) will be introduced at the middle school level, beginning with the incoming seventh grade class. This course will be offered in Spanish, French, and Mandarin. Seventh graders will learn Part One of the two-year course and then in eighth grade will learn Part Two. This two-year course will not be awarded high school credit. 
  
  High school credit will be awarded starting with the Level II course.
  
  Physical Education
  
  Eighth-grade students will now take Physical Education for high school credit, fulfilling the new diploma’s single-credit requirement.
  
  Career Awareness Course
  
  The Preparing for College and Careers course will only be offered at ZCHS for credit.
  
  The Board approved changes to the middle school curriculum to align with the new Indiana diploma requirements. These adjustments will provide flexibility while maintaining ZCS's high academic standards.
  

• Early Literacy Grant Distribution
  
  Zionsville received $31,234.13 from the state’s early literacy program. Eligible teachers (grades K-3) will receive approximately $200 each.
  
• Farm Lease Advertisement
  
  Permission was granted to seek bids for leasing a recently acquired parcel of farmland. Revenue will offset operational costs while the land remains undeveloped.
  
• ​Universal Preschool and Associated Childcare Fees
  
  The board authorized childcare fees to remain the same for the 2025-2026 school year.
  ​
• Insurance Renewal
  
  The board reviewed and approved the annual property, casualty, and liability insurance coverage recommendation.  These costs are included in the 2025 budget and reflect strategic efforts to manage premiums effectively.
  
  These costs were included in the 2025 budget and reflect strategic efforts to manage premiums effectively​​.
  
• ZCHS Equipment Replacement
  
  The basketball backstop systems in the Varsity Gym and East Gym at Zionsville Community High School (ZCHS) are set for replacement due to age and operational condition. The current equipment dates back to 1997 in the Varsity Gym and 1977 in the East Gym. The board approved the replacement of the backstop systems and necessary electrical work​​.
  
• Board Resolutions
  
  The board approved resolutions of lease amendment and other related matters pertaining to the 2025 district-wide multi-facility improvement projects.
• Construction Bids
  
  The board accepted bids for the replacement of the ZWMS Tennis Courts, 875 Baseball/Softball Turf renovation, and PVE/ZMS Fire Alarm System renovation.