Board Meeting
July 2026

Superintendent's Report

Summer School Continues to Deliver Strong Results

ZCS Superintendent Dr. Rebecca Coffman invited Trailside Elementary School Principal Jen Raycroft to share a recap of the district's summer school program, which served second- and third-grade students from across the district. The program was focused on strengthening literacy, executive functioning and test-taking skills, and achieved goals set through targeted instruction and support.

Dr. Coffman reported there will be zero mandatory third-grade retentions under Indiana's literacy requirements, with students either meeting proficiency or qualifying through state-approved exemptions. Second-grade participants also demonstrated significant growth, with many successfully passing the third-grade IREAD assessment early.

Celebrating Student Success

Superintendent Dr. Rebecca Coffman recognized ZCS student Hasini Kosaraju, who earned third place at the Indiana State Civics Bee after advancing through regional competition hosted earlier this year in partnership with the Zionsville Chamber of Commerce.

Employee Health Plan Continues to Produce Savings

Dr. Coffman provided an update on the district's self-funded employee health plan, which continues to generate significant savings through active management and preventive wellness initiatives.

Highlights included:

• More than $108,000 received through fourth-quarter pharmacy rebates.
• More than $1.5 million in pharmacy rebates since the district's employee health center opened in 2019.
• More than $2 million saved during the 2025 premium holiday.
• Recognition as one of 64 health plans nationwide nominated for the 2026 Health Rosetta Award.

Preparing for the 2026-2027 School Year

Dr. Coffman provided several back-to-school updates, including:

• Back-to-school events will begin in late July at all the schools.
• New Teacher Academy and employee kickoff activities will take place before classes begin.
• The first day of school is Tuesday, August 4.
• A districtwide print newspaper and back-to-school digital guide will be distributed to families.
• Required immunization reminders were shared, along with information about the Boone County Health Department's vaccination clinic.
• Preliminary enrollment numbers were shared, noting slightly smaller elementary cohorts compared to older students. Staffing adjustments are underway to maintain desired class sizes before official enrollment is finalized this fall.

Consent Agenda Approved

Board members unanimously approved the consent agenda, including personnel recommendations, field trips, donations, financial reports, contracts, and other routine business.

Cell Phone Policy Updated

The ZCS Board of School Trustees approved revisions to Board Policy 5136 to comply with Indiana Senate Enrolled Act 78, enacted during the 2026 legislative session. The new law requires school districts to adopt either a complete prohibition on student electronic devices or a secured storage policy. ZCS adopted the secured storage approach, requiring student cell phones and other personal electronic devices to be powered off and not readily accessible during the school day.

The policy includes state-required exceptions for students with IEPs, Section 504 plans, medical needs, multilingual learner plans and emergency situations. During discussion, board members also reviewed implementation procedures, including expectations for smartwatches and classroom storage, before approving the policy with a minor language amendment for clarity.

Meal Prices Remain Unchanged

The Board approved maintaining breakfast and lunch prices for the 2026-27 school year after the district qualified for the federal Paid Lunch Equity waiver.

Meal prices will remain:

• Breakfast: $1.40
• Elementary lunch: $2.65
• Secondary lunch: $2.85
• Premium high school lunch: $3.35

Student Handbook Revisions Approved

Revisions to the 2026-2027 student handbooks to align with the newly adopted electronic device policy were approved.

The updates include revised language reflecting state law, high school implementation procedures, expectations surrounding student devices during the school day, and progressive disciplinary consequences for violations. The Board also directed staff to incorporate the amendment approved during the policy discussion into the handbook language before publication.

Middle School World Language Opportunity Expanded

To support a small group of advanced middle school students, board members approved adding access to Level III world language instruction through the Central Indiana Educational Service Center (CIESC).

The asynchronous courses will provide qualifying students with continued advancement in Spanish or French while preserving future high school course opportunities. The program will be funded through donated resources rather than the district's Education Fund.

The meeting concluded with well wishes to students, teachers, and staff as preparations continue for the start of another school year.