Board Meeting
April 2022
ZCS student successes headline April school board meeting
National qualifiers in academic business competition and state level varsity athletes shared their successes with board members at the April meeting.
Business Professionals of America
Taundra Miles-Cranor, Business Professionals of America (BPA) advisor, Region 8 co-coordinator and Zionsville Community High School (ZCHS) business and computer science teacher talked about the ZCHS BPA chapter's recent success. Forty-five students qualified for state competition this year, and 29 competed. Twelve students qualified for nationals and eight will be traveling for the national competition in Dallas, Texas in May.
BPA is the nation’s leading CTSO (Career Technical Student Organization) providing students with invaluable skill development and the opportunity to make personal connections and to develop valuable leadership capacity.
State qualifiers in athletics
ZCHS Athletic Director Greg Shellhase highlighted athletic team and individual successes. He invited state champions and state tourney level competitors from winter/spring sports thus far in 2022 and their coaches. Season highlights and student-athlete comments were shared.
"These student athletes are first class representatives of our school and community and demonstrate a high level of leadership, character and sportsmanship."
Swim Coach and Hoosier Conference Crossroads Coach of the Year Scott Kubly recapped the state swimming success of the teams and athletes this season.
Girls Swimming
Senior swimmer Devon Kitchel capped off her high school swimming career as a two-event state champion. She was the state champion for the 200 IM, her third consecutive year winning that event, and the 100 breaststroke. With her two wins, ZCHS now boasts 11 state champions in girls swimming.
Boys Swimming
For the fourth time in school history, the boys swim team was state runner-up.
Will Modglin was again this year's state champion in the 200 IM and set a new state record. He also took home a state champion title in the 100 backstroke for the second year in a row. Modglin's titles bring the boys total to 14 state champions in the school's history.
Wrestling
Wrestling Coach Doug Welch said wrestlers had a 19 -2 season and finished 12th in the state.
The team won a sectional championship, finished second in the regional and had three individuals qualify for state competition. Brac Hooper was a three time sectional champion, three time regional champion and three time state qualifier. Anthony Rinehart was this year's sectional champion, regional champion and finished seventh at state . Chase Wagner was a two-time sectional champion, regional champion and was a state qualifier.
Greg Shellhase summed up the work of student athletes and described the programs to which they have access in ZCS.
"Sports are metaphorical classrooms that provide meaningful learning for our student athletes. The impact is certainly long lasting and profound, and it builds a strong infrastructure for life successes."
Zionsville Education Foundation
Zionsville Education Foundation Executive Director Lyle Browne reported on the most recent grant cycles.
To date in 2022:
- $21,044 in classroom grants
- $9,752 to Trailside for a "Starter Pack"
- $25,000 for the Customized Learning Program (CLP)
- $8,000 for Robotics Teams to Worlds
ZEF has awarded more than $63,000 in grants this year alone.
ZEF will announce Imagine Professional Development Grants toward growth and renewal opportunities for teachers later this spring.
ZCS appreciates the work of the Zionsville Education Foundation and the generosity of those who invest in enhanced learning opportunities for the students and impactful professional development for teachers and other professional educators.
ZCS Superintendent of Schools Scott Robison previewed an upcoming cultural understandings opportunity at the Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Library. Local volunteers for a national Hindu cultural organization will present a three week (beginning May 9) exhibit and related special events at the library as part of a partnership with ZCS. The poster display will coincide with special docents and events that highlight aspects of the cultural realm that dates backs thousands of years.
Accountant Regina May, ZCS Director of Business Services, is also now a School Finance and Operations Certified Administrator (SFO). She is only one of two school business officials in Indiana with this national certification conferred by the Association of School Business Officials International.
Chief Innovation Officer Dan Layton was featured in the national technology publication “Crosscut” about school cyber security in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Dan chairs the Indiana Chief Technology Officer Council. At the end of the article, he summed up the threat of cyber attacks.
"We are making sure we are keeping our networks buttoned up as best we can. We have to be right 100% of the time, and a bad actor only has to be right one time.”
ZCS Associate Superintendent Rebecca Coffman and ZCS Employee Donnie Roush at the March Board Meeting
ZCS Associate Superintendent Rebecca Coffman and ZCS Employee Donnie Roush at the March Board Meeting
ZCS Grounds Team Member Donnie Roush whose service was highlighted during last month's board meeting, received The Dahlia Excellence in Service Award, an award that recognizes a deserving employee of a Zionsville business or organization who represents the community with the utmost hospitality and cheer. Donnie stepped up after the passing of the previous town Santa. His willingness to host the children of the community in Santa’s house was a clutch act of community service worthy of recognition. Congratulations, Donnie Roush.
ZCS New Business
The board approved the annual investment strategy – a renewal of authorization for investment strategy compliant with Indiana Law.
Trailside Elementary School Principal Jen Raycroft gained approval to purchase reading intervention materials.
ZCS Associate Superintendent Rebecca Coffman made a phase two staffing recommendation. Last month the board approved phase one, elementary and high school staffing. Phase two, middle school staffing, was approved at this month's meeting. The district will add 3.4 full-time equivalent positions at the middle level to accommodate student enrollment growth.
Assistant Superintendent Kris Devereaux presented a robotics equipment purchase request. The elementary robotics program is transitioning from Lego to VEX robotics as current equipment ages. The approved purchase will use school technology funds.
A first reading of student handbooks was presented and the meeting was adjourned.
The next monthly board meeting is May 9 at 6 p.m. in the Educational Services Center.
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