NEW ZCS BOUNDARY MAPS ADOPTED

Last evening's meeting of the ZCS school board brought consideration and passage of a redistricting recommendation. Months in the making, the process included focus groups, a survey, and live meetings followed by hundreds of email exchanges and public comment.

Community feedback was key to evolving the initial models shared in focus groups back in November. The plan will allow new school boundaries to serve rapidly growing enrollments for many years by balancing student capacities across the district's campuses. Growing at approximately 200 new enrollees per year, ongoing strategic efforts to maintain balance provide stability by avoiding frequent redistricting and by constructing new school space just-in-time, as is the case with Trailside Elementary opening in August. This long-term planning makes stable property tax rates possible in ZCS, Indiana's lowest state-funded district on a per pupil basis.

ZCS campus leaders, teachers, and counselors are always keen to welcome new students to the schools into which they pour so much of themselves. After an initial survey from the district to parents of third and seventh graders who may remain in their current schools next year, campus leaders will be fostering warm introductions through various means across the coming months.

Changes will be effective for the 2022-2023 school year.

Families may use this link to confirm their individual school boundary assignments. 

Highlights of the new boundary changes include:

• All elementary schools feed 100% to a middle school

• Eagle, Pleasant View, and Union will feed into Zionsville Middle School

• Boone Meadow, Stonegate, and Trailside will feed into Zionsville West Middle School

• 73.8% of elementary students will reside in the boundary of their closest school

• 536 kindergarten through third grade students change elementary boundary, but 139 (26%) are rising fourth graders who could choose to remain at their current school*

• 86.6% of middle school students will reside in the boundary of their closest school

• 297 fifth through seventh grade students change middle school boundary, but 111 (37%) are rising eighth graders who could choose to remain at their current school*

*Please note that incoming fourth grade and eighth grade students will be offered a boundary exception and may elect to remain at their current school for next year. If families choose this option, ZCS transportation will not be provided to and from school.  The forthcoming survey of intent to remain for fourth or eighth grade must be received by ZCS on or before February 28, 2022 to ensure adequate time for scheduling and staffing adjustments in the coming months. This is a commitment for the entire 2022-2023 school year.

Students (and their families) who will be changing schools will be invited to visits and other connection experiences at their new schools. Helping lead our community's youth to comfort with the many positive nuances of each great ZCS school is a top priority that will help this transition be less difficult as it unfolds. Traditional parent meetings, school visits, open house days, and curriculum nights will add to new connections in effort to ensure a soft landing for all involved. Please watch for details and invitations regarding these spring and summer events as we look ahead to a successful 2022-2023 school year. 

ZCS is a special school community.  We know many have moved here so that their children can attend ZCS schools. The growth that has resulted leads to our need to accommodate increasing student enrollment by building Trailside Elementary and redistricting to balance all campuses for growth that just keeps coming.  

The updated boundaries approved on Monday night will be celebrated by many but signal understandable change dissonance for others. Superintendent Dr. Scott Robison remarked of the decision, "Certain success in this, and our thanks, go to everyone who can model confidence to and for the children. When we express our certainty about their ability to navigate change and accept an unfamiliar pleasure of yet another great school with strong friends, their tension almost always eases. Most students changing schools will be taking along current classmates and all will gain new friends in this process. Opportunity abounds for every child in ZCS. But none of it would be possible if thousands of parents had not made the confident choice to live in ZCS when they moved here. It worked out well and continues. Together, we've got this!"

Prior to last evening's regular public meeting, the School Board held a public hearing on the issuance of bonds with a three-year pay back to continue work on school building roofs and other projects that are part of a long-term facilities study. Additionally, bonding to transfer the high school soccer program from a long-term agreement with a community group to ZCS-owned land/facilities is part of the same issuance. Due to other debt being retired and the fast payback, the move that is part of the ZCS 20-year tax stability plan will have no impact on the tax rate.

During his report, Superintendent Robison offered public congratulations to Zionsville Community High School (ZCHS) junior Katherine Berman who earned the highest possible ACT composite score of 36.

Robison announced that planning is underway for the fourth annual Zionsville Community Schools' Do Days to be held March 10-12. Last year's day of service helped thousands of ZCS students in doing good work for their community. Community members who have a need for project work should contact Kelly Antcliff at kantcliff@zcs.k12.in.us.

CoVID-19 numbers continue trending down. Dr. Robison reported that ZCS reported 34 who were quarantined yesterday, when 400 were on quarantine at the time of the January board meeting. Similarly, at the time of this month's board meeting, the district reported 15 positive cases as opposed to 130 positives at the time of the January meeting. Robison reminded board members that the district will move to masks recommended but not required on February 21.

In new business, the board adopted a resolution in support of our professional public educators.

Business Manager Regina May presented the semi-annual reports of the ECA treasurers.

Chief Innovation Officer Dan Layton gained approval to purchase ParentSquare, a communications and messaging system that will replace School Messenger and various other communications platforms the district currently uses so as to migrate to one system that will coordinate all communications efforts onto one platform.

The board approved recommendations to purchase staff laptop computers and approved furniture bids for Trailside and part of the renovation at ZCHS.

Lastly, the board approved the redistricting recommendation noted above and the meeting was adjourned.

The next meeting of the board will be on March 14 at 6 p.m. in the Educational Services (ESC).