ZCS Superintendent of Schools Dr. Scott Robison recognized in final career board meeting; newly-elected board members seated
From L to R: Mrs. Jennifer Valentine, Dr. Christy Wessel-Powell and Mr. Michael Berg pose for a photo after being sworn in to office.
From L to R: Mrs. Jennifer Valentine, Dr. Christy Wessel-Powell and Mr. Michael Berg pose for a photo after being sworn in to office.
Newly-elected board members Mrs. Jennifer Valentine, Dr. Christy Wessel-Powell, and re-elected board member Mr. Michael Berg took the oath of office and were sworn in just prior this month's Board of Trustees meetings.
The noticed 1028 Hearing related to upcoming bond sales led off three public meetings of the ZCS Board of Trustees on Monday, January 9, 2023. More details are shared below.
Next up was the annual Board of Finance Meeting. Zionsville Community Schools' (ZCS) Chief Financial Officer Regina May provided the annual investment update as well as the state required report on ZCS financial condition. The financial condition report is prescribed by the state based on six factors as defined by the Indiana Distressed Unit Appeals Board and their Fiscal Indicator Committee. All factors illustrate that ZCS remains in good financial condition, as is confirmed by both clean audits from the Indiana State Board of Accounts and our excellent credit rating through Standard & Poor’s, which is top in the state among school districts.
During the mandatory annual re-organization meeting of the board, members ratified a new slate of officers. Michael Berg will serve as President, Katie Aeschliman will serve as Vice President, and Dr. Jeff Papa will serve as Secretary. The ZCS Board of Trustees officers will hold the same positions for its Board of Finance.
As mentioned above, a 1028 Hearing regarding Bonds 2023 A and B was conducted first among the January 9 meetings. Bond counsel, financial consultants, and design professionals assisted ZCS Operations Director Matt Doublestein and CFO Regina May in detailing the bond sale plans and targeted expenditures on repair and replacement needs around ZCS properties totaling nearly two million square feet under roof. Public comment was solicited, but there was none. Board members' questions were answered, and the hearing was adjourned.
The 2023A General Obligation Bond Project will provide playground renovations at Boone Meadow, Stonegate and Pleasant View elementary schools as well as flooring renovations at Eagle, Pleasant View and the Zionsville Community High School Freshman Center, and restroom renovations at Pleasant View Elementary School.
The 2023B General Obligation Bond Project includes asphalt, curbs and sidewalk renovations at Eagle Elementary School and Zionsville Middle School and roofing replacements at the ZCHS Freshman Center and the Educational Services Center.
Board of Trustees Regularly Scheduled Board Meeting
Zionsville Community Schools (ZCS) Successor Superintendent Rebecca Coffman invited Skillman Corporation Vice President Victor Landfair to update the board on the progress of district construction projects including Zionsville Community High School additions and renovations and the soccer and lacrosse stadium and parking lot expansion.
Mr. Landfair reported that the construction of Zionsville Community High Schools is on schedule. Seventy-eight percent of the ZCHS building work has been completed. Mr. Landfair noted that 48% of the $1.5 million contingency plan fund has been used to date.
See the Zionsville Community High School progress to date.
See the Soccer/Lacrosse Stadium and Parking progress to date.
Superintendent Scott Robison congratulated Zionsville Community High School Boys Cross Country Coach Gabe Porras on being named the Indiana Coach of the Year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
Additionally, ZCS celebrated the work of the officers and deputies who serve in our schools. Dr. Robison talked with Union Elementary School's (ZPD Sergeant) Joe Robison about his service.
Superintendent Scott Robison talks with Union Elementary School's officer Joe Robinson.
Superintendent Scott Robison makes the final Superintendent's Report of his tenure.
Superintendent Scott Robison makes the final Superintendent's Report of his tenure.
Dr. Scott Robison delivered the final report of his nearly 250 board meetings as Superintendent of the Zionsville Community Schools.
Dr. Robison has served in ZCS for nearly 17 years. He will retire on January 31, 2023. He credited the team of leaders he was afforded the autonomy to assemble for so many successes along the way--and against challenges quite unique among others noted in his professional career. Dr. Robison noted that the ZCS campus and central leadership team is the best he has known across nearly 40 years of service in K-12 settings across six Indiana school districts.
Dr. Robison thanked board members, core central leaders, teachers and all support staff (past and present) for allowing him to lead and to always focus on the core mission of student growth.
I have been on call 24/7 for many years for the right reason: fostering growth of young people so they might reach their full potential.
Superintendent Robison said one of his proudest accomplishments was working alongside the late Mike Shafer to create a program, the only of its kind in North America (so far as he and Shafer could find), to fund many members of the ZCS central core leadership team without use of taxpayer dollars or state tuition support.
Teaching is the cradle of all professions. I am proud to leave behind a system of schools that engages in professional development and finds creative and innovate ways to engage students without relying solely on test scores.
Dr. Robison shared some advice for incoming Superintendent of Schools Dr. Rebecca Coffman about future experiences he knows she is ready to handle well. He reminded that there are great people everywhere in ZCS. Hard-working, smart, mission-oriented and fun people. People who work together. People who lead where they are! He encouraged Dr. Coffman to always be mindful of the fact that extraordinary ZCS people are here every day without exception, even on days when challenges in leading bubble up. He showed pictures of teachers with students--teachers help students grow in one or more of the complex ways in which it happens for youth.
Dr. Robison shared PowerPoint slides showing a bucking bronco and a diver appearing to be perched on a tightrope above the pool to reference the wild ride that leadership can be in an 8,000 student school district. He encouraged Dr. Coffman to sleep whenever she can, and he re-introducted her via a presentation slide that extolled the many qualities of excellence that he has seen in her and that the Board of Trustees recognized in choosing to name Dr. Coffman to become superintendent.
Throughout his remarks, Dr. Robison shared pictures of students, teachers, school leaders, and others in various ZCS locations.
Across his tenure in ZCS, Dr. Robison has frequently thanked parents for being great first teachers who stayed engaged as their children came of age. He has made a standard practice of thanking students for their hard work whenever it was noted by media that ZCS had top tier test scores.
In closing, Dr. Robison thanked board members, teachers, all support staffers, fellow Leadership Team members, and his family.
"I must include my wife and family, who endured so much of my stress processing at the dinner table when I made it to dinner--or when I just had to be quiet sometimes. My family has witnessed and run interference for my years of compromised sleep, my always on-call status, and other stresses that are common to this role. I would not have survived without them.
I will proudly be an Eagle--always.
Zionsville Education Foundation Director Lyle Browne talks about Superintendent Scott Robison's support of the Zionsville Education Foundation
Zionsville Education Foundation Director Lyle Browne talks about Superintendent Scott Robison's support of the Zionsville Education Foundation
Executive Director of the Zionsville Education Foundation (ZEF) Lyle Browne delivered a beautiful message about Dr. Robison's years of service to ZCS and his unwavering support of ZEF.
Dr. Robison’s ability to professionally navigate the many different aspects of the job while continuously moving this district forward has been remarkable. He led us through unprecedented community and technological growth, state budget changes and the resulting need for a referendum, and a pandemic – not to mention the daily challenges of students, staff, and families.
She reflected that he did it all with intelligence, professionalism, creativity, humor, a team-based approach, and enthusiasm while always keeping students at the center of all decisions. When he says the district’s goal is “student growth” he means it for every student. Several years ago, he championed the establishment of ZEF Student Enrichment Grants. Similar to the ZEF Classroom and Imagine grants, these funds provide unique learning opportunities to foster student growth.
Mrs. Browne said that when former ZCS Board of Trustees President (and former ZEF Board member) Debbie Ungar suggested that ZEF honor Dr. Robison by accepting gifts to fund future ZEF Student Enrichment Grants, it was the perfect fit. The combination of honoring a talented educator and leader with funds that will support the very people that have been at the center of every decision, every worry, every transformational idea, every plan seemed just right. Browne indicated that ZEF has received several leadership donations for this fund already and that those inclined can make a donation by check or on our website.
Dr. Robison was presented with a token of appreciation that reads, "ZEF Champion."
Zionsville Education Foundation Board President Mark Pascarella presents Dr. Robison with a token of appeciation.
Zionsville Education Foundation Board President Mark Pascarella presents Dr. Robison with a token of appeciation.
Pictured L to R: ZEF Executive Director Lyle Browne, Retiring Superintendent of Schools Scott Robison, ZEF Board Member Theresa Knipstein Meyer, ZEF Board President Mark Pascarella
Pictured L to R: ZEF Executive Director Lyle Browne, Retiring Superintendent of Schools Scott Robison, ZEF Board Member Theresa Knipstein Meyer, ZEF Board President Mark Pascarella
Successor Superintendent Rebecca Coffman talks about the impact Dr. Robison has made in ZCS
Successor Superintendent Rebecca Coffman talks about the impact Dr. Robison has made in ZCS
Successor Superintendent Rebecca Coffman offered final words about Dr. Robison's service as a teacher, leader and servant.
Words are insufficient to describe the excellence Scott Robison has modeled for our district, the passion he has had for the community, and the profession to which he has dedicated his life’s work.
Dr. Coffman said that one shared lesson they both learned from their fathers is that actions speak louder than words.
Sometimes those actions are best seen in the silence of empty school buildings or the peaceful quiet of the early mornings when our little town is not yet quite awake.
She spoke of the personal touches Dr. Robison brought to his role and the willingness to give everyone his time.
Dr. Robison is known for handwritten notes. Dr. Coffman said that if you travel around the district, you will see notes from him that adorn bulletin boards and desk spaces. She said you can walk into almost any office or classroom space and see on display a handwritten note with Dr. Robison's distinctive handwriting.
He has given the most valuable and limited resource to everyone in the community. His time.
She said Dr. Robison has taken the time and energy to elevate and collaborate with others in the community about our kids because he sees the power and promise of every single student in ZCS.
She reminisced about a moment she had as she was walking through Zionsville Community High School some years ago. She said across from the media center was a portrait of Dr. Robison taken by student photographer. In the caption, the young artist credited Dr. Robison for helping him follow a passion. The student had discovered a love of photography and videography but needed some creative scheduling so that he could get his education while still pursuing his passion. He credited Dr. Robison for personally helping him follow a dream.
That's Dr. Scott Robison. He is a champion for kids.
In new business, board members conducted the annual actions of the organizational meeting including election of officers (named above), official appointments and designations, other statutory and/or assistive appointments, actions and consideration of board compensation, issuance of bonds and related resolutions/actions, permission to advertise construction projects and the annual review of contracted service - property/casualty/liability insurance.
The next board meeting is February 13 at 6 p.m. in the Educational Services Center.
###
Built with Shorthand