By Desiree Williams
On April 29, the Zionsville Community Schools Board of Trustees held the first of two public hearings about two ballot questions for the November municipal election. The first is to extend the 2015 operating referendum for an eight-year term, and the second is a capital referendum for the construction of a sixth elementary school and an expansion at the high school.
District leaders presented this expansion plan at the January 2019 board meeting as a solution to rising enrollment rates. According to the Indiana Business Research Center’s projections, ZCS will see an increase of 200-plus students each year for the next decade. Many schools in the district will reach, or exceed, capacity by 2023.
The board proposes the district-owned 875 campus property as home for the sixth elementary school. It will mirror Union Elementary’s floor plan. ZCS Supt. Scott Robison said a single redistricting effort that coincides with the opening of the elementary school in 2022 could rebalance attendance rates until 2028.
If the referendums pass, the high school expansion will create a second east-west corridor, add 32 classrooms and allow for a centralized cafeteria and multi-purpose space.
The last portion of the project includes adding parking spaces to the Transportation Center and reconfiguring Boone Meadow Elementary to create first-, second-, third- and fourth-grade classrooms from old spaces.
If the referendum is unsuccessful, Chief Operations Officer Rebecca Coffman said the district will encounter increased class sizes, portable classrooms, traveling classes, student traffic hazards and multiple redistricting efforts.
The expansion’s estimated total cost is $89 million. If approved, design will begin immediately, with the elementary school construction scheduled for mid-2020 and the high school additions for 2021.
According to Chief Financial Officer Michael Shafer, electing to continue the operating referendum another term not only keeps the school tax rate the same, but he predicts a decrease in the future. The referendum also funds one-third of the district’s teachers and counselors. If the ballot question is approved, a tax calculator will be available online for residents to determine individual impact.
Zionsville residents Bob Brennan, Megan Magoni, Mike Copher and Mary Reid provided public comments in support of the project.
The second public hearing is scheduled for 6 p.m. May 13.
