What happened:
The Board of Trustees approved $1.95 million from the ZCS Rainy Day Fund to carry out the successful May 8 referendum. They also voted at their May 14 meeting in favor of applying for a grant that would fund full-day kindergarten.
What it means:
With the approved $1.95 million, 21 teachers and five counselors will be hired. This will lead to smaller class sizes and sustained property values. The Rainy Day fund will decrease from $2.85 million to $900,000.
If Zionsville’s application for full-day kindergarten grant funding is approved, full-day kindergarten will replace the current Beyond the Kindergarten Bell (BKB) structure. A five-hour kindergarten school day would be implemented with money from the General Fund, not referendum funds. Due to the proposed five-hour configuration, ZCS would be able to purchase approximately $150,000 worth of capital necessary for the full-day kindergarten structure for only $20,386 worth of local subsidies.
What’s next:
Option B of the referendum will be implemented, letting the Reduction in Force notice die. The policy on employee background checks is still undergoing consideration and was tabled until the June 11 meeting. The Board went through its first reading of new policy and will hold off on further consideration until a second reading has been completed.