By Ann Marie Shambaugh
The Zionsville Community Schools Board of Trustees held its first meeting of the year Jan. 12 at the Education Services Center.
What happened: The board approved $98,010 for building controls upgrades.
What this means: Once the upgrades are complete, district officials can control air conditioning, heat and lighting systems quickly from a single remote location. The current system is slow and becoming outdated, making it impractical to make adjustments when the district has a two-hour delay or other schedule change. The new system is expected to save time and money.
What’s next: The new system is planned to be constructed between March and September, and it is expected to be completely functional by the end of October.
What happened: The board received an update on the district’s virtualization upgrades.
What this means: In June, the board green-lighted plans to virtualize equipment and computer programs, which would allow students and teachers to access classroom software and materials from any device connected to the Internet. Virtualization is underway at district middle schools and the high school, where it has been well-used and received. The virtualization program is expected to save the district money in several ways, such as minimizing the number of computers it must replace.
What’s next: Virtualization is expected to come to the elementary schools in the coming months with all schools up and running by the end of the semester.
What happened: The board approved new officers and took a salary cut for the upcoming year.
What this means: Shari Alexander Richey is now serving as board president; Jane Burgess is vice president; and Joe Stein is secretary. The board unanimously agreed to accept a salary of $1 per year (the lowest amount allowed to legally be considered an employee) to show their commitment to saving money across the district. The annual salary was previously set at $2,000.
What’s next: The officers will serve in their new roles for one year. In January 2016, the board will once again vote on reorganization and salary.
What happened: The Board of Finance held its annual meeting before the regular school board meeting.
What this means: Every year the district is required to hold a meeting of the Board of Finance, which is comprised of the same officials who serve on the school board. The board is tasked with reviewing the district’s investment policy. The annual report showed that the district earned $71,158.59 in interest earnings in 2014, which is more than triple the earnings in the previous year. The report states that the increase is due in part to the district coordinating an investment strategy with the Town of Zionsville.
What’s next: The Board of Finance is not expected to meet again until January 2016.
