Zionsville school board approves upgrades to Union Elementary outdoor education program

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By James Feichtner

The Zionsville Community Schools board of trustees unanimously approved a plan to enhance the outdoor education program at its June 15 meeting.

Representatives from Union Elementary came before the board to ask for approval to improve the school’s outdoor education program. In partnership with Dow Chemical, the school hopes to enhance its outdoor space in four phases:

• Phase one would include the rehabilitation of an existing wildflower garden.

• Phase two would involve improvements to an existing vegetable garden with the possible addition of a fruit orchard.

• Phase three would involve the installation of paths through native woodland plants, renovations to the outdoor classroom, including the addition of new benches and a storage structure for outdoor student supplies.

• Phase four would involve adding a kinesthetic learning environment to enhance the school’s wellness program.

With the help of outside donors, the enhancements would be cost neutral to the school administration. The board unanimously approved outdoor education plan.

The board also reviewed an end of the school year report. It showed that overall student attendance was approximately 97 percent, of which Supt. Scott Robison said was, “among the highest in the state.”

Of the graduating class of 2016, the report showed that 95 percent of students would be continuing on to two- or four-year colleges. Students will be attending more 130 different schools in the nation, with more than 54 percent attending Indiana state schools.

Up from the previous school year, Zionsville Community High School students earned approximately $15.5 million in scholarships for post-secondary education.

Other business discussed involved an update on textbook rental prices, the purchase of two new school buses at approximately $89,000 each and the purchase of two new vehicles for the grounds and maintenance department to replace outdated machinery. The board unanimously approved all of these items.

The next school board of trustees meeting is scheduled for July 1.


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