By Desiree Williams
The Zionsville School Board met July 9 to hear a district-wide demographic analysis and vote on equipment purchases.
Matt Kinghorn, senior demographic analyst at the Indiana Business Research Center at Indiana University, presented to the board a study detailing the enrollment projections for Zionsville Community Schools.
Kinghorn said Boone County has seen steady post-Recession population growth, and that the ZCS district accounts for more than 70 percent of the county’s growth over the past decade. He said ZCS is not experiencing transition ratios similar to other schools, meaning that students are staying in the district through graduation.
Because of extensive construction, Kinghorn estimates an increased enrollment of up to 2,200 students over the next 10 years. There are 878 approved single-family developments throughout the district, and there are another 820 single-family units and 770 multi-family units waiting for approval.
During the meeting, ZCHS student Whitaker McKenzie thanked the board for supporting drug takeback day at the high school, which gathered and disposed of more than 240 pounds of opioids. McKenzie said other schools have expressed interest in conducting a similar event.
The board also approved the purchase of new desk/chair combinations for the high school as well as a new emergency generator.
The next scheduled meeting is at 6 p.m. Aug. 13.