Zionsville Community Schools superintendent gives inaugural State of the Schools address

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By Heather Lusk

Dr. Scott Robison presents the inaugural State of the Schools address. (Photo by Heather Lusk)
Dr. Scott Robison presents the inaugural State of
the Schools address. (Photo by Heather Lusk)

For the inaugural State of the Schools address, Zionsville Community Schools superintendent Dr. Scott Robison shared the where, why and what of ZCS.

Addressing school funding, Robison stated that ZCS is the state’s lowest funded school system. In 2009, $5,696 was funded by the state for each student in the school system, an amount that dropped to $4,961 in 2015 resulting in a cumulative funding loss of $49.6 million to the district.

“Our massive growth continues,” said Robison, who reported more than 7,000 students are enrolled in ZCS with more than 1,000 staff members. That number is projected to grow to 8,475 students in 2025, excluding preschool, according to projections from the Kelley School of business analysis.

With 1.6 million square feet of buildings for ZCS, the school board is considering ways to accommodate growth in a debt neutral way to maintain a pledge made several years ago not to undertake new debt for construction.

Robison said that helping kids be more resilient will be a focus of the schools moving forward with a “human capital campaign” to help kids succeed with self-help and balance.

“Slightly above middle here is just an amazing high bar anywhere else,” he said, “so we’re looking at the social emotional things that all kids have to deal with.”

“Aligning them better will only assist us in helping our children be resilient, have enough grit to avoid certain peer pressures and having a happy run as a student who is coming of age in this amazing community,” Robison said.

Robison’s address was bookended by Tracy Phillips, executive director of the Zionsville Education Foundation, who announced that in May ZEF gave its one millionth dollar to ZCS, and Zionsville Community High School senior Katie Hamori, who shared the benefits she has derived from the school system in pursuing her educational dreams.


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