Compiled by Desiree Williams
Zionsville Community Schools board of trustees met Feb. 12 to discuss kindergarten through eighth grade counseling materials, community events and software updates.
What happened: The board approved the purchase and implementation of Second Step, a social-emotional learning curriculum, for the elementary and middle school level to continue the district’s work in creating a comprehensive K-12 counseling program.
What it means: Kris Devereaux, chief academic officer, said Second Step was chosen because it is included in the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices and rated as exemplary by the U.S. Dept. of Education’s expert panel of safe schools. Second Step’s elementary program emphasizes skills for learning, emotion management, empathy and problem solving. The middle school program focuses on mindset, goals, serious peer conflicts, values and friendships. The program will be funded by a Lily Endowment grant.
What’s next: ZCS plans to implement the program in the 2018-19 school year.
What happened: Miss Fall Festival 2018 Claire Nieshalla presented a proposal for a prescription drug takeback day, which aligns with her platform of substance abuse prevention.
What it means: Nieshalla proposed that from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. during a weekday in late April the community can bring unused prescription drugs to a collection site for the Zionsville Police Dept. to discard. “A drug takeback day has the potential to clear from our community excess prescription drugs in those cabinets that may be vulnerable to being misused,” she said.
What happened: The board approved the purchase of a new antivirus, anti-malware and anti-ransomware program as well as a single sign-on product for the district’s devices.
What it means: Sophos, the antivirus software, will protect the district’s computers and servers. The single sign-on product, Endboard, will create one username and password for each student that gives them access to every digital resource required. Chief Technology Officer Dan Layton said the district uses more than 35 digital products, many of which require specific log-in information.
