ZCS Board of Trustees approves 2013 budget

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By Dr. Scott Robison

The Zionsville Community Schools Board of Trustees voted unanimously Oct. 24 to approve all resolutions associated with the 2013 balanced budget submission which would enable the school district to continue on the path of restored programs and reduced class sizes, as well as begin needed replacement of the high school roof.

During the Board’s budget discussion, numerous questions submitted by Board members and the public were addressed. Many of the questions addressed the possible availability of other funds to offset the need for the referendum funds.

The Board and audience members were reminded that it is unlawful to utilize school lunch funds or textbook rental fees for any purpose other than what they are designated. Additionally, CFO Mike Shafer advised that the cost of the district’s health insurance plan is 3.2 percent below the cost of the state health insurance plan. Further, it should be noted that the district is already utilizing buses beyond the state-mandated life span of 12 years.

In answering other questions related to the referendum, Shafer confirmed that the estimates for 2013 regarding enrollment, per pupil tuition support and total assessed valuation were in line with the estimates used to determine the referendum amount earlier in the year.

Funds generated as a result of the district’s effort to promote rental of the Performing Arts Center and other earned income opportunities are in use to cover expenses that are unfunded, including the state-mandated teacher evaluation program. ZCS has chosen to use the DOE evaluation model called RISE. An initial report on RISE shows that the estimated implementation cost to the district will be at least $700,000 annually. No additional state funds were provided for this implementation, which includes multiple teacher observations to be completed throughout the year. To date, 381 of the needed 1,720 annual teacher observations have been completed.

Board President Rob Wingerter remarked that the Board continues to be focused on cost-cutting and revenue generating efforts. Among these are the Board’s continued efforts with state legislators to get a more equitable piece of the funding pie and continuing efforts with the Town Council and other local governmental units to coordinate on planning, budgeting and sharing resources.

Prior to the vote on the budget, the Board received the 2013 report on class sizes from the district’s Chief Operations Officer, Bob Bostwick. Bostwick reported that as a result of the successful operating referendum, the district was able to fill 25 teaching positions to help restore science and reading programs and lower class sizes generally. Referendum funds will not be received by the district until the spring of 2013, so the Board had previously authorized the use of the Rainy Day Fund to allow for the class size and program improvements to occur during this school year.

Class sizes have improved across all levels but still remain larger overall than prior to the start of the district’s cost-cutting efforts in 2008. This is consistent with the intent of the School Board in selecting the size of the operating referendum earlier this year. Full restoration to traditional class size goals and programs lost to budget cuts would have added more than $1.5 million annually to the referendum request of $4.7 million. Instead, school officials chose to seek moderate levels of improvement over a three-year period, which won the support of the community’s voters.


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