School Board Adds Fitness to Business
By: Jessica Kiefer
October 19, 2009
Monday night’s Zionsville Community School Board meeting had the board members literally bouncing out of their seats.
Not the typical assembly, the board members’ regular chairs were pushed aside, only to be replaced with large, red exercise stability balls to mimic the latest classroom activity in two Stonegate Elementary School classrooms. As third grader Charlotte Brown directed the board through “high bounces”, “all-around-your-ball spinning” and “ball jumping jacks”, she was assisted by three other Stonegate students who provided coaching and criticism. Much lower to the ground than the usual swivel chairs, the board members had to peer over the high table in front of them, heads popping up during bouncing intervals.
As Charlotte directed them through “ball jumping jacks”, she admonished board member Chip Cravens for not getting his hands high enough. He obeyed, and the large crowd, which included several high school students getting extra credit for a government class, did not attempt to stifle their laughter. Some said they were just waiting for someone to slip off their ball.
The exercise stability balls that provided such entertainment are the product of a classroom grant recently awarded by the Zionsville Education Foundation, presented to the board so they could participate. Through the grant, both students and teachers are provided with the balls to replace their regular chairs. Two Stonegate classrooms are using the balls, which fourth grade teacher Deb Milam said helps build core strength for the students.
“[The balls] increase attention and focus by providing constant motor feedback, increase core strength and postural control and provide students knowledge of their own learning styles,” she said.
ZEF Director Lynn Kissel said grants totaling more than $70,000 were given to ZCS in 2008, all with a mission to promote academic excellence.
Such excellence was recognized as the board heard individual presentations from the National Merit Semi-Finalists, 13 Zionsville Community High School seniors who achieved exceptionally high PSAT (preliminary SAT) scores. Of the more than 1.5 million students who take the test each year, 16,000 become National Merit Semi-Finalists.
ZCHS Principal Chris Willis said Zionsville’s distinction within the conference is impressive.
“While Carmel’s number was larger, we have a greater percentage of our senior class represented and had the largest percentage recognized within the conference total,” he said.
“Zionsville Community High School has been represented well by these outstanding young students.”
A majority of the students said they plan on majoring in engineering or pre-medicine, to which Superintendent Scott Robison responded by giving them each a 100 Grand candy bar and saying, “Here is half of your first year’s salary.”
Eventually, the board got back in their chairs and back to business, approving additional sports lighting for practice fields at the new athletic complex on County Road 875 East, scheduled to open in spring 2011.
Given the option to reuse existing light poles and purchase new lamps and fixtures, or to purchase new poles, fixtures and lamps with a 25-year warranty, the board approved the latter, totaling $58,000. Paired with a maintenance guarantee, Robison said the additional $30,000 compared to the other options was justifiable.
“I’ve been involved in projects where existing poles and lights were augmented with new lamps, and we rather consistently saw issues with having to [maintain] these poles,” Robison said. “I think when I see how close the options really are, and when you consider the 25-year warranty, I would recommend we do that.”
ZCS Athletic Director Greg Schellhase said the additional lighting is important as athletic programs continue to grow.
“I think it’s a wise decision to put lighting up to speed now, while it’s at a pretty affordable price, rather than have to go back later and do it at that time,” he said. “If we ever need that field for IHSAA (Indiana High School Athletic Association) competition, we certainly will need the lighting up to standard.”
In other action, the board approved the implementation of software allowing remote scheduled installment so that each computer within each school building does not require individual maintenance. The ScriptLogic software will also allow control machines to shut them down after a period of inactivity, saving an estimated $67,000 in energy costs.
Absent the exercise stability ball routines and third grade instructors, the next Zionsville School Board meeting will be Monday, Nov. 9 at 6 p.m.
