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SpU TN 8~ <br />~°~'"~'~`'''~'~''~° Cit of South Bend <br />~- '''~~ Y <br />~ ~~"~ '! d <br />~~\EACE/~ <br />~ ~ ~ ~ Common Council <br />1865 ~ 441 County-City Building . 227 W. Jefferson Blvd <br />South Bend, Indiana 46601-1830 <br />Derek D. Dieter <br />President <br />Oliver J. Davis <br />Vice-President <br />Ann Puzzello <br />Chairperson, Committee <br />of the Whole <br />Derek D. Dieter <br />First District <br />Henry Davis, Jr. <br />Second District <br />Thomas LaFountain <br />Third District <br />Ann Puzzello <br />Fourth District <br />David Varner <br />Fifth District <br />Oliver J. Davis <br />Sixth District <br />Al "Buddy" Kirsits <br />At Large <br />Timothy A. Rouse <br />At Large <br />Karen L. White <br />At Large <br />September 9, 2009 <br />Members of the Common Council <br />4~' Floor County-City Building <br />South Bend, Indiana 46601 <br />(574) 235-9321 <br />Fag (574) 235-9173 <br />TDD (574) 235-5567 <br />http: //www. southbendin.gov <br />Re: Ordinance Enhancing the Duties of the Council's Community <br />Relations Committee <br />Dear Council Members: <br />During the past few weeks, school children throughout the City of South Bend have <br />been returning to public and non-public schools for the 2009-2010 school year. It is <br />our hope that with the excitement of the new school year, that we can create and <br />formalize a mechanism for better public dialogue between members of the South <br />Bend Common Council, the school superintendent, school trustees of the South Bend <br />Community School Corporation Board of Trustees, their committees and/or their <br />representatives; as well as with other non-public school officials operating schools within the <br />City of South Bend. <br />As noted in the attached articles, there are many positive benefits to regular and ongoing <br />dialogue among elected officials representing public schools, local government officials and <br />community residents. Some of these noted benefits include: <br />• By bridging the fields of education and urban policies, it helps create equitable, <br />diverse and livable cities and schools <br />• By creating connections between cities and schools, it helps foster a <br />collaborative environment for public schools, local government, community <br />leaders, and neighborhood residents help to achieve goals which embrace public <br />policy, urban planning and quality educational practices <br />• "Connecting schoolwork to fun, engaging activities -like community planning <br />brainstorming - is important", Center for Cities & Schools, Fall Forum 2005, <br />School as Center of Community: How Emeryville is Transforming its Schools <br />and City Policies by Placing Education at the Heart of Redevelopment, p.12. <br />The proposed new language in the attached ordinance is underlined. It would be <br />codified into Section 2-10(i)(3) of the South Bend Municipal Code which addresses <br />the eleven (11) standing committees of the South Bend Common Council. <br />