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CITY OF SOUTH BEND OFFICE OF THE CLERK <br /> charter schools and it is very confusing for parents to understand how all those things work <br /> together. That is also something to think about. <br /> Committee Chair Williams-Preston then opened the floor to members of the public. <br /> Nate Levin-Aspenson, 330 West Colfax Avenue, stated, I work with a group called Indivisible <br /> Indiana District Two (2) and around late fall of 2016 we started to look into a particular <br /> administrator at Clay High School. There are a lot of physical abuse and bullying incidents in that <br /> school and not much being done about it. From a file, it was handed to us by a whistleblower who <br /> also worked at that school. It pointed to a much larger and more endemic practice of not only <br /> covering for this administrator but also kind of a culture of hostility towards students. It almost <br /> draws an 'us' versus `them' mentality. It's troubling. We ended up dubbing shadow suspensions <br /> where after a child had reached their maximum of days suspended, this administrator would just <br /> send them home and tell their parents to keep them home and they kind of just drop off the map. <br /> This points to a much larger problem. The principal of that school is fully aware of it. Through our <br /> many conversations with Dr. Spells and others, they became aware of the problem and have been <br /> fully aware of it for about two (2) years now. I have an email exchange between the School Board <br /> and they are now fully aware of it as well. In addition to this very hostile culture towards students, <br /> in particular students of color, there are also these institutional practices that are pushing away <br /> students as well as violating State educational laws and,quite possibly,the Federal Consent Decree <br /> on South Bend Community Schools. I just wanted to share with the Committee my experience <br /> with this issue. Based on my interactions, I do not believe that any action is being taken on their <br /> part to address these cultural and institutional problems. <br /> Sue Kesim, 4022 Kennedy Drive, stated, I want to get very briefly back to housing. I would like <br /> to remind the Council that within the last three (3) years, you guys gave millions of dollars to <br /> Miami Hills, an out of town developer, to make changes. If those changes weren't made or <br /> whatever,perhaps talk with your Council Attorney about doing a callback on some of that money. <br /> They were given money. <br /> Council President Tim Scott stated, It was a bond issue and they fell through on it. No money ever <br /> came from the City of South Bend. <br /> With no further business, Committee Chair Williams-Preston adjourned the Community Relations <br /> Committee meeting at 5:18 p.m. <br /> Res•ectfully Submitted, <br /> , 0,12L. <br /> Regi tilliams-Preston, Committee Chair <br /> EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT <br /> 455 County-City Building 227 W.Jefferson Bvld South Bend,Indiana 46601 p 574.235.9221 f 574.235.9173 TTD574.235.5567 www.southbendin.gov <br /> 6 <br />