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<br /> <br />South Bend Common Council <br /> <br /> <br />NEWS RELEASE <br />February 10, 2009, 8:30 a.m. <br /> <br /> <br />New Tech High School Project <br /> <br />Contact: Derek D. Dieter, Council President 532-2200 or 235-5982 <br /> <br />At last evening’s the South Bend Community School Corporation Board voted 5-2 to pursue a New Tech high <br />th <br />school in South Bend. This would be the 5 public high school to be in operation by August. <br /> <br />As of this date, the South Bend Common Council has not had a formal update on the proposed New Tech high <br />school project. As a result, the Council’s Information and Technology Committee is calling a meeting on <br />Thursday, February 12, 2009 at 6 p.m. to receive information on this proposed project. <br /> <br />As elected public officials, many Council Members believe that they should be included in these discussions, <br />especially since this is a very challenging fiscal year, with 2010 projected to have less income. Nevertheless, <br />building partnerships to assist in the funding for this exciting educational concept, need open and public <br />dialogue so that the overall project would be a success. <br /> <br />If $1.3 million of TIF dollars are to be the source of the city’s share for this proposed project, the <br />Redevelopment Commission, and not the South Bend Common Council, has the authority to approve or <br />disapprove such a request, under current state law. Such TIF dollars are reported to be coming from the Airport <br />TIF District. <br /> <br />Many Council Members are asking: <br /> <br />? <br /> <br />What project in the Airport TIF would be delayed if the funding would be used for the New Tech high <br />school? <br /> <br />? <br /> <br />Would the $1.3 million of TIF monies be a one-time allocation? <br /> <br />? <br /> <br />Will the South Bend Community School Corporation be entering into a series of Interlocal Agreements <br />with the City of South Bend to share costs of school crossing guards, SRO costs, etc., if TIF dollars are <br />allocated for the New Tech high school? <br /> <br />? <br /> <br />Will the $450,000 anonymous donor, the United Way grant and other funding sources be in place if the <br />project would begin in the 2010-2011 school year? <br /> <br />These are just some of the many concerns which the South Bend Common Council believe should be addressed <br />on Thursday. <br />-30- <br /> <br /> <br />