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South Bend Redevelopment Commission <br />Regular Meeting -March 6, 2009 <br />6. NEW BUSINESS (CONT.) <br />D. Airport Economic Development Area <br />(1) Discussion of New Tech High School. <br />project. Mr. Kapsa distributed a press release <br />fi•om the State Superintendent praising three <br />of the six tech high schools in Indiana for <br />their improved graduation rates. The South <br />Bend Community School Corporation <br />intends to copy those models. The New Tech <br />model focuses on small student to teacher <br />ratios that provide for more teacher-student <br />interaction, one computer per student, and <br />uses aproject-based approach to learning. <br />While curriculum is based on state standards, <br />project assignments span multiple subjects <br />and incorporate new technology skills such <br />as web sites and multi-media presentations. <br />The first major step in the process is to <br />acquire a building. The school corporation <br />has seen declining resources in recent years <br />and cannot start this high school on its own. <br />They would like to use Airport Economic <br />Development Area (AEDA) TIF funds to <br />renovate a building, and hope to start 100 <br />students in August. <br />Mr. Laskowski, co-chair of the New Tech <br />study committee with Mr. Kapsa, noted the <br />importance of an educated workforce to <br />growing business in the community. <br />Graduation rates have been dropping in <br />traditional schools. We need to address that <br />problem. The business community, along <br />with the school corporation, has been looking <br />at other models to accomplish that. The New <br />Tech model started in 1990 in California, <br />driven by the business community there. The <br />study committee visited many New Tech <br />20 <br />