09-28-09 Common Council Meeting Agenda & Packet

Home Browse Search

SpU T$ ~~ ~ -~: ~ ~~\EACE/~ ~ I865 ~ 441 County-City Building • 227 W. Jefferson Blvd South Bend, Indiana 46601-1830 Derek D. Dieter President Oliver J. Davis Vice-President Ann Puzzello Chairperson, Committee of the Whole Derek D. Dieter First District Henry Davis, Jr. Second District Thomas LaFountain Third District Ann Puzzello Fourth District David Varner Fifth District Oliver J. Davis Sixth District Al "Buddy" Kirsits At Large Timothy A. Rouse At Large Karen L. White At Large (574) 235-9321 Faz (574} 235-4173 TDD (574) 235-5567 http:! /v~nvw. southb endin. gov September 9, 2009 Members of the Common Council ~~ '~ ~ ~ ~ ~,, ~ Z _,. ~ ~j 4~' Floor County-City Building r South Bend, Indiana 46601 Re: ®rdinance Enhancing the Duties ®f the Council's Coynanunity Relations Cogn~xiittee Dear Council Members: During the past few weeks, school children throughout the City of South Bend have been returning to public and non-public schools for the 2009-2010 school year. It is our hope that with the excitement of the new school year, that we can create and formalize a mechanism for' better public dialogue between members of the South Bend Common Council, the school superintendent, school trustees of the South Bend Community School Corporation Board of Trustees, their committees and/or their representatives; as well as with other non-public school officials operating schools within the City of South Bend. As noted in the attached articles, there are many positive benefits to regular and ongoing dialogue among elected officials representing public schools, local government officials and community residents. Some of these noted benefits include: By bridging the fields of education and urban policies, it helps create equitable, diverse and livable cities and schools By creating connections between cities and schools, it helps foster a collaborative environment for public schools, local government, community leaders, and neighborhood residents help to achieve goals which embrace public policy, urban planning and quality educational practices a "Connecting schoolwork to fun, engaging activities -like community planning brainstorming - is important", Center for Cities & Schools, Fall Forum 2005, School as Center of Community: How Emeryville is Transforming its Schools and City Policies by Placing~Education at the r'Ieart of Rea'evelopment, p.12. The proposed new language in the attached ordinance is underlined. It would be codified into Section 2-10(i)(3) of the South Bend Municipal Code which addresses the eleven (11) standing committees of the South Bend Common Council.