HomeMy WebLinkAboutBill No. 23-04 South Bend High School Resolution 2ND SUBSTITUTEn_UTye
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1865 FEB 0 e zez3
Sharon L. McBride CITYCLEWN,SMO ES
IN3rdDistrictCouncilMember
President
Chairwoman Karen L. White
Residential Neighborhoods Committee
South Bend Common Council
4th Floor, County-City Building
South Bend, IN 46601
RE: A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, CALLING FOR
THE CONTINUING USE OF ALL CURRENT SOUTH BEND PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS
AS HIGH SCHOOLS
Dear Chairwoman White:
As you know, there is currently under consideration proposals to close some South Bend
Community schools. Two of the proposals being considered involve closing one or two of the
current high schools. The South Bend Community School Corporation has invited public input. I
believe that the Residential Neighborhoods Committee and the entire Council should accepted this
invitation.
This proposed resolution raises unanswered questions about the current proposals which definitely
impact the best interests of teachers, students, families and neighborhoods. I don't believe that
these questions have adequately been considered. This proposed resolution urges the School
Corporation to refrain from making any final decisions until more questions are answered. The
proposed resolution also encourages the School Board to keep all the public high schools open as
high schools.
Please add this proposed resolution to your Committee's agenda for discussion on February 13,
2023 and consideration by the entire Council at its meeting later that night.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely yours,
Sharon McBride, President
South Bend Common Council
227 W.Jefferson Blvd.Rm.441 Office:574)235-9321 FAX: (574)235-9173
County-City Building Voicemail: (574)235-5981 TDD: (574)235-5567
South Bend,IN 46601-1830 Email:SMCBRIDE@SOUTHBENDIN.GOV
BILL_ NO. 24-04
RESOLUTION NO. 5001-23
FEB O 8 2UiJ
I '
DAWN M. JONES
CITY CLERK, SOUTH BEND, IN
A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, CALLING
FOR THE CONTINUING USE OF ALL CURRENT SOUTH BEND PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS AS HIGH
SCHOOLS.
~ on January 24, 2023, a Community Task Force meeting regarding utilization of South Bend
Community School Corporation buildings was held; and
~ at that meeting, the design firm Fanning Howey represented that the buildings being evaluated
for possible closure are not currently being used for educational purposes; and
6)/"-,, on February 6, 2023, it was reported that the School Corporation was asking for feedback on
three scenarios to better utilize buildings; and
6)/"-,, of the three scenarios, only one kept all current high schools open as high schools; and
~ the other two options would close either one or two of the current high schools as high schools;
and
6)/"-,, on February 7, 2023, the same design firm, Fanning Howey presented different proposals at
a public meeting than represented in the January 24 meeting, now proposing the options of closing one or
two of the current high schools the three options; and
~ the information provided to the public leaves many important questions unanswered, including,
but not limited to:
and;
1) What will happen to teachers and other employees at the affected schools;
2) What will happen to dual language programs;
3) Will the high school magnet program be eliminated;
4) How would school closures impact the surrounding neighborhoods;
5) What happens to students who are just now beginning academic programs not offered by all
schools;
~ the South Bend Community School Corporation has invited public input prior to making any
decision; and ·
~ it has been reported that the South Bend Community School Corporation plans to make a final
decision next month.
Section I. School closures involve much more than dollars and cents.
Section·u. School closures affect more than just the students and families who attend the schools.
Section III. School closures affect entire neighborhoods.
Section IV. The design firm Fanning Howey and the South Bend School Corporation has focused
almost entirely on the economic impact of school closures.
Section V. The information being provided to the public is fluid and continues to change.
Section VI. The South Bend Common Council encourages all residents to express their opinions on the . . vanous scenanos.
Section VII. The South Bend Common Council urges the School Corporation to refrain making any
final decisions until more questions are answered.
Section VIII. The Common Council believes that it is in the best interests of the residents of South Bend
to keep all current high schools in existence as high school and strongly encourages the South Bend Community
School Corporation to do so. ·
Attest:
Dawn M. Jones, City Clerk
Office of the City Clerk
Sharon McBride, President
South Bend Common Council
Presented by me, the undersigned Clerk of the City of South Bend, to the Mayor of the City of South Bend,
Indiana on the _____ day of February 2023 at _o'clock _. m.
Dawn M. Jones, City Clerk
Office of the City Clerk
Approved and signed by me, on the _____ day of February 2023, at_ o'clock_. m.
James Mueller, Mayor
City of South Bend
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FEB U 8 iU2J
L
DAWN M. JONES
CITY CLERK, SOUTH BENO, IN