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Home My WebLink About5001-23 Calling for the Continuing Use of all Current South Bend Public High Schools as High Schools RESOLUTION No. 5001-23 Passed by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana February 13, 20 23 Attest: & ( City Clerk Dawn M. Jones Attest. SA4kbia. -M c3/4 President of Common Council Presented by me to the Mayor of the City of South Bend, Indiana February 14, 20 23 Zd("LiAtO 72' e-/11 City Clerk Dawn M. Jones Ftlf"Approved and signed by me 7 70, 20 2 )///1"L Mayor 2" SUBSTITUTE BILL NO. 23-04 RESOLUTION NO. 5001-23 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 Whereas, our public schools are a vital piece of our City and they do so much more than just teach children; they are hubs for the neighborhood and community, hosting continuing education courses for adults, extracurricular activities, sporting events, academic clubs, public swimming pools, open libraries, and invite the community for local events, concerts, seminars, and more; and Whereas, strong public education system is essential to the individual and collective well-being of our country and its people, and to the development of an informed and engaged citizenry; and Whereas, public education serves to develop an informed and productive workforce through a system that allows for social mobility and repeated studies which illustrate that free, universal education for children in grades K-12 can be the greatest factor in addressing inequality in society, and Whereas, our State legislature has slowly reduced funding for public schools,passed a law in which a private for profit can purchase a vacant school building for$1.00, and has new legislation proposing to take additional funding from public schools to provide to those that are home-schooled. Another Bill would make the currently non-partisan school board elections partisan party elections. Whereas, as a result of these state legislation actions, our South Bend Community School Corporation has experienced significantly reduced enrollment and reduced funding; and Whereas, the School Corporation and School Board are now facing difficult choices regarding the utilization of South Bend Community School Corporation buildings and possible changes in building uses, including closures; and Whereas, at a recent Schools Community Task Force meeting the design firm Fanning Howey three potential building utilization scenarios and began a month-long process engaging feedback on these three scenarios to better utilize buildings; and Whereas, 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 Whereas, the information provided to the public leaves many important questions unanswered, including, but not limited to: 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; and; Whereas; the South Bend Community School Corporation has set dates for upcoming meetings to both provide information and receive feedback prior to making any decision; and Whereas; it has been reported that the South Bend Community School Corporation plans to make a final decision next month. Now, Therefore, be it resolved, by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana, as follows: Section I. The Common Council recognizes and highlights that the Indiana State Legislature's priorities and policies have played a significant role in putting our School Corporation into the position it is in now and has provided little to no assistance or support for our School Corporation. . Section II. The Common Council asks the School Corporation to consider factors beyond just the School Corporation's financial situation and costs and consider the developmental, educational, financial, emotional, and societal harm to the residents of those neighborhoods and our city as a whole. Section III. The Common Council acknowledges and commends the School Corporation for its public and transparent informational and engagement process regarding possible School closures. Section IV. The Common Council encourages all residents to please engage in this process and to express their opinions on the various scenarios. Section V. The Common Council urges the School Corporation to refrain from making any final decisions until more questions are answered. Section VI. 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 schools or to retain as schools of the South Bend Community School Corporation, and strongly encourages the South Bend Community School Corporation to do so. Approved this 13`x' day of February 2023 MC3h4C14-- Sharon McBride., President, 3'District. South Bend Common Council Sheila Niezgodski,Vice-President, 6"'District. South end Common Council - 0,44 Canneth Lee, 1'District. Committee of the Whole South Bend Common Council 74 He Davrs,`i. 2'"' trict. South Bend Common Council Troy Wa er,4th District. So h nd Common Banc' Karen L.White, At Large. South Bend Common Council (4411/J Rachel Tomas Morgan, At Large Sout end Common Council q)(11j-04-L(44-ate% ✓ Lori . Hamann, At Large South Bend Common Council 4:661t," //,__ Dawn M. Jones, City Clerk Office of the City Clerk Presented by me, theAndersigned Clerk of the City of South Bend, to the Mayor of the City of South Bend, Indiana on the 11 day of February 2023 at 1A o'clock et. m. eXtee.Z 2t Dawn M. Jones, City Clerk Office of the City Clerk #4iApproved and signed by me, on the 2 0 day of February 2023, at 3 o'clock . m. ji4AA../- Jamesueller, Mayor iI City of South Bend