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Home My WebLink About06-04-2025 Community Relations Committee Compact Meeting Minutes SignedOFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK BI ANCA L. T IRAD O, c rrY C LERK COMMUNITY RELATIONS Committee Members Present: Committee Members Absent: Other Council Members Present: Others Present: Presenters: Agenda: JUNE 04, 2025; 1 :30 P.M. Ophe li a Gooden-Rodgers , Karen L. White , Alice Marie Pickens Sheila Niezgodski , Sherry Bolden-Simpson None Bianca L. Tirado , Margaret Gotsch , Bob Palmer, Carlos Leyva, Jan Eisenburg * None Education Compact Meeting Members marked with an asterisk(*) are in virtual attendance. Please note the attached link for the meeting recording: https://docs.southbendin .gov/WebLink/browse.aspx?dbid=0&mediaid=396376 Committee Chair Ophelia Gooden-Rodgers called to order the Community Relations Committee meeting at 1:30 P.M. Education Compact Meeting Committee Chair Gooden-Rodgers stated that the purpose of the meeting is to revise and update the Education Compact (EC) created by the City of South Bend (COSB) and South Bend Community School Corporation (SBCSC). Committee Member Karen L. White stated that they are going to go over the EC and speak with other committee members and citizen members on what their expectations for revising the EC . Committee Member White discussed that overall progress metrics that could be updated and that any major developments need to be communicated to the schools and within those specific districts. INTE GRI TY I SER VIC E I ACC ESS IBILIT Y Mallhcw Neal D EP\JIY O1Y QERK / D IRECTOR OF P OLICY M ,LI"garc t Colsc h D IRECTOR OF SPEGAL P ROJECTS EXC ELLE NC E I ACCO UNTA BILITY I INNOVA TI ON I INC LU SION I EMPOW ER MENT 455 County -City Building f 227 W. Jefferson Blvd . [ South Bend, Indian a 46601 I p. 574 .235.9221 I f. 574 .235 .9173 f www.southbendin .gov {~ CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK Committee Chair Gooden-Rodgers thanked Committee Member White and progressed to discuss Pillar One (I), Section One (1) student and family health and well-being. Committee Member White mentioned the City commitments which included economic policy and growth that benefits families and students. The City also encourages the use of City parks and City facilities to support academic growth and after school programs. Committee Member White then highlighted the SBCSC commitments which included building emotional and social capabilities of students, improving methods of discipline , encouraging greater use of facilities like the Charles Black Center and the Martin Luther King Center, and educating students on physical and mental health and wellness. Committee Chair Gooden-Rodgers asked what should be removed from the City and SBCSC commitment section . A conversation ensued and it was decided that the portion of the City commitments that list the Martin Luther King Center and the Charles Black Center be removed . It was also decided that K through twelve (12) be added to the portion of the SBC SC commitments. Committee Chair Gooden-Rodgers asked Carlos Leyva to revise the SBCSC commitments section and have it ready for the next meeting . Committee Member White asked what is involved if certain districts and schools don 't have access to after-hour facilities. Carlos Leyva stated that he would have to speak with the facilities manager and find out what buildings can be utili zed. Committee Chair Gooden-Rodgers stated that the SBCSC will continue to pro vide a school-based nurse in every building . Carlos Leyva stated that the SBCSC is struggling to get nurses in every school and is working with Beacon Health System as a partner to ensure nurses are present in every school. The Committee moved on to speak about Pillar One (I), Section Two (2), Early Childhood Education. Concerning City commitments and committing funds to increasing early childhood education in South Bend , Committee Member White stated that financial commitments should be viewed as a separate prospective. Committee Chair Gooden-Rodgers stated that she wants to discuss the financial commitments further with the Full Council and Council President. The Committee moved on to speak about Pillar One (1 ), Section Three (3 ), Technology Access. EXC ELLE NC E I ACCO U NTA BILITY I INNOVATI ON I INC LU SION I EM POWER M ENT 455 County-City Building 1227 W. Jefferson Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 Ip. 574.235.9221 If_ 574 .235.91731 www.southbendi n .gov (~ CFfY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK A conversation ensued and the Committee decided that Section Three (3) will need to be worded differently and turned over to the Full Council for further discussion. Committee Member White advised that copies of the EC will be provided to the Full Council so it can be reviewed , and recommendations can be made by Councilmembers. Committee Chair Gooden-Rodgers agreed with Committee Member White, and they moved on to discuss Pillar Two (2), Section One ( l ), Engaged Community. After reviewing Pillar Two (2), Section One ( l ), the Committee decided not to make any changes. Pillar Two (2), Section Two (2), Civic Participation was read by Committee Chair Gooden Rodgers and the Committee decided to present Section Two (2) to the Full Council to be studied , reviewed, and revised. Committee Chair Gooden-Rodgers read Pillar Three (3 ), Section One ( l ), Teacher Recruitment and Human Capital Development and it was decided that this Section is purely for the school administration and no changes should be made by the Committee. Committee Chair Gooden-Rodgers read Pillar Three (3), Section Two (2), Teacher and Parent Feedback and the Committee decided to remove the Joint Commitments bullet point. Committee Chair Gooden-Rodgers read Pillar Four (4), Section One (1), Graduation Pathways . Committee Member White asked if the school corporation has a pathway advisory committee. Committee Chair Gooden-Rodgers made a note to follow up. Committee Chair Gooden-Rodgers read Pillar Four (4), Section Two (2), Workforce Development. Committee Member White recommended finding out the numbers of internships provided by the SBCSC. Citizen Member Alice Marie Pickens asked who can have an internship and how are they selected. Committee Member White stated that the students must apply and then go through the interview process . Committee Chair Gooden-Rodgers stated that the Joint Committee portion of Pillar Four ( 4) needs to be revised. Committee Chair Gooden-Rodgers and Committee Member White read the Additional Commitments portion , and both suggested that the section needs to be further defined . EXC ELLE NC E I ACCO UNTA BILIT Y I INNOVA TI ON I INCL USION I EMPOW ER MENT 455 County-City Buildin g 1227 W. Jefferson Blvd . I South Bend , Ind ian a 46601 I p. 574.235 .9221 I f. 574.235.9173 j www .southbendin.gov CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK Committee Chair Gooden-Rodgers read the Compact Implementation and Governance and suggested that the Committee reevaluate how many times they should meet to discuss the EC. Committee Member White stated that the mission statement needs to be clearly defined. Committee Chair Gooden-Rodgers thanked everyone for coming. Clerk Bianca Tirado verified the next steps and discussed developing a rough draft before the next meeting. With no further business , Committee Chair Gooden-Rodgers adjourned the Community Relations Committee meeting at 2:30 P.M. Respectfully Submitted , NOTICE FOR HEARING AND SIGHT IMPAIRED PERSONS Auxiliary Aid or Other Services may be Available upon Request at No Charge. Please give Reasonable Advance Request when Possible EXC ELLE NC E I ACCOUNTAB ILIT Y I INNOVATI ON I IN C LU SIO N I EMPOWER M ENT 455 County-City Building 1227 W Jefferson Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 I p. 574 .235 .9221 I f. 574 .235.9173 1 www .southbendin .gov