HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-10-09 New Tech High School Project
South Bend Common Council
NEWS RELEASE
February 10, 2009, 8:30 a.m.
New Tech High School Project
Contact: Derek D. Dieter, Council President 532-2200 or 235-5982
At last evening’s the South Bend Community School Corporation Board voted 5-2 to pursue a New Tech high
th
school in South Bend. This would be the 5 public high school to be in operation by August.
As of this date, the South Bend Common Council has not had a formal update on the proposed New Tech high
school project. As a result, the Council’s Information and Technology Committee is calling a meeting on
Thursday, February 12, 2009 at 6 p.m. to receive information on this proposed project.
As elected public officials, many Council Members believe that they should be included in these discussions,
especially since this is a very challenging fiscal year, with 2010 projected to have less income. Nevertheless,
building partnerships to assist in the funding for this exciting educational concept, need open and public
dialogue so that the overall project would be a success.
If $1.3 million of TIF dollars are to be the source of the city’s share for this proposed project, the
Redevelopment Commission, and not the South Bend Common Council, has the authority to approve or
disapprove such a request, under current state law. Such TIF dollars are reported to be coming from the Airport
TIF District.
Many Council Members are asking:
?
What project in the Airport TIF would be delayed if the funding would be used for the New Tech high
school?
?
Would the $1.3 million of TIF monies be a one-time allocation?
?
Will the South Bend Community School Corporation be entering into a series of Interlocal Agreements
with the City of South Bend to share costs of school crossing guards, SRO costs, etc., if TIF dollars are
allocated for the New Tech high school?
?
Will the $450,000 anonymous donor, the United Way grant and other funding sources be in place if the
project would begin in the 2010-2011 school year?
These are just some of the many concerns which the South Bend Common Council believe should be addressed
on Thursday.
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