|
REGULAR MEETINGOCTOBER 8, 2007
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Dawn Jones, President, South Bend Community School Corporation Board, 602 Cushing
<br />Street, South Bend, Indiana, spoke in opposition to this bill. She stated that she is the
<br />President of the South Bend Community School Corporation Board. According to the
<br />Bridges in Poverty Concept, people who live in poverty are in survival mode,
<br />concentrating on providing for today, middle class families focus on preparing for
<br />tomorrow by attending college, purchasing home, etc. Those who are wealthy do not
<br />have to worry about surviving for today, nor do they have to worry about preparing for
<br />tomorrow, therefore, many focus their attention on preserving the past. Marquette is
<br />located on a very diverse neighborhood with diverse income levels; however, the student
<br />body in Marquette is predominately low to moderate income. Nonetheless, many of the
<br />parents in this district understand the significance of preparing their young children to be
<br />successful in education. Recently, the School Corporation received a grant that will not
<br />only address the consent decree and racial isolation but also establish a Montessori
<br />Program at Marquette. This program has been scientifically proven to be successful for
<br />example 100% of the third graders in the Montessori Program in Ft. Wayne, Indiana,
<br />public school system passed their I-Step test. The student population of program crossed
<br />many diverse lines as well, such as race, ethnicity, and economic background. A new
<br />facility will be beneficial for the school corporation in order for them to offer the best of
<br />the best to the students with a state-of-the art facility. She stated that the facility plan
<br />does not just involve Marquette Primary Center, Clay High School, Washington High
<br />School, and Monroe Primary Center. To support the vote for landmark status would
<br />mean all four projects would be delayed longer than necessary. It is extremely important
<br />that the necessary repairs at all four schools which are located in all sides of town, the
<br />northside, southside, eastside and Westside. She urged the Council to keep this in mind
<br />when they are making their decision on landmarking Marquette. The SBCSC Board of
<br />Trustees was elected by the public which is an illustration of trust in them to make
<br />important decisions on educational issues. She stated that the Board does not take this
<br />lightly, they make the decisions based on extensive research, planning and preparation. It
<br />is their duty as school board members to study the data and make informed decisions
<br />based on fact. They have done this regarding this issue. Students will be impacted all
<br />over the district by this decision. They owe it to this community to make provisions for
<br />the students to be academically successful in an educational environment which fosters
<br />growth, builds self-esteem, and introduces parents and teachers to yet another successful
<br />method of teaching and an extremely beneficial curriculum. They owe it to the staff to
<br />furnish a work environment that is high-tech, clean, efficient, pleasant, and second to
<br />none. The current structure at all of these facilities do not meet the educational needs as
<br />necessary to move the students into the technical competitive career market that they
<br />need to be in. She urged the Council to vote no on landmarking and allow the taxpayers
<br />to make the decision through the petition process that has already been established. She
<br />urged the Council to help the SBCSC Board to help the youth of the community by
<br />providing curriculums, programs, and yes facilities which will eventually cultivate
<br />economic growth for the entire community. Together academic expansion can be
<br />promoted for all of the students without allowing them to become stagnant in bricks and
<br />mortar that will prevent them from mentally and emotionally moving forward. The
<br />students deserve a new facility.
<br />
<br />Mr. John Roggeman, 3811 Fernhill Drive, Mishawaka, Indiana, spoke in opposition to
<br />this bill. Mr. Roggeman stated that he is a City Councilmember in Mishawaka, Indiana
<br />and has served on the Mishawaka School Board for over ten (10) years. He also stated
<br />that he is the Director of Employee Relations for the SBCSC. After serving in the
<br />various rolls that he has in the public spotlight, and is keenly aware of the pressures
<br />before the Council in making this decision. As with any decision, the positives and
<br />negatives to the situation. He submits that the negatives by far surpass the positives.
<br />There has been substantial evidence and opinion tonight on how to vote on this issue,
<br />which he reminds the Council that it is only about the historic status of the bricks and
<br />mortar located at 1905 College Street. The Council must set aside any emotion regarding
<br />past graduates, teachers, and individual experiences that might have been in that building.
<br />The romantic notions of FDR must be set aside also, and the PWA, and do what is A-OK
<br />for the students. He urged the Council to look at the ramifications of placing Marquette
<br />School under the historical status; the status would add another layer of government to
<br />impede getting things accomplished. There has been some discussion about Jefferson
<br /> 16
<br />
<br />
|