10/08/07 Council Meeting Minutes

Home Browse Search

REGULAR MEETINGOCTOBER 8, 2007 School and its landmark status, and this afternoon at the committee meeting the windows were an issue being talked about and that the other side stated that they saved the taxpayers thousands of dollars, he noted that is highly debatable. But what is debatable is the amount of time it took just to repair the windows. It took over 4 to 5 months to get this done because of the historical status placed on the building. He stated that in some other states such as Michigan, it has been determined by the Courts that local historic preservation groups have no authority at all when it comes to the use, configuration, and appearance of school buildings. Aside from these concrete consequences of historic designation there is an important overriding factor on which the Council should base the vote. This important fact deal with the government itself, the SBCSC has been duly elected by approximately the same electorates that have placed their trust in the South Bend Common Council to their positions four years ago. The Board Members have spend countless hours of time, sole searching and heartache studying the issues involved. The Board has unanimously chosen to proceed down the path of a new Marquette. The current Superintendent, Dr. Zimmerman, as well as the previous Superintendent, Dr. Raymond, both spent their lives in education and both supported the building of a new Marquette. The Council decision should be clear, trust the experience and expertise that has gone into building a new Marquette. Trust fellow elected officials that this is the best path to follow. Trust constituents who voted for these Board Members and do not add additional hurdles by placing the landmark status on the old building at 1905 College Street. It has served a useful life and urged the Council to vote no on this ordinance. Ms. Cheryl Batteast, Principal, Marquette Primary Center, 1905 College, South Bend, Indiana, stated that her heart breaks after hearing some of the comments made about Marquette Primary Center as being a good place to go to school and a good place to learn. She stated that this is her first year at Marquette and by looking at the picture of Marquette; it looks like a beautiful building from the outside. That impression quickly changed when she entered the building, to the smell of mildew and mold in the 94° temperatures. She stated that the temperature just today was very hot and she had to watch her teachers and children suffer once again. Marquette is not a good place to learn. She stated that she is there everyday and is trying her best to fight back the tears because she wants her students to learn in the same environment that the rest of the children in South Bend are experiencing. She noted that every school except a couple have been updated. In terms of the School being sound, it is not a safe place, its not a sound place for education and it’s not fair. The kindergartener’s have to walk up and down stairs several times a day and the worst time is when there is a fire drill or storm drill. She stated that there are 287 students trying to go down a narrow stairway of twenty to thirty steps to get to a bomb shelter for safety that is surrounding by dirt walls and a dirt floor. She stated that she has never seen anything like it before in her life. She stated that if one child trips it becomes a safety issue and that responsibility falls on her. She encouraged the Council to tour the school, it is very nice from the outside, but that is very deceiving. Buildings are nice, but they are not people, and the focus of concern should be children. Ms. Marcia Hummel, 51327 Hollyhock, South Bend, Indiana, stated that she is a member of the SBCSC Board of Trustees. She thanked the Council for this opportunity to speak, because she knows how difficult this decision on Marquette School is. Like many of the Councilmember’s she has had the privilege of serving this community as an elected official for thirteen years and this current board and the many boards before them have made a commitment to the inner-city schools and the neighborhoods that surrounds them. There must be equity for the children and if the Council votes to support the historic landmark designation for Marquette, there will no equity for these children. She urged the Council to consider that the School Board is on record stating “the Marquette structure does not serve the educational needs of the children.” The Historic Preservation Commission sees buildings and the SBCSC Board sees children. What is really sad about this situation is that there are other building projects tied to this, the remodeling of Clay, Washington, Monroe and Marquette. Those bonds have been advertised and if the board does not move forward soon, the corporation is going to lose and have to start all over again. She reminded the Council that a year ago in May, that the board talked about Marquette and Monroe Primary Centers and they just weren’t strong at the time and did not have the votes to go down state with, they split the vote 4-3, so they would have probably lost that case. She urged the Council to understand if they vote to make Marquette a landmark, they start over again at square one. She stated that she isn’t 17