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10/08/07 Council Meeting Minutes
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10/08/07 Council Meeting Minutes
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10/8/2007
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REGULAR MEETINGOCTOBER 8, 2007 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />School and its landmark status, and this afternoon at the committee meeting the windows <br />were an issue being talked about and that the other side stated that they saved the <br />taxpayers thousands of dollars, he noted that is highly debatable. But what is debatable is <br />the amount of time it took just to repair the windows. It took over 4 to 5 months to get <br />this done because of the historical status placed on the building. He stated that in some <br />other states such as Michigan, it has been determined by the Courts that local historic <br />preservation groups have no authority at all when it comes to the use, configuration, and <br />appearance of school buildings. Aside from these concrete consequences of historic <br />designation there is an important overriding factor on which the Council should base the <br />vote. This important fact deal with the government itself, the SBCSC has been duly <br />elected by approximately the same electorates that have placed their trust in the South <br />Bend Common Council to their positions four years ago. The Board Members have <br />spend countless hours of time, sole searching and heartache studying the issues involved. <br />The Board has unanimously chosen to proceed down the path of a new Marquette. The <br />current Superintendent, Dr. Zimmerman, as well as the previous Superintendent, Dr. <br />Raymond, both spent their lives in education and both supported the building of a new <br />Marquette. The Council decision should be clear, trust the experience and expertise that <br />has gone into building a new Marquette. Trust fellow elected officials that this is the best <br />path to follow. Trust constituents who voted for these Board Members and do not add <br />additional hurdles by placing the landmark status on the old building at 1905 College <br />Street. It has served a useful life and urged the Council to vote no on this ordinance. <br /> <br />Ms. Cheryl Batteast, Principal, Marquette Primary Center, 1905 College, South Bend, <br />Indiana, stated that her heart breaks after hearing some of the comments made about <br />Marquette Primary Center as being a good place to go to school and a good place to <br />learn. She stated that this is her first year at Marquette and by looking at the picture of <br />Marquette; it looks like a beautiful building from the outside. That impression quickly <br />changed when she entered the building, to the smell of mildew and mold in the 94° <br />temperatures. She stated that the temperature just today was very hot and she had to <br />watch her teachers and children suffer once again. Marquette is not a good place to learn. <br />She stated that she is there everyday and is trying her best to fight back the tears because <br />she wants her students to learn in the same environment that the rest of the children in <br />South Bend are experiencing. She noted that every school except a couple have been <br />updated. In terms of the School being sound, it is not a safe place, its not a sound place <br />for education and it’s not fair. The kindergartener’s have to walk up and down stairs <br />several times a day and the worst time is when there is a fire drill or storm drill. She <br />stated that there are 287 students trying to go down a narrow stairway of twenty to thirty <br />steps to get to a bomb shelter for safety that is surrounding by dirt walls and a dirt floor. <br />She stated that she has never seen anything like it before in her life. She stated that if one <br />child trips it becomes a safety issue and that responsibility falls on her. She encouraged <br />the Council to tour the school, it is very nice from the outside, but that is very deceiving. <br />Buildings are nice, but they are not people, and the focus of concern should be children. <br /> <br />Ms. Marcia Hummel, 51327 Hollyhock, South Bend, Indiana, stated that she is a member <br />of the SBCSC Board of Trustees. She thanked the Council for this opportunity to speak, <br />because she knows how difficult this decision on Marquette School is. Like many of the <br />Councilmember’s she has had the privilege of serving this community as an elected <br />official for thirteen years and this current board and the many boards before them have <br />made a commitment to the inner-city schools and the neighborhoods that surrounds them. <br />There must be equity for the children and if the Council votes to support the historic <br />landmark designation for Marquette, there will no equity for these children. She urged <br />the Council to consider that the School Board is on record stating “the Marquette <br />structure does not serve the educational needs of the children.” The Historic Preservation <br />Commission sees buildings and the SBCSC Board sees children. What is really sad <br />about this situation is that there are other building projects tied to this, the remodeling of <br />Clay, Washington, Monroe and Marquette. Those bonds have been advertised and if the <br />board does not move forward soon, the corporation is going to lose and have to start all <br />over again. She reminded the Council that a year ago in May, that the board talked about <br />Marquette and Monroe Primary Centers and they just weren’t strong at the time and did <br />not have the votes to go down state with, they split the vote 4-3, so they would have <br />probably lost that case. She urged the Council to understand if they vote to make <br />Marquette a landmark, they start over again at square one. She stated that she isn’t <br /> 17 <br /> <br />
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