Laserfiche WebLink
REGULAR MEETINGOCTOBER 8, 2007 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />talking a little time, but a lot of time, the board goes back to possibly being split again. <br />She noted that the Council needs to take in to consideration that when time passes interest <br />rates get higher, labor is getting higher, architectural fees get higher, and the taxpayers <br />and their money are getting less than they should. She stated that she is not against <br />history. She lives in a house that is 165 years old, and made that choice herself. Every <br />costly renovation, every time she has to wait for a contractor to come out to do it <br />according to history, she pays that bill. She chose to live that lifestyle. The taxpayers of <br />this community do not want to pay for that excess cost of renovation. She believes that <br />the Council is creating a win/win situation for this community, by having a remonstrance <br />process and understands that the Council is not going to take final vote on this tonight <br />and will be touring the facility at Marquette. This action will not silence the voters and <br />she applauded the Council for giving them a right to take their stand on this issue, their <br />voices are not silent. She also thanked the Council for their dedication and service that <br />they give to the community. Ms. Hummel thanked the Council for their wisdom in <br />realizing that a progressive city depends on creating a great educational opportunity for <br />the children. She noted that this is the last of the renovations, this is the dream to give the <br />kids at Washington and Clay and particularly Monroe and Marquette, the vision that has <br />been promised to them and if the process has to be started all over again, there is always <br />that fear of where the school board was faced with a couple of years ago of only <br />allocating 5 million dollars in Monroe Primary Center because of its historic designation <br />and it was not affordable. <br /> <br />Ms. Sheila Bergeron, 605 S. Sunnyside, South Bend, Indiana, spoke in opposition to this <br />bill. She advised that she is a current member of the SBCSC Board of Trustees <br />st <br />representing the 1 District. She grew up and graduated from a small school in Northern <br />Indiana, this school was a twelve year school. There were a lot of fond memories there, <br />he parents also went to this school. She stated that she was the last graduation class from <br />that school. It was decided that the school would be torn down and was almost positive <br />that it would have qualified for historic landmark status. It was a great building with <br />marvelous architecture, but it was decided that the building needed to come down <br />because it was no longer safe or feasible to provide the best education for the students <br />and a new building was created. There were people that were very sad to see it raised, <br />they sold bricks, pictures and other memorabilia from the school. But there was no one <br />really trying to save the school because everyone had realized that the time had come to <br />for that building. Mr. Bergeron stated that is where we are today with Marquette. She <br />loves old buildings and the other school board members can attest to that. She represents <br />the district that holds Adams, Jefferson, and Madison and would have fought all night for <br />Monroe if she had too. Those are beautiful old buildings that needed to be preserved and <br />are unique in the architecture and she is so glad that they have been saved and renovated <br />and moved on. Every building cannot be saved and every school has certain architecture <br />and has wonderful memories for those who have gone to that school and the <br />neighborhood for which it exists. She urged the Council to think about what if fair and <br />equitable for all concerned the taxpayers and most importantly the children. <br /> <br />Mr. Eugene Staples, 1678 College, South Bend, Indiana, stated that he represents the <br />past, present and the future. He was student at Marquette and has a student here tonight <br />from Marquette Primary Center and his son is the future of Marquette. The Council’s <br />decision affects not only Marquette, but it affects three other schools. He stated that <br />Marquette is a monument to some in their own mine, and if you don’t mind it doesn’t <br />matter, but it matter’s to someone like him. He addressed the issue of equality and how <br />the country was built on the statement that “we hold these truths’s to be self-evident, that <br />all men are created equal.” He questioned if everyone is created equal, does everyone <br />start off with the same advantages and opportunities. He doesn’t think so, however, what <br />can be done is to create a level playing field. The Council has the opportunity to let the <br />community decide what needs to happen in that neighborhood, so there can be equal <br />educational facilities for the students. He noted that the school was built during the <br />depression and the first word is depressed, and if you go into that building you will <br />certainly get depressed. It is a depressing facility, it is the same school that he attended <br />30 years ago. He urged to the Council to vote against the landmark designation. <br /> <br />Ms. Ann Rosen, 1219 Leeper, South Bend, Indiana, stated that she is the Secretary to the <br />SBCSC Board of Trustees. She thanked the Council for allowing her to speak tonight. <br /> 18 <br /> <br />