Several South Bend schools closing, others being relocated

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Several schools in the South Bend Community School Corporation will be shutting down by the next school year, according to a press conference held by Superintendent Dr. Kenneth Spells Tuesday afternoon.

Dr. Spells says they are 'right sizing' the district with the Focus 2018 plan.

"We're right sizing the corporation based on our current population - and making Team South Bend a great school district," Dr. Spells said.

The following schools will be closed:

• Greene Intermediate Center
• Brown Intermediate Center
• Eggleston Elementary School

Relocation:

• Rise Up Academy (in the Eggleston Elementary School building)
• Students from Perley Primary Fine Arts Academy will be moved to Nuner Primary Center

Marshall Intermediate Center will be repurposed and will be open for educational opportunities within two years.

Clay Intermediate Center will become a K-8 full-district magnet.

Students will be assigned to schools based on their home address.

Primary centers will now be elementary schools and intermediate centers will be middle schools.

Students in fifth grade will move to elementary schools and students in 6th through 8th grades will attend middle schools.

Bell times will also change throughout the district:

• Elementary (K-5th) - 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Middle (6th - 8th) - 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• High School (9-12) - 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

School Board President Stan Wruble says they don’t want to lose anymore students to neighboring districts and this plan will help.

“These are changes that will position us well to compete in this new environment. Change is always scary, change brings about the unknown. Everything we’ve done, we’ve put the focus on the students. Parents should know we are concerned about your children, they are our future and we want to give them the best education possible,” says Wruble.

The district is encouraging community feedback. You can either attend a listening session or submit your comments online.

The listening session will be held Monday, November 27 at 6 p.m. at the Century Center.

Online comments can be submitted here.

The Board of Trustees will vote on the plan on Monday, December 18 at 5:30 p.m. at the Administration Building.