Greene Twp. residents push to leave district, discussion continues

SOUTH BEND, Ind. --- Greene Township residents continue to push to leave the South Bend Community School Corporation, but at a meeting Monday night no decision was made.

Concerned parents told Leslie Wesley, a SBCSC school board member, and two officials with the corporation their issues with the district – busing, bad behavior, and curriculum. However, Sandra Ort said money will play a part in the school board’s decision.

“Money always plays a play in everything,” Ort said. “Our money would be better spent in a corporation where our children are going to school at.”

Many residents agreed with Ort when she said it’s about the money they are paying back to the county to help fund the corporation. According to SBCSC, 105 students come from Greene Township to South Bend public schools.

An official said Greene Township’s assessed value is more than $113 million. The Corporation said it would see a 2.5 percent loss if the township were permitted to leave.

“In any decision making, when you’re talking about education, it should always be about the students,” Wesley said.

Wesley told the crowd inside the Corporation’s administration building that the issues raised and money does play a part in the ultimate decision. However, she said after two meetings they’re not making a definitive decision and are keeping the process moving.

“They’ve been talking and talking,” she said. “Now I think we can take it to another level.”

Wesley said she, the residents, and attorneys will be looking at past plans executed by the Corporation, which were approved by the Board, Department of Education, and Department of Justice, to figure out an action plan.