SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The South Bend Community School Board voted to approve a new committee to help seven failing schools get back on track.

The Academic Achievement Expulsion Suspension Committee was officially approved at a meeting on Monday night.

The goal for the committee is to look at academic achievement across the whole district, and to zero in on the schools that are struggling.

To begin, the focus of the committee will be on Navarre Middle School.

The school board’s Vice President Leslie Wesley will be the head chair for the new committee and said that the forming of the group is long overdue.

"What we're going to be focused on is we're going to be looking at the data, sources that are in the building, looking Tier 1 structures that means what type of stature can be emolument in those buildings because we have schools that range from K-8th grade that are a part of our struggling schools. The committee is going to be looking at seven schools," said Wesley.

Next steps for the committee will include reaching out to community leaders for feedback on how to help students excel in the classroom.

The committee will also work with Nathan Boyd, the District’s Director of African American Student and Parent Services.