South Bend schools superintendent discusses resignation

SOUTH BEND, Ind.—Outgoing South Bend Community School Corporation superintendent, Dr. Kenneth Spells, discussed his resignation and gave insight into what is coming next for South Bend schools on Friday morning.

Dr. Spells talked about his decision to return to Illinois when his contract with South Bend schools is up in June 2019.

”The Board of Education will make sure they will have another great leader in place,” Dr. Spells said regarding his future replacement. Dr. Spells is not a part of the selection process for his successor.

Dr. Spells said that he hopes his replacement is “a type of person who is crazy about kids, a person who is going to roll up his sleeves and get out into the community, works with government officials, and works with people.”

On test scores and school grades, Dr. Spells says the schools have made tremendous progress.

“We’ve cut F schools in half. Madison went all the way up to a C. We have some great teachers in this corporation, great administrators,” Dr. Spells said.

Regarding community engagement, Dr. Spells said that he is planning to pass a City School Compact on Monday night.