South Bend to redraw school district boundaries, limit bus routes

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- School choice isn’t going away in South Bend, but now, if you choose a school outside your set district boundary, transportation won’t be guaranteed.

Those details, and the exact boundaries, are being mapped out now among the South Bend Community School Corporation.

Basically, starting in the 2024-25 school year, not all students will be eligible for busing if they don’t go to their neighborhood school, or the school in the same boundary they live in.

Consulting firm HPM is leading the right-sizing effort, so it’s the same group behind the closure of Clay High School.

The goal now is to reduce the number of district-wide bus routes.

“Overtime, if this is a system that the district and the board embraces, it will lead to shorter travel times and more efficiency,” said Scott Leopold, Director of Planning.

But it’s a complicated process. So this week, HPM is holding informational meetings for the public to ask questions and get feedback.

A lot of parents at Tuesday afternoon’s meeting are worried these changes will mean the district loses more students.

“It’s going to create a lot of confusion, and I think a lot of parents, because this is happening so quickly, I'm not sure they are really understanding what is happening and how quickly it’s happening,” said parent Michelle Niedbalski.

None of this is set in stone yet. In fact, a boundary alignment survey is online now, and everyone in the district is encouraged to fill it out. At this link, the full presentation given at each of these informational public meetings can also be found.

On Wednesday, Sept. 20, public meetings about the boundary proposals will be at the following times and locations:

• 2 to 4 p.m. at La Casa de Amistad, 3423 S. Michigan St.
• 5 to 6 p.m. at Monroe Elementary, 312 E. Donmoyer Ave.
• 5 to 6 p.m. at Clay International, 52900 Lily Rd.
• 7 to 8 p.m. at Muessel Elementary, 1021 Blaine Ave.