SOUTH BEND — The South Bend Community School Corporation board of trustees has unanimously approved plans to create a "Transformation Zone," which aims to improve Navarre Middle School and four of its feeder elementary schools.

A new, separate board will have the freedom to create its own budget, staff and curriculum to turn the schools around. The feeder schools include Coquillard, Harrison, Wilson and Warren. 

The changes were initially suggested by the Indiana Department of Education because Navarre Middle School received an "F" rating for several years in a row.