SBCSC votes to end Empowerment Zone, creates transition plan at school board meeting
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WNDU) - The other shoe has dropped as the Empowerment Zone, which was created back in 2019, has officially concluded and will now join back with the South Bend Community School Corporation.
On Monday night, the board came to a unanimous decision to bring Zone schools like Harrison, Navarre, Wilson, and Coquillard back into the school district.
“It was going to happen in two years,” said SBCSC Superintendent Todd Cummings. “But as we look at our building, Zone buildings, and budgets, we are able to better educate our students when we all align, our budgets align, and we are gaining efficiency. Because our goal is to make sure our students read and put that money back in classrooms.”
Now the question is how does the transition of these Zone schools look? Well, it starts with SBCSC’s gradual release plan, which will take place in two phases and address major concerns that have been brought up from parents.
The issue of transportation for Zone schools will be solved by Friday, according to the board.
Zone students are still required to wear uniforms at least for this upcoming school year.
But the biggest question has been about curriculum, which is being addressed in a more subtle way.
“Teachers are already planning for their classrooms in three weeks, so we don’t want to change the curriculum right now,” Cummings said. “We want to make sure we can support teachers; we want look at things like after school tutoring and what reading curriculum they are using to make sure we are aligned.”
While the Empowerment Zone did not hit its designated time through the 2025-2026 school year, officials are still proud of the work done and ready to continue that work under South Bend schools.
“We had to make improvements for our students,” Cummings said. “Safe and secure schools, reading on grade level, and improve graduation rates. This was our first step at it, we learned from the Zone what we applied at other schools. So, I’m happy with the experiment in the Zone, and we just have even more work to get done.”
The board will answer parents’ questions at one of its upcoming parent meetings here:
- Monday, July 29, 11:30 a.m. at La Casa De Amistad, Zocalo Room (3423 S. Michigan Street)
- Monday, July 29, 6 p.m. at the Charles Black Center (3419 W. Washington Street)
- Tuesday, July 30, 11:30 a.m. Near Northwest Neighborhood (1013 Portage Avenue)
- Tuesday, July 30, 6 p.m. at Howard Park, Farmer Room (219 S. St. Louis Boulevard)
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