The South Bend School District is looking to establish a facilities committee to be made up of community and staff members, as well as other local stakeholders. The committee will work to determine the direction and prioritization of any future upgrades to district buildings.
"We want to educate them on our current infrastructure and facilities, and then with that knowledge have them set some priorities of how they think we should proceed," explained District Superintendent Jon Tienhaara of the yet-to-be-formed committee.
Tienhaara added that it's the district's goal with the committee to get the community involved and taking ownership in any potential decisions.
"Some of the buildings are getting old," stated Tienhaara, speaking mainly of the district's elementary school and its vocational building.
Tienhaara said both were originally constructed in the early 1950's.
The district's high school, which was built in 1969, underwent remodeling in 2008, at which time the elementary also underwent some minor work.
"That's in pretty good shape," stated Tienhaara of the high school, "but the elementary, they did some cosmetic things to it in 2008, new windows and things like that, but the bones are getting old, and that [vocational] building over there has never had anything done to it."
How to pay for any improvement is to be determined, Tienhaara explained, though typically school district projects are paid for through bond measures requiring a 60 percent voter approval.
The district's current bond, which was used to upgrade the high school and make a few improvements to the elementary in 2008 will be paid off in 2020.
"We have three or four years here, and the district just thinks it's time to start thinking about improvements we want to do once the bond is paid off," Tienhaara stated.
"After the New Year, we'll take a look at who's interested and try to set some meeting dates," he continued.
No limit has been set on the number of persons who will be allowed serve on the committee, and Tienhaara indicated the district would welcome anyone who wishes to become involved.