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JAX Aspire Foundation supports the community with using their voice even if it shook. The efforts paid off and Coquillard remains open.

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SOUTH BEND - South Bend's Coquillard Elementary School will remain open rather than being turned into a Career & Technical Education (CTE) Hub for the district, the school board decided Monday, Dec. 16.

The vote to approve the district's recommendation for a CTE Hub location failed 4-3, with trustees Stuart Greene, Stephanie Ball, Mark Costello and Jeanette McCullough voting against.

If it had passed, the proposed plan would have seen Coquillard Elementary closed, its students moved to Dickinson Intermediate Fine Arts Academy to form a K-8 school, and the Coquillard building repurposed to house some of South Bend's CTE programs.

A group of around 30 attendees, including several Coquillard teachers, gathered Monday night at the Brown Administrative Building to address the trustees and hear the board's decision.

The vote was taken during the final South Bend Community School Corp. (SBCSC) board meeting for the year, also marking the last meeting before the new trustees are sworn in. A motion was originally made by McCullough to table the vote until the new board convenes in January, but it failed 4-3, with Greene, McCullough and Costello voting to table.

What did trustees say?

Before the vote was taken, district representatives gave a presentation about their proposed plan, which was met by mixed responses from trustees.

Costello and McCullough voiced concerns over the impact the move would have on students' wellbeing, especially after hearing from district officials that only 3 of Coquillard's 63 third-grade students had passed their Indiana Reading Evaluation and Determination (IREAD-3) exam.

"These kids need attention; they don't need to be disrupted," McCullough said.

Costello added that he, the other trustees and Superintendent Todd Cummings had received a letter from South Bend Mayor James Mueller to "clarify the city's position" on the issue.

In the letter Costello read, Mueller expressed his preference that SBCSC first build private partnerships and collaborate with Ivy Tech Community College; then, if successful, "the expansion of the Hub would likely be much easier with other partners and the broader community."

"While it is true that I strongly support the concept of a career hub in St. Joe County and had previously written a letter of support, ... I have not seen enough to date on the Coquillard proposal to form a position one way or another," Costello read from Mueller's letter.

After he voted against the plan, Greene said he wants to ensure trustees "take in as much information as possible" before adopting the district's CTE Hub proposal.

Though he said SBCCSC officials have met every goal he set for creating equity in their proposal, Greene said the missing piece is whether Coquillard really is the best option when looking at the potential impact on children.

"I think we can move forward collaboratively and assess the best way to move forward without simply accepting the vote tonight," he said.

But other trustees offered support for the proposal, especially in light of new graduation pathways and changing school utilization laws.

After the vote, trustee Leslie Wesley reminded fellow board members and attendees that Dickinson is underutilized and at risk of being taken by a charter organization.

"Who loses out today? The children," she said. "Not once have I heard you say anything about Dickinson being underutilized. What is the plan now?"

Board member Kate Lee said she respects the decisions the board made, and she looks forward "to working with the new board members to find the best path forward for our career center ... and to leverage all the hard work that's been over the last three years."

Lee had previously said she sees the Hub as a "great opportunity" for SBCSC students and a way for the district to catch up to other school corporations.

What happens now?

With the board voting against the district's proposal to use Coquillard as the Hub location, SBCSC officials have the option to rework their plan and put forward a different recommendation.

Cummings had told The Tribune before Monday's meeting that, in the event that the proposal is not approved, the district "will listen to the feedback, and we will re-tweak our plan, and then we'll come back in January with an updated plan to move forward."

The next board meeting is scheduled for Jan. 8, when trustees-elect Bill Sniadecki, Carlos Leyva and Marcus Ellison will be sworn in.
Email South Bend Tribune education reporter Rayleigh Deaton at rdeaton@gannett.com.

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Board votes not to turn Coquillard elementary into a career hub. What now?

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South Bend superintendent says district will come back with updated CTE Hub plan in January.

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JAX Aspire Foundation supports the community with using their voice even if it shook. The efforts paid off and Coquillard remains open.

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SBCSC votes against transforming Coquillard Elementary into career hub

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SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- After weeks of presentations and mixed community feedback, the South Bend Community School Corporation Board voted 4-3 against the district’s proposal to change a South Bend elementary school into a career hub.

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JAX Aspire Foundation supports the community with using their voice even if it shook. The efforts paid off and Coquillard remains open.

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South Bend school board votes to keep Coquillard Elementary School open

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Monday was a packed meeting with community members and Coquillard staff members all voicing how they did not want the school to close.

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JAX Aspire Foundation, along w/many other citizens demand Newly Elected SBCSC Board Conduct An Audit/Investigation - Achieved 

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JAX Aspire Foundation, along w/many other citizens demand Newly Elected SBCSC Board Conduct An Audit/Investigation - Achieved 

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South Bend Tribune Article

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South Bend school board approves hiring outside investigator, CPA during Jan. 24 meeting

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South Bend board trustees said a “freeze” of facilities master plan approved on Jan. 8 won’t affect ongoing projects.

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South Bend Tribune Headlines on 12-17-2024

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The community won! Our voices were heard! JAX Aspire Foundation conducts a survey where 43 courageous individuals spoke their truth to power! Great work!

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JAX Aspire Foundation in Collab w/NAACP and BLM-SB - Press Conference 

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JAX Aspire Foundation in Collab w/NAACP and BLM-SB - Press Conference 

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JAX Aspire Foundation in collaboration with NAACP-SB and Black Lives Matter- South Bend hold a local press conference to demand South Bend Schools Vote No to Career Hub and Invest in Coquillard Elementary School.

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Black Organizations Against SBCSC Preliminary School Closure Decision

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South Bend, IN- Blk Organizations Against SBCSC School Closure

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Save the Youth Michiana Campaign facilitator Tiana expresses distaste for the recommendation to close Coquillard Elementary School.

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Community Outcry Against Coquillard Elementary School Closure - NewsBreak

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South Bend -In a heated discussion, local leaders and organizations rallied against the proposed closure of Coquillard Elementary School in South Bend. The South Bend Community School Corporation (SBCSC) plans to repurpose the predominantly Black school into a Career and Technical Education (CTE) hub, drawing widespread criticism.

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Black Organizations- Unify and Organize 

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Black Organizations- Unify and Organize 

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When Foundational Black Americans unify and organize, positive results HAPPEN.

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Time We Shared: Spazzout Zxe 21st Birthday Celebration Event 

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Time We Shared: Spazzout Zxe 21st Birthday Celebration Event 

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Many of Isaiah Walton-Davis' family, friends, and supporters attended his 21st Time We Shared Birthday event to commemorate his 21st birthday. Supporters of this event were JAX Aspire Foundation and Black Lives Matter - South Bend.

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Time We Shared: Spazzout Zxe 21st Birthday Celebration

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JAX Aspire Foundation, along w/many other citizens demand Newly Elected SBCSC Board Conduct An Audit/Investigation - Achieved 

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JAX Aspire Foundation, along w/many other citizens demand Newly Elected SBCSC Board Conduct An Audit/Investigation - Achieved 

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WSBT News Article

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Kristin Bien, WSBT 22 Operation Education Reporter

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Operation Education: South Bend School Board plans to hire investigators

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South Bend School Board members want to improve culture in the district and rebuild trust.In a 5 to 2 vote, the board voted to hire an outside investigator and

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JAX Aspire Foundation, along w/many other citizens demand Newly Elected SBCSC Board Conduct An Audit/Investigation - Achieved 

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JAX Aspire Foundation, along w/many other citizens demand Newly Elected SBCSC Board Conduct An Audit/Investigation - Achieved 

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WVPE

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South Bend School Board approves hiring of private investigator

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The South Bend Community School Corporation Board approved the hiring of a private investigator to examine potential unlawful or unethical actions by school administrators or board members.

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The impact that JAX Aspire Foundation is having on the political community is paying off and we are SEEN. Now to continue to work on being HEARD and UNDERSTOOD.

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South Bend needs more builders and less wreckers in order to keep the city thriving

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It’s open mic night at public meetings. Instead of trusting experts on a subject to drive policy, many listen to the loudest yeller or Facebook posts.

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Time We Shared- Spazzout ZXE- 21st Birthday Celebration Event

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Time We Shared- Spazzout ZXE- 21st Birthday Celebration Event

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Scroll through the page to watch the video of Isaiah Walton-Davis' 21st Birthday Celebration.

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Save the Youth-Michiana
1st Annual Spazzout Zxe Birthday Celebration Event

ABOUT the 2-DAY PEACE SUMMIT

​​

Zxe always exhibited the spirit of "Thus Come One." He possessed compassion, wisdom, love, and courage, the qualities of a humanistic individual and brought happiness and peace to so many lives he encountered.

Participants in birthday celebration experienced the following:

​

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SAVE the Youth-Michiana Campaign | My Site

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Save the Youth-Michiana 1st Annual Spazzout Zxe Birthday Celebration Event ABOUT the 2-DAY PEACE SUMMIT ​​ Zxe always exhibited the spirit of "Thus Come One." He possessed compassion, wisdom, love, and courage, the qualities of a humanistic individual and brought happiness and peace to so many lives he encountered.

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JAX Aspire Foundation efforts slowly paying off

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JAX Aspire Foundation efforts slowly paying off

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Let us remind you about how this year started and how it’s going and why this action item is way overdue, but we finally have an elected board with morals that seems to be ready to take action for the sake of the black children, their peers, and the staff and teachers of the district.

Low academic achievement on ILearn and SAT for a majority of the student in SBCSC

Toxic Educational Environments; i.e., school fights, not enough seats, chronic minor discipline issues, lack of certified teaching staff, violence against staff, violence against students, lack of schedules, housing students in large spaces without instruction, and the list could go on and on

Principal and Teacher Turnover Rate Remains High- Teachers quitting within days of the start of school

Transportation Changes With Lack of Effective Communication to Customers and failure to follow state expectations of communication 3 years prior to parents/families

Lack of Overall Communication and Transparency to the Village from Central Office

Lack of Curriculum Materials and supplies for students

Changing curriculum in the middle of a school year.

Lack of Financial Transparency and Sustainability - Alleged $20+ Million DEFICIT!

Uprooting K-5 graders from DFAA and placing them back at Coquillard.

Unequal programming across the district.

Yearly fights at sporting events.

Code of Conduct training was a flop.

Decreasing enrollment

Lack of implementation of the equity statement

Lack of using NEOLA to write your board policies

Attempt to close a school for a career hub that was never on the ballot

Lack of thorough investigations and implementation of due process

Special education compliance issues with implementation of IEPs.

Lack of transparency about parent’s rights and school responsibilities for the 3rd grade reading law.

Requiring staff and students to report to work during an ice storm.

And I am quite sure there is so much more.

Newly elected board, this paid admin leave pending an investigation is WAAAAAAYYYY OVERDUE!

Thank you for your courage to even consider it, because the previous board failed this community.

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South Bend school board calls emergency meeting to vote on placing superintendent on leave

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The meeting will be Friday, Feb. 14 at Brown Administration Building. The board is considering discipline for having school Feb. 6 in icy conditions.

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SBCSC School Board Negotiates Christopher Todd Cummings Contract- JAX Aspires's Efforts Pay Off! 

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SBCSC School Board Negotiates Christopher Todd Cummings Contract- JAX Aspires's Efforts Pay Off! 

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Yes! A termination is was we were seeking, but a buy out is what we will take. We are confident this saves the district money in the long run.

Today is the day that we say "Good Riddens!" to Christopher Todd Cummings who has reached a deal with the newly elected school board to part ways. He finally has realized that this board will not be fooled by his immoral leadership.

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SBCSC School Board Buys Out Todd's Contract- JAX ASPIRE WINS YET AGAIN! 

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SBCSC School Board Buys Out Todd's Contract- JAX ASPIRE WINS YET AGAIN! 

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Yes! A termination is was we were seeking, but a buy out is what we will take. We are confident this saves the district money in the long run.

Today is the day that we say "Good Riddens!" to Christopher Todd Cummings who has reached a deal with the newly elected school board to part ways. He finally has realized that this board will not be fooled by his immoral leadership.

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South Bend school board reaches deal with Todd Cummings on departure; interim to be named

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Board members confirm three candidates for interim superintendent position.

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JAX Aspire Foundation and LeAja Consulting, LLC Collabo with Yes! Fresh Start and We the People Action Fund 

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JAX Aspire Foundation and LeAja Consulting, LLC Collabo with Yes! Fresh Start and We the People Action Fund 

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JAX Aspire Foundation and LeAja Consulting, LLC collaborated with Yes! Fresh Start and We the People Action Fund to bring driver's education to 200 students for free.

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Driver education will soon be offered to students at Benton Harbor Area Schools.

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Board members confirm three candidates for interim superintendent position.

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Board members confirm three candidates for interim superintendent position.

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Dr. Kelvin Butts Submits Resignation- Yay!

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Dr. Kelvin Butts Submits Resignation- Yay!

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After almost a full year campaigning for moral leadership in Benton Harbor Area Schools, the current superintendent submits his resignation.

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Benton Harbor Area Schools superintendent announces plans to move on

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BENTON HARBOR, Mich. -- Benton Harbor Area Schools Superintendent Dr. Kelvin Butts announced in a letter to the community and school district families that he has decided not to renew his contract at the end of the current school year.

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JAX Aspire Foundation Engaged with over 200+ Citizens

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JAX Aspire Foundation Engaged with over 200+ Citizens

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During the selection of the SBCSC Interim Superintendent, JAX Aspire Foundation released a public grassroots survey to gather insight in to the community. The survey was released for approximately 28 hours and garnered 200+ respondents.

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Here’s the latest figures… Wow…this grassroots survey was engaging. Take a look at the 2nd pie chart, highlighting the perspective of the black respondents, being the latest new article came out…

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Mansour Eid, named Interim Superintendent of SBCSC- Todd is Gone! 

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Mansour Eid, named Interim Superintendent of SBCSC- Todd is Gone! 

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C. Todd Cummings is officially on a paid leave until June 30, 2025 and will resign at the end of the school year. Mr. Eid will take his place until a superintendent search is conducted.

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Eid, the former Clay High principal, starts in the position effectively immediately, will serve until permanent replacement is found.

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The newly elected school board demanded an audit and an investigation of the financial practices of C. Todd Cummings and it was revealed that $3million over budget was done illegally.

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South Bend schools’ Brown renovation was $3 million over budget, done illegally, CFO says

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State law required the work be put out for bids, and board should have approved contracts. CFO says self-reporting should avoid state penalties.

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Mansour Eid is named Interim Superintendent- Todd is Gone! 

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Mansour Eid is named Interim Superintendent- Todd is Gone! 

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Betty Herron's face says it all.

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Cummings on leave until June 30 resignation takes effect. Eid assumes responsibilities immediately.

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Dr. Kelvin Butts Submits Resignation- Yay! 

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Dr. Kelvin Butts Submits Resignation- Yay! 

# data[].attributes.body
After almost a full year campaigning for moral leadership in Benton Harbor Area Schools, the current superintendent submits his resignation.

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Dr. Kelvin Butts to step down as superintendent of Benton Harbor schools

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In a letter to families, Dr. Butts said he decided not to renew his contract.

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Dr. Kelvin Butts Submits Resignation-Yay! 

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Dr. Kelvin Butts Submits Resignation-Yay! 

# data[].attributes.body
After almost a full year campaigning for moral leadership in Benton Harbor Area Schools, the current superintendent submits his resignation.

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Benton Harbor Area Schools superintendent to leave at end of contract

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Dr. Kelvin Butts the Benton Harbor Area Schools superintendent is leaving his position.Butts decided not to renew his contract and will step away June 30th.“Ser

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Dr. Kelvin Butts Submits Resignation - Yay! 

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Dr. Kelvin Butts Submits Resignation - Yay! 

# data[].attributes.body
After almost a full year campaigning for moral leadership in Benton Harbor Area Schools, the current superintendent submits his resignation.

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Benton Harbor schools superintendent to resign in June

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Benton Harbor school board trustees are in search for a new person to lead the school district.

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The newly elected school board uncovers illegal spending of at least $3 million dollards under C. Todd Cummings superintendency.

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SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WNDU) - It's alleged that the South Bend Community School Corporation spent more than $5 million on the renovation of Brown School without regard to competitive bidding laws.

The discovery was made by the corporation's new CFO, who noticed an alarming absence of paperwork needed to document compliance with competitive bidding laws.

"Between $50,000 AND $150,000, you have to have bids," Interim Superintendent Mansour Eid told WNDU 16 News Now. "Anything over $150,000, you have to have an RFP, a request for proposals."

The interim superintendent quickly put systems in place to make sure what allegedly happened at Brown doesn't happen again.

"We have to protect our assets. We have to be responsible. We have been entrusted with this money by the people, and to see that this was happening is concerning," Eid explained. "But I am not going to judge because the investigation is still ongoing. We don't know If this was even criminal, we don't know anything yet."

We do know that one of the first things the incoming school board did was hire outside investigators to look into any possible illegal or unethical acts of the outgoing administration.

The subject was addressed briefly a Wednesday night's school board meeting by school trustee Bill Sniadecki:

"Contracts have to be bid out. There's not a contract that was done, that was put a bid out for. It was given to, by certain people, that are family and friends, and it has been going on for almost eight years now, and it's got to stop."
Stay up to date on local news with WNDU on-air and online. Be sure to download the 16 News Now App and follow our YouTube page as we continue to bring you the latest coverage on this developing story.

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south bend community schools corporation

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South Bend School Corp. CFO says Brown renovation was millions over budget, done illegally

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The discovery was made by the corporation's new CFO, who noticed an alarming absence of paperwork needed to document compliance with competitive bidding laws.

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After a 1.5 years of JAX Aspire Foundation demanding SBCSC to review the racial disparity data in their district, SBCSC launches a committee to conduct a study.

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South Bend schools discipline Black students more; study to explore why

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The committee is meant to help identify why Black students in SBCSC are 1.7 times more likely to be disciplined than non-Black students.

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Elkhart County- School to Prison Pipeline

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Elkhart County- School to Prison Pipeline

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JAX Aspire Foundation reveals to the Elkhart Community Schools' School Board the recent data revealed in the Elkhart Tenured Site SA Report, highlighting the ballooning of the school to prison pipeline.

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Elkhart Tenured Site SA Report - 2025 Data (The Source and JDAI).pdf

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JAX Aspire Foundation at ECS School Board Mtg

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JAX Aspire Foundation at ECS School Board Mtg

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JAX Aspire Foundation reveals to the Elkhart Community Schools' School Board the recent data revealed in the Elkhart Tenured Site SA Report, highlighting the ballooning of the school to prison pipeline.

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JAX Aspire Foundation debunks the myth that ECS Superintendent Larry Huff tried to establish.

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ECS Superintendent Larry Huff Misleads Community 

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JAX Aspire Foundation Empowers & Supports Parents to Speak 

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JAX Aspire Foundation Empowers & Supports Parents to Speak 

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JAX Aspire Foundation supports parents with realizing their child's education rights.

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BHAS- Parent Speaks - Civil Rights in Question

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JAX Aspire Foundation launches a survey to the community to illuminate their voice and concerns about the current conditions of BHAS.

The Jax Aspire Foundation, which advocates against barriers to free and appropriate public education locally, released a survey to gauge the community’s reaction following the incident.

Executive Director Tiana Batiste-Waddell said, “We have got to heal the community. You can’t just go back to work. This is not a situation you can just go back to work.”

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Community calls for accountability after student confrontation with BHAS Superintendent

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BENTON HARBOR, Mich. The Benton Harbor community is calling for accountability and answers from new school superintendent Dr. Simone Griffin after she publicly confirmed engaging in a verbal confrontation with a student inside Benton Harbor High School.

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JAX Aspire Foundation supports parents to realize their rights as parents.

Parents and advocates said the incident reflects deeper, long standing trauma and broken systems. “The community was counting on them to respond,” said Tiana Batiste-Waddell the Executive Director of the Jax Aspire Foundation.

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Father of suspended student & community advocates call for healing after BHAS superintendent “confrontation”

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BENTON HARBOR, Mich. — Community advocates and parents gathered at The African American History & Literature Gallery in Benton Harbor Friday for a fireside chat focused on healing after security footage revealed a confrontation involving the Benton Harbor Area Schools superintendent, Dr. Simone Griffin.

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JAX Aspire Foundation in solidarity with other parent organizations that are committed to showing up with love, urgency, and accountability for every child in Indiana participated in the Indiana Child Safety Call in Day.

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Indiana Child Safety Call-In Day mobilizes advocates for legislative reform

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Organizers say the effort aims to address gaps in state systems protecting children.

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Former SBCSC Supt. C. Todd Cummings on Admin Leave AGAIN!

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Former SBCSC Supt. C. Todd Cummings on Admin Leave AGAIN!

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In March/April 2025, JAX Aspire Foundation informed the Arizona school district's school board of C. Todd Cummings history of misleading constituents about his professional past. Eventually, after further investigation, the Arizona school board placed Todd on leave.

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PHOENIX (WNDU) - The Paradise Valley Unified School District voted to place former South Bend Community Schools Superintendent Dr. Todd Cummings on paid administrative leave.

The body also appointed an interim superintendent to the post on Tuesday evening.

Dr. Cummings' tenure in the South Bend district ended in similar fashion.

The superintendent was placed on paid administrative leave. The South Bend Community School Corporation board then appointed an interim superintendent and Dr. Cummings ultimately retired from the district.

The school board in South Bend hired private investigator Tim Corbett to examine Dr. Cummings' stewardship of the South Bend schools. Corbett ultimately presented a damning assessment of Dr. Cummings' tenure.

In an interview with our sister station KTVK 3TV in Arizona, Dr. Cummings maintained he was proud of his work in South Bend.

The Paradise Valley school board has not offered any reason for Dr. Cummings being placed on administrative leave.

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Ex-South Bend schools superintendent placed on paid administrative leave by Arizona school district

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Dr. Cummings' tenure in the South Bend district ended in similar fashion.

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JAX Aspire Foundation continues to monitor the results of this immoral leader's decision.

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Former SBCSC Superintendent faces termination following paid leave in Arizona

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Former South Bend Superintendent Todd Cummings could learn the fate of his employment status with Paradise Valley Schools in Arizona.This comes after the Parad

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JAX Aspire Foundation fought alongside many people in the community to have our voice heard in Arizona and it paid off. Save the Youth America!

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Former South Bend superintendent fired from Arizona school district

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The board unanimously denied Dr. Todd Cummings’ appeal after indicating it had cause to fire him two months ago.

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BHAS Superintendent Dr. Simone Griffin receives Warning Letter 

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BHAS Superintendent Dr. Simone Griffin receives Warning Letter 

# data[].attributes.body
JAX Aspire Foundation has electronically communicated to the BHAS School Board about student and staff concerns and finally their voices were heard.

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Benton Harbor Area Schools approves warning against Superintendent’s communication

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The Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approved a formal written warning against Superintendent Simone Griffin over her communications with district

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PHM School Corporation Ignores Issue at School Board Meeting

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PHM School Corporation Ignores Issue at School Board Meeting

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JAX Aspire Foundation demands PHM School Corporation implement anti racist training to all teachers, staff, and students.

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Community shares concerns at board meeting over offensive language during Penn High School live stream

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SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- After a Penn High School student was heard using racially charged language on a basketball game live stream early March, community members attended the Penn-Harris-Madison (PHM) School Corporation board meeting Mon. evening to share their concerns about the incident.

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Elkhart Community Schools - Racism Exposed 

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Elkhart Community Schools - Racism Exposed 

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JAX Aspire Foundation raises concerns to ECS Administration & School Board about the potential need for Anti-Racist Training after controversial assignment incident.

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Elkhart school removes controversial assignment about civil rights activist Ruby Bridges

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The district said the assignment “did not align with our instructional expectations.”

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JAX Aspire Foundation demanded the PHM School Corporation apologize for the student's use of a racial slue and Dr. Short followed suit.

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NAACP to ask PHM for cultural competency training for staff

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Penn Harris Madison Superintendent Heather Short has apologized for a student’s racist remarks toward a Black Riley High School basketball player. The NAACP says it will soon ask the corporation to train staff on cultural competency and sensitivity, to better address incidents of racism by white students.

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BLM Calls on SBCSC to Ban PHM School Corporation Athletics

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BLM Calls on SBCSC to Ban PHM School Corporation Athletics

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South Bend's Black Lives Matter chapter is calling on the South Bend Community School Corp. to boycott all athletic engagements with Penn High School until NAACP South Bend's demands are met, after a Penn student reportedly used racist language during a student broadcast of a March 6 basketball game against Riley High School.

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BLM calls for South Bend schools to boycott Penn HS athletics

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In a statement, BLM South Bend called for SBCSC to suspend all athletic engagements with Penn High School until demands from the NAACP are met.

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After C. Todd Cummings 8 year administration, during the years of 2022 through 2023 show 'systemic' control issues in the financial department.

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State audit finds ‘systemic’ control issues at South Bend schools; district says reforms underway

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The reports cite material weaknesses in financial processes and federal program compliance.