South Bend says 'no' to New Tech school charter

SOUTH BEND — Superintendent James Kapsa has turned down an offer by New Schools Inc., a nonprofit group led by school board trustee Roger Parent, to serve as a partner in starting a New Tech High School. Kapsa cited a "severe budget crisis" at the South Bend Community School Corp. in a letter he sent to Parent on Tuesday. Parent said he didn’t have a response yet, still needing to talk Kapsa’s letter over with the New Schools board. But New Schools has said all along — since the group formed late last year — that it would start a charter high school to use the New Tech curriculum with or without the school corporation. New Tech teaches students via projects they do in teams and through computers. Parent and his New Schools board proposed that the corporation sponsor the charter. Then, New Schools would give the school to the corporation after three to five years and dissolve itself. New Schools leaders said they preferred this option. But, if South Bend turned it down, they said they would apply for a charter through Ball State University and set up the school on their own. New Schools asked for a response from the school corporation by the end of March. Kapsa wrote that he’s concerned the school would draw students away from the school corporation — and the per-student funding from the state that goes with them. New Schools leaders have said that would be temporary. "There continues to be significant interest in establishing New Tech High School as a corporation school," Kapsa wrote. "I am hopeful that we can work together to find ways to build additional support for this important project." The school corporation’s staff is exploring the feasibility of starting its own New Tech high school and moving it into the Studebaker School building along with the Early College program from Riley High School. This was one of five options Kapsa had presented March 8 for closing and shifting schools to save money and give space to programs. Five trustees encouraged Kapsa to study the New Tech option. The board expects to tackle the building options April 14. Kapsa said he made the decision about New Schools’ offer on his own. Board President Marcia Hummel said that was his prerogative and didn’t need a board vote. If a board member had wanted it to come to a vote, she said, he or she could have added it to one of their meeting agendas. Staff write Joseph Dits: jdits@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6158