Parents, looking out for the kids at South Bend Schools, making sure they get the education they deserve.
"With budget cuts and drops in enrollment, if I see that as an issue in the future, going forward with her getting a good education then I would definitely reconsider the whole South Bend Community Schools," says parent Matt Girard.
"That's why I keep an eye on my son and concentrate on everything he does. Call up there constantly, checking up there, just see how he's doing," says parent Ashley Williams.
They're happy right now, but they are aware of the struggles the corporation is facing.
"There's been a negative connotation with budget cuts and drops in enrollment and things like that in the South Bend Schools. So I had concerns," says Girard.
"Our enrollment has dropped, there's no question about that," says Roger Parent, School Board President.
So now the school board has to make up for lost money. They planned on meeting Thursday to discuss possible school closings, but that meeting was canceled.
"The conversation is canceled, we're just going to move on," says Parent.
At least for this year, "I want to make sure people know we're not saying, 'no school will ever be closed.' But I suspect it will certainly be next year before the conversation is taken up again."
So for now they're taking a different approach.
"The conversation will continue in a much more positive direction than maybe we've had in the past couple years." Parent says the board will look at new programs to attract new students.
Perhaps additional magnet schools or more Montessori schools.
"Let's focus on the positive things that are happening and build on the strengths that we have," Parents.
So parents can rest easy, school closings are on the back burner for now.
"It's going to be kind of a play it by ear situation," says Girard.
