Posted: 6:22 PM Jul 14, 2009 Last Updated: 7:02 PM Jul 14, 2009 Reporter: Erin Logan Email Address: erin.logan@wndu.com Their mission is to save all students from failure, but there are different ideas on how to achieve that goal. The South Bend School Board met Monday night and decided the fate for a local alternative school. The Crossing asked the school board to form a partnership to help fund their school program for troubled kids but, the school board shot down their plea. Witnessing students learn to appreciate the meaning of “work hard, play hard” is all board members say they can hope for. Board member, William Sniadecki says they lost their own game when the board voted against a partnership with the Crossings. Sniadecki says, “I think it’s a sad day. This was another attempt to make a last ditch effort to save a few kids and give them a last chance.” The Crossings takes kids who drop out or get kicked out of high school. The program teaches trades as well as academics, and has several locations in the area. The program director of the South Bend location had to turn to the school corporation for help with state funding. Sniadecki says, “It wouldn’t have cost a dime, so I personally don’t understand why the board turned it down.” Sniadecki feels the board let politics stand in the way forcing board members to choose The Crossings over central Academy, a school within the Juvenile Justice Center. Board member Ralph Pieniazkiewicz says, “The Crossings I believe we would have made a couple of hundred dollars on each kid.” We asked, “So, why did you voted it down?” He said, “Because it’s only 2.5 hours a day and they have one licensed teacher whereas Central Academy is for seven hours a day and 213 days a year, so you’ve got to weigh each side. Plus, Central Academy has all licensed teachers there.” Pieniazkiewicz says he likes Superintendent Jim Kapsa’s idea of finding their own ways of helping struggling students. Sniadecki says, “Everybody says they’re doing things for the kids and that’s not what’s happening here. Just listen to our board meetings.”]]>
