New Charter School to Open in South Bend

The South Bend Tribune reports on the new charter school opening in the South Bend area, bringing more school choice for parents.

The South Bend Tribune joined members of the board of Indiana Schools of Excellence (including Dan Herbster) on a walk-through of the location of Xavier School of Excellence.  The new charter school will provide a quality education free of charge.  Here's an excerpt from the Tribune's article:

Xavier School of Excellence, as it's called, plans to start classes Aug. 24 in the former Busk Brothers furniture store on south Michigan Street, one block north of Chippewa Avenue.

The building served a few years as the Southgate Community Center, created by the neighboring Calvary Temple with space for youth activities and even a café called Brodys. Last public use of the building came last year when an office of the Women's Care Center moved out.

Xavier would serve up to 300 students there in its first year, kindergarten through the fifth grade, then add a grade level each year until it hits eighth grade.

Classrooms would be limited to 25 students each.

Xavier and Ball State officials toured the sprawling 45,000 square feet last week, excited about how well the uncluttered space could be transformed into a school.

"It couldn't be set up better," says architect Todd Miller of Ancon Construction Co., which will do the roughly $1.5 million in renovations. "The size is perfect."