New optimism with New Tech

The opening of South Bend New Tech High School is a positive sign for the future of the community.

For a while, the fate of the school that opened last month in Riley High School was in question, despite the broad community support the concept enjoyed.

But South Bend Community School Corp. trustees, the administration and New Tech's community backers worked together to bring project-based learning to the corporation. All that positive energy was effectively channeled toward a most worthy goal.

New Tech's first students are taking advantage of a different sort of learning experience -- working in teams, carrying laptops to class and exploring broad themes.

A proven educational process, New Tech has been quite successful in boosting student performance in other communities. That's why the concept, which uses learning strategies needed in 21st-century jobs, has so many strong advocates, especially among the business community.

If the SBCSC's new offering is to succeed, the community, too, will need to take the New Tech concept to heart and work as a team to offer its support. This is especially true of the business community, where 1st Source Bank's $200,000 recent challenge grant to New Tech is an excellent example for others to follow.