South Bend Mayor visits New Tech students

SOUTH BEND — Unemployment, crime, and school quality topped South Bend New Tech High School students' list of biggest concerns about the city Friday.

Asked by Mayor Pete Buttigieg to consider whether those things are a perception or a reality, the vast majority of teens voted for reality.

In fact, a show of hands demonstrated that most of the 85 freshmen — and even New Tech’s principal John Kennedy himself — have been affected by a violent crime or theft.

Buttigieg, who has been on the job just a little more than a month, spoke to the students of the new school, which focuses on project-based learning.

For their global studies class, the teens are working in groups on two- to three-minute videos to promote South Bend.