South Bend Board Candidates Face $40 Million Shortfall
Voters are evaluating three candidates who must manage future budget cuts and a potential school system overhaul.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Administration
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Three candidates for the South Bend Community School Corporation District 1 school board seat met at a public forum on October 22 to discuss the future of the district. Voters are weighing leadership platforms as the board prepares to replace retiring superintendent Mansour Eid and address a looming financial crisis.
Why it matters
The board seat holds significant weight for local families because the incoming member will help navigate a projected $40 million budget shortfall by 2029. This fiscal pressure, stemming from the expiration of a 2020 referendum and Senate Enrolled Act 1, could lead to school closures and reduced transportation services.
The district faces a potential $40 million budget shortfall in 2029, a figure projected as the 2020 referendum and Senate Enrolled Act 1 cycle reaches its end. Three candidates are vying for the District 1 seat, aiming to address these fiscal challenges alongside ongoing federal consent decree mandates.
The players
Cheryl Moody
A South Bend resident of 26 years and parent of six children seeking the school board seat.
Kevin Hawkins
A school board candidate participating in the District 1 forum.
Emily McClements
A South Bend resident of 22 years with children who have spent 15 years in the local school system.
Mansour Eid
The current superintendent of the South Bend Community School Corporation who is set to retire at the end of the school year.
The details
The school board is responsible for hiring a new superintendent to succeed Mansour Eid, who retires at the end of the 2026-27 school year. Beyond personnel, the board must manage the district’s transition through a federal consent decree, which has been in place since the 1980s. Candidates are also addressing how to integrate modern AI tools, which are already used by more than half of the district's students and teachers.
Timeline
1980s: The district entered into a federal consent decree.
October 22, 2026: Candidates held a public forum for the District 1 seat.
End of 2026-27 school year: Superintendent Mansour Eid is scheduled to retire.
2028: A potential referendum vote could impact district funding.
2029: The district faces a potential $40 million budget shortfall.
The Home Front
South Bend schools are currently navigating the fiscal pressures imposed by Senate Enrolled Act 1 alongside the expiration of the 2020 referendum. These policy shifts are driving a $40 million deficit forecast that places significant pressure on the board to prioritize core educational services.
Families should track upcoming board meeting dates to see how potential school closures or transportation cuts might affect their daily school-day logistics. Reviewing the candidates' platforms regarding the 2028 referendum is a key step for any household planning for long-term school access.
The takeaway
The upcoming board election is critical for managing the $40 million shortfall expected by 2029. Residents should calendar the 2028 referendum vote as a pivotal moment that will determine the future of local school services.
What happens next
The district anticipates a potential referendum vote in 2028 to address its ongoing financial stability.
Further reading
For more on the district's organizational changes, visit Administration.
Source note: This article includes information reported by South Bend Tribune.
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