A new academic and athletic partnership was announced today between South Bend Community School Corporation (SBCSC) and Teachers Credit Union (TCU). The partnership includes a naming rights agreement and an extension of the school corporation’s cash management agreement and will provide nearly $1.5 million of support over 10 years to benefit academics, athletics, the arts and student technologies.
With this partnership, TCU will sponsor the school corporation’s STEM/STEAM programs, robotics, and new technology-driven learning devices as SBCSC moves toward one device per student in the 2018-19 school year. Additionally, a new high school art competition will debut.
As part of the agreement, School Field, home to Adams and Washington High School football teams, has been renamed TCU School Field. Signage noting the TCU School Field name change will be installed by this Fall. New lighting and artificial turf will be added for the 2018 football season. Future stadium advancements will include a new public-address system and modernized concessions.
In addition, the TCU Financial Empowerment Program for student financial education will be offered for free to SBCSC high school and middle school students. This program engages students with a unique, web-driven financial literacy curriculum developed by teachers and personal finance experts. The program teaches students critical thinking skills needed to ensure a lifetime of smart financial decisions.
TCU will continue as longtime title sponsor of the South Bend Alumni Association (SBAA) Hall of Fame dinner and Superintendent’s Golf Tournament as well as the SBCSC Retiree Celebration Dinner.
“TCU is excited to announce an expanded partnership with South Bend Schools to enhance the academic and athletic experience of students,” said TCU President and CEO Paul Marsh. “This is a natural partnership for TCU and dates to our founding in 1931 when a group of South Bend school teachers joined together to form TCU. While times have changed, providing a quality education is still just as important today and we’re pleased to partner to make a positive impact.”
Superintendent Dr. Kenneth Spells said “We are very grateful to Teachers Credit Union for this new partnership agreement. Not only will it benefit the student-athletes who play at TCU School Field, but their support will help fund science and technology programs for our students. Because of the school corporation’s history with TCU, it is very appropriate that they are our inaugural naming rights sponsor.”
The partnership agreements were introduced and approved at the July 16 South Bend Community School Corporation board meeting. Two primary agreements were approved, specifically a Naming Rights agreement for $30,000 annually and the extension of a cash management agreement from 2 years to 10 years. Funds will be directed to the South Bend Education Foundation for use by SBCSC. The agreements go into effect July 16, 2018.