School board members defend decision to deny Clinton, allow Obama

by Dustin Grove (grove@wsbt.com)

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Democratic presidential hopefuls Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y.

Democratic presidential hopefuls Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y. (AP Photos)

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Apr 8, 2008 at 3:57 PM EST

Story Updated: Apr 9, 2008 at 1:09 PM EST

SOUTH BEND — Sen. Barack Obama will speak at Washington High School Wednesday night. That location is a big point of contention with a lot of people.

Just two weeks ago, South Bend Schools denied Sen. Hillary Clinton's request to use the school's gym for her campaign stop.

Tuesday, school board members responded to the outcry, calling Obama's visit a different situation.

Less than two weeks after telling the Clinton campaign "no," the South Bend Community School Corporation is preparing to welcome her opponent to Washington High School.

All day, we've been hearing from hundreds of people by phone and by e-mail wanting to know why.

But School Board President Sheila Bergeron says the superintendent had good reason to veto a visit by Clinton and sign off on a stop by Obama.

"We've never held political things during school hours in the school building,” she explained.

The Clinton campaign wanted its rally at the school mid-morning on a school day.

That, Bergeron says, would've violated the district's long-standing policy against campaigning of any kind during the school day.

But because the Obama camp wants an evening visit and while students are away on spring break, Bergeron says “the situation is different.”

Different, she says, but for others it’s not different enough.

“I don't think it's fair even though they're saying, 'Well it's because he's not during the school day and this is spring break,' it's going to upset a lot of people,” Michelle Richards told WSBT News.

Some of them are still upset over turning down Clinton.

“I went to a high school where they always allowed candidates come in to speak to us about things,” Jennifer Veirs said. “I always thought it enriched our education. It helped broaden our views and I think that's why I've always felt a need to participate.”

One board member says his hands were tied.

"I guess there was no right answer to this,” school board member Bill Sniadecki told WSBT News. “So if we didn't allow him to come in, it's wrong; if we allowed him to come in, it's wrong.”

Sniadecki said he hopes, to be fair, the superintendent will extend an invitation to Clinton — asking her to come back and visit here after hours — and to Republican presidential hopeful John McCain as well.

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