(WSBT) We should know next week whether a local school will be saved or torn down. South Bend Common Council members toured their final school Thursday night before deciding on a historic landmark status for Marquette School.

The South Bend School Corporation wants to tear Marquette down. They say the building is outdated, and they want to build a new school on the same site.

But the Historic Preservation Commission of South Bend and St. Joseph County wants to preserve the building.

The decision is whether to renovate the building, like Madison, or build a new school, like Harrison.

Common Council members have gone on tours of all three buildings to help make the decision.

A new Marquette Primary School would look like Harrison Primary School, which was built in 2003.

"This one was built on a series of cul de sacs, which reduces classroom noise with student traffic and groups classes together for easy movement," said Dr. Robert Zimmerman, South Bend school superintendent, who gave council members a tour of Harrison.

"It's nice how they allow minimal movement in the hallway to not distract teachers while they're teaching and some of the neat things they've incorporated," said Al Kirsits, South Bend Common Council member.

Technology upgrades and redesigned bathrooms would be part of Marquette whether it's renovated or rebuilt. The school corporation says the main difference is cost.

"The renovation costs are projected to be $17.8 million; new building is $17.6 million," said Dr. Zimmerman.

But the Historic Preservation Commission says it would be cheaper just to renovate the existing school, like they did in 1998 when Madison Primary School became a historic landmark.

"There is not an additional cost," said Catherine Hostetler, Director of Historic Preservation Commission. "There aren't any cracks in the foundation. It's in fine shape."

The collegiate gothic and art deco style school was built in 1936 as part of President Roosevelt's Public Works Administration to create jobs in depressed areas.

Seventy years later, the commission says it's still a vital part of the neighborhood.

"It's more than just a school. It was a community center. It's part of the heritage of this neighborhood," said Hostetler.

But the weathered windows are hard to overlook.

And the council members say they have a lot to think about because there is room for improvement.

"Marquette is an old school and needs to be rehabbed or rebuilt," said Kirsits.

The Common Council will hear from both sides and take public comment before making a decision Monday.

If the school is voted an historic landmark, it will immediately get the designation. If that happens Dr. Zimmerman says he doesn't know if the school corporation will go ahead with the renovations. Right now, he says he's hoping to open a new school in 2009.