(WSBT) The future of a South Bend school didn't get any clearer Monday night.

The Common Council voted to give Marquette School historic landmark status and the mayor has until Friday to sign the bill. Now, there are questions as to whether the Common Council gave just the building historic landmark status or the land it sits on, too.

That complicates the direction this project could go. Superintendent Robert Zimmerman says the Historic Preservation Commission told the Common Council verbally the designation would be for the building alone, but the bill includes the property.

"We would want to make sure there aren't any restrictions on the building that it doesn't have to be compliant with any of their rules cause it's much more expensive to do that," said school board member Sheila Bergeron.

Finances are something Mayor Steve Luecke is taking into consideration. If he vetoes it, the Common Council will need a two-thirds vote to override it. If it doesn't, the school corporation will go ahead with the original plan and tear down Marquette. But if landmark status is granted, it's unclear what will happen.

The board could build on the same land without tearing down the school, build elsewhere, or renovate.

"Unfortunately, we are in this mix where a lot of what is happening is beyond on our control," said Zimmerman.

But one thing's for sure: "We are not going to be taking that school out of that neighborhood," said school board member William Sniadecki.

"That neighborhood needs a school. I agree. I agree. We all agree on that," said school board member Kimberly Barnbrook.

School board members say they want to build a new school. If historic landmark status is granted, they could petition to have that designation removed or apply for a landmark demolition permit. One school board member also brought up going through a remonstrance process.