SOUTH BEND — Is the education system broken in South Bend? By the turnout at a school board workshop, it appears there are a lot of people who think it is. Close to a hundred people took the first step Tuesday night to fix what they say are the problems.

They say they don't agree with how the School Corporation is being run. So, they're getting involved.

Four South Bend School Corporation board members will be up for re-election in November. Two of those members, Kim Barnbrook and Ann Rosen, voted to buy out the superintendent's contract. The other two, Dawn Jones and Bill Sniadecki, voted to keep him.

It was the first meeting held by the Community Coalition for School Boards and the St. Joseph County Chamber of Commerce.

Many people say they went because the school board never asked them whether they wanted superintendent Robert Zimmerman to stay or go.

April Lidinsky has sat back and watched the board meetings.

"There's been no transparency, no explanation about what happened, and I feel a commitment to children in this area is crucial," said Lidinsky who may run for the board in 2010.

Another school board meeting regular, Cecilia Edwards-Brown, is contemplating a run in November.

"The meetings they have are secretive. If you are public official, that information is public," she said.

Edwards-Brown says the ousting of Zimmerman hasn't been so public.

"Everyone loves him -- the teachers and the parents -- but I think that's the problem. They don't want anyone the teachers and parents want," said Edwards-Brown.

Zimmerman told WSBT News last week he feels the board is responsive to public opinion and that could be part of the problem.

"Sometimes that leads to crossing that line to areas that truly are administrative that they want to voyage into because they feel they have a responsibility to those that elected them," said Zimmerman.

Like many, he hopes Tuesday night's workshop will encourage change.

"I think it is a step by the business community to say we've got to get better," said Zimmerman.

But one board member doubts whether it can get better quickly.

"We have three board members that are going to be on the board for another two years, and they are the ones who basically have conflicts with others," said Bill Sniadecki, school board member.

Edwards-Brown says she's ready for the board to put politics aside.

"Education should be on the top of the list, getting our corporation out of the negative and into a positive light," she said.

Most of the board members with expiring terms say they haven't decided whether they are running for re-election in November.