NEW: The Benton Harbor School Board is asking that Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer attend a public meeting about the district next Tuesday (June 4).
In an open letter to the Governor, the School Board says the state should have consulted with them, that the high school is being targeted because it sits on valuable waterfront land and that the decision transfers wealth from poor, black Benton Harbor to more affluent and white adjacent districts.
The meeting is next Tuesday at 6 in the Student Commons at the high school.
THE LATEST:
Michigan State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks says, "Sitting back and doing nothing is not an option."
The state says the school district will be shut down or turned into a charter school system if the Benton Harbor school board doesn't approve the plan
In a statement Friday, the state says the Benton Harbor district has more than $16 million in debt and students aren't performing well. Only 3 percent of third-graders could read at grade level in 2018, and no high school juniors were considered ready for college in the past five years.
Eubanks says the state's plan means K-8 students "can get the skills they need" while high school students can get on a path to success at area schools or Lake Michigan College.
POSTED EARLIER:
Some Benton Harbor Area Schools officials were taken by surprise Friday by news that the State Department of Treasury may close its high school in response to continuing debt and student readiness problems.
At a sparsely attended special meeting the district’s Superintendent Robert Herrera said
he knew nothing about the plan that wasn’t in the press releases.
Herrera says further information will come from the State Department of Treasury and
added that the school board will also weigh in on the issue.
“I’m certain that the Board of Education deliberating on this and discussing this in
the very near future and I would anticipate them providing you with releases and
information on the decisions or potential decisions that they’ll make here in the next
couple of weeks,” Herrera said.
Benton Harbor Area Schools have been under a partnership agreement with the state
Board of Education since 2017.
The district is more than 16-million dollars in debt and less than 3-percent of its third
graders could read at grade-level, none of its 11th graders have been considered college-
ready in the last five years.
The plan proposed by the treasury would dissolve the high school and alternative high
school starting in the 2020-2021 school year. Those students would either go to one of
the other high schools in the county or go into a career and technical education program
at Lake Michigan College. The plan requires approval from the school board.
ORIGINAL POST: Here is the release issued by the State of Michigan's Dept. of Treasury:
State of Michigan Proposes Bold Solution for Benton Harbor Schools
BENTON HARBOR, Mich. -- Today state of Michigan officials met with Benton Harbor education leaders to discuss a bold proposal to get Benton Harbor students on a path to success and help the district take steps toward resolving their debt.
In 2018, only 3 percent of Benton Harbor Area Schools third graders could read at grade level, and zero eleventh graders were deemed college-ready each of the last five years. The district is more than $16 million in debt, with $700 per student being spent to pay back debt every year.
To help Benton Harbor students get on a path to postsecondary education, the State of Michigan and community partners have proposed a plan to expand opportunities for Benton Harbor students from Kindergarten through Eighth grade and suspend operations at the high school and alternative high school. Under this plan, starting in the 2020-2021 school year, high school students would be able to attend one of eight local high schools in their area or get a CTE focused education and earn college credits in partnership with Lake Michigan College.
“There’s no question that this will be an adjustment for Benton Harbor families, but this is the best solution to serve students and get the district on track to resolving their debt,” said Treasurer Rachael Eubanks. “Sitting back and doing nothing is not an option. We’re proud of the solution we’ve put on the table and believe it’s a much better option than what has happened in the past, where districts have been completely dissolved or converted to a charter system. This way, we can ensure K-8 students can get the skills they need and area high schoolers can get on a path to post-secondary success. The governor is ready to work with the Departments of Treasury and Education as well as the local school board to work on this solution and put our students first.”
“Our primary concern is for the children of Benton Harbor,” said Interim State Superintendent Sheila Alles. “This proposed plan helps focus everyone’s efforts on improving academic outcomes and providing brighter futures for Benton Harbor kids. This is a critical time, and the students need the opportunity to move forward.”
“As educators, we all share a responsibility to ensure every student can get a quality public education. We stand by ready to serve the Benton Harbor community and help every student thrive and build a future for themselves here in Michigan. We’re ready to work with everyone who wants to help,” said a group of 10 superintendents and educators from the Benton Harbor area, including: Berrien Springs Public Schools, Bridge Academy, powered by Kinexus Group, Bridgman Public Schools, Coloma Community Schools, Eau Claire Public Schools, Lake Michigan College, Lakeshore Public Schools, Niles Community Schools, St. Joseph Public Schools, and Watervliet Community Schools.
The State of Michigan plan requires approval from and partnership with the school board. The plan will include transportation for high school students at no cost to families.
Future information about the plan will be posted at www.Michigan.gov/BentonHarborSchools. Current information can be found within the following documents: