BENTON HARBOR, Mich. (AP) — State officials are reviewing a proposal by Benton Harbor's school board to prevent the closing of a high school and possible shutdown of the struggling district.
The state had set a Friday deadline on the issue. Board members on Wednesday presented the state an outline of their plan.
Citing the southwestern Michigan district's poor finances and weak academic performance, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's administration has said it wants the board to close the high school as part of a broader plan to improve local K-8 education. If not, the district could be shut down.
Whitmer spokeswoman Tiffany Brown said Friday in a statement that "the governor plans to continue working with the school board to ensure K-8 students have the support they need and to ensure high school students are on track to graduate postsecondary with a degree or skills certification."