The Benton Harbor Area School Board has voted to create an advisory committee with the state. The committee will create and operating plan for the struggling district.
In May the state of Michigan suggested closing Benton Harbor High School as a way to pay down the districts debt and focus on academics for kindergarten through 8th grade students. After staunch resistance, the plan was dropped.
In August representatives from the Michigan Department of Treasury presented a plan to create an advisory committee with members from the state, the district, and the community.
The Benton Harbor Area School board voted Saturday to approve that committee. They also appointed board member Denise Whatley-Seats to serve on it.
The committee would have 11 voting members and one non-voting member. The committee is charged with assessing the district’s academics and finances within three months. A full suggested operating plan is expected by March 31, 2020.
All other members of the committee will be appointed before the committee begins its work.
You can read the entire Memorandum of Understanding here.
