Progress is being made on the new partnership agreement between Benton Harbor Area Schools and the state to improve academic performance. The Michigan Department of Education announced last year the district is among 54 statewide to be entering such agreements, and speaking to the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education last week, Interim Superintendent Kelvin Butts said the district committee working on the issue will meet Thursday.
“That meeting is for us to present to the committee the homework assignments we had, which were to complete our districtwide school improvement plan and to get or other data in order,” Butts said.
Butts said he’s working on an informational video for the community, and once it’s approved, a virtual town hall will be held. Board President Dashuna Robinson is the only district trustee currently on that committee, and it was suggest there be more. Trustee Elnora Gavin volunteered.
“Why not three? I think this is important enough that three board members are present.”
Trustee Angel Crayton agreed. School districts included in partnership agreements with the state have ranked in the bottom 5% on the state’s index accountability system or have a four-year graduation rate of 67% or less. Once the agreement is in place, there will be a state review of progress after 18 months.
