BH Schools Released From Consent Agreement

bentonharborhighschool-38
bentonharborhighschool-38

Benton Harbor Area Schools has been released from its consent agreement with the Michigan Department of Treasury. Treasury spokesperson Ron Leix tells WSJM News since the district’s cooperative agreement with the Michigan Department of Education has been in place, the consent agreement, which covers finances, has taken a back seat. So…

“The Michigan Department of Treasury is no longer overseeing Benton Harbor Area School finances,” Leix said. “They’re no longer under state financial oversight.”

The district’s turnaround will now be guided strictly by the cooperative agreement with the Michigan Department of Education, which has Benton Harbor Area Schools CEO Robert Herrera at the helm.

“The consent agreement has been removed, and now the school district can focus on working with the state education department on the leadership, academics, and finances of the school district,” Leix said.

Leix tells us the financial emergency has been sufficiently addressed to remove the consent agreement and allow the Michigan Department of Education to do its work. Benton Harbor Area Schools was the last school district in the state to be under a Treasury consent agreement.