BH Schools To Continue Negotiating With The State

bentonharborhighschool-74
bentonharborhighschool-74

A proposed Financial Recovery Agreement for Benton Harbor Area Schools by the state has been rejected by the local board of education. At a Tuesday meeting, Superintendent Andrae Townsel said the district’s attorneys took issue with aspects of the recovery plan that developed out of Community Engagement and Advisory Committee discussions. After a lengthy back and forth between the district and the Michigan Department of Treasury, Townsel relayed this from the attorneys.

“After reviewing the department’s current proposal, our attorneys recommend that the board reject the department’s proposal and continue to work with the department in a collaborative manner without having  to satisfy the requirements of the agreement,” Townsel said.

Board President Joseph Taylor said the board will continue to work with the department. The objections to the state’s proposal ranged from whether financial aid would come from the state to whether yet another consultant would have to be hired. The board approved a motion to deny the agreement.