Benton Harbor Area Schools

Benton Harbor Area Schools is a school district in Benton Harbor, Michigan, United States. The public school district serves the city of Benton Harbor and surrounding areas. The school district has one high school, two elementary schools, one early childhood center, one alternative education site, and one middle school.

History
Until the consolidation done in the mid-1960s certain out-lying areas, such as Fair Plain, had their own independent school districts.

In 2007, the district hired a new superintendent. Carole Schmidt replaced Dr. Paula Dawning. The hiring of Schmidt was notable because she left her job as superintendent of the St. Joseph Public School District. Schmidt is the first white superintendent of the Benton Harbor School District in decades.

As of November, 2011. Benton Harbor Area Schools superintendent is Dr. Leonard Seawood. In an article in the Herald Palladium dated November 23, 2011, "State schools Superintendent Michael Flanagan said in a Nov. 15 letter to Benton Harbor Superintendent Leonard Seawood the [financial]review is needed because of serious concerns about the district's financial viability. Among those concerns are the district's $18 million deficit, its distressed cash flow and the fact it has missed two payments to its employees retirement service and can't come to an agreement with its employees about a contract." Dr. Seawood said that, "Changes, consolidations and cuts have to be made to avoid a state takeover under Public Act 4, the emergency manager law - the same law that governing Benton Harbor's emergency manager."

The school board governs the school district. The board is currently affiliated with the Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB)https://www.masb.org/home The current president is DaShuna Robinson. Board members are: Vice President Trenton Bowens, Secretary Reinaldo Tripplett, Treasurer Angel Crayton, Trustees Stephanie Rockette-Martin, Elnora Gavin, and Angela Doyle. Board members are elected to four year terms every two years. The next election is scheduled for November 5, 2024.

Superintendents

 * Renee Williams 1992 est-2002
 * Dr. Paula R. Dawning 2002-2007 https://www.saintmarys.edu/175th-anniversary/portraits/paula-dawning
 * Dr. Carole Schmidt 2007-2010 https://bentonspiritnews.com/bhas-threatened-with-state-takeover-p3180.htm?twindow=Default&smenu=99&mad=No
 * Dr. Leonard Seawood 2010-2015 https://www.wndu.com/content/news/Former-Benton-Harbor-schools-superintendent-to-be-sentenced-471921743.html
 * Dr. Shelly Walker 2016-2018 https://www.abc57.com/news/resigning-two-years-later-benton-harbor-s-superintendent-is-stepping-away
 * Dr. Robert Herrea 2018-2019 (supervised by state and not local board of education)https://www.abc57.com/news/benton-harbor-school-district-is-under-new-leadership-as-dr-robert-herrera-takes-over
 * Patricia Robinson Interim 2016; 2018; 2019-2020 https://www.heraldpalladium.com/news/local/robinson-named-interim-superintendent/article_59768e59-3db2-5e68-a3bc-ea077d8defca.html
 * Dr. Andre Townsel 2020-2022 https://www.calvertnet.k12.md.us/departments/administration
 * Dr. Kelvin Butts Interim 2022-23 Permanent 2023-present https://www.bhas.org/article/1356257

Schools

 * Benton Harbor High School9th-12th
 * C.A.P.E. (Career and Alternative Pathways in Education) Center Virtual Education Center
 * Fair Plain Middle School
 * MLK Lower Elementary 1st-3rd grade
 * Fairplain East Upper Elementary 4th-5th Grade
 * Discovery Enrichment Center Early Childhood Center