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Residents press Benton Harbor board over partnership data, call for leadership changes
Summary
Community members and at least one public commenter urged the board to hold administration accountable for last‑minute operational changes, question partner accountability and demand clearer evidence that district and partner investments are producing academic gains.
A public commenter and several trustees used the Dec. 10 Benton Harbor Board meeting to express alarm about the district's partnership agreement, data transparency and recent administrative changes.
Tiana Batis‑Wadell told trustees she and community partners ‘‘continue to demand the Benton Harbor Area School Board of Education recommend and vote for the termination of Dr. Kelvin Bus’’ over what she described as failures to implement a comprehensive strategic plan and concerns about rushed decisions tied to a proposed STEM investment. The comment cited doubts that the district has visible, data‑backed links between the partnership strategy and the $1.1‑million STEM project she referenced.
Multiple trustees pressed administration for clarity about the preliminary MDE assessment figures in the board packet, asking why district calculations differed from the state’s; staff explained the discrepancy resulted in part from differences between full‑academic‑year and non‑full‑academic‑year student counts and said final determinations from MDE remain pending. Trustees also raised concerns that parts of the partnership agreement may limit partner liability or shift accountability away from the district; they requested a close read of the contract and follow‑up with the partnership liaison.
Board members and community speakers also demanded more transparency about how partner funds and services (for example, Communities In Schools, Varsity Tutors and other supports) are coordinated with district purchases such as textbooks and the STEM program to avoid duplication and to demonstrate impact on student outcomes. Trustees instructed administrators to present a consolidated implementation plan at the next work session and to provide a clear map of which schools are on track to meet partnership targets.
What the board asked for - Legal counsel to confirm whether facility or operational transitions described in a late HR email require a board vote. - A consolidated implementation “puzzle” showing how the STEM purchase, textbooks and partner services align and why each investment is necessary. - Finalized MDE determinations and corrected documents showing the state’s calculations and the district’s reconciled numbers.
The board did not take personnel action against the superintendent. Community members warned that the partnership review and spring assessments are pivotal for the district’s future and asked trustees to prioritize data clarity and coordination.
