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Benton Harbor board approves litigation join, audit acceptance, budget and staffing moves
Summary
At its Dec. 10 meeting the Benton Harbor Area Schools board unanimously voted to join a nationwide insulin‑pricing lawsuit, accepted the district audit, approved a sinking‑fund revision and signed off on several personnel actions and a STEM program purchase amid questions about alignment and timing.
The Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education on Dec. 10 voted to join a nationwide insulin‑pricing lawsuit, accepted the district's external audit and approved a series of budget and personnel items while asking administrators for additional detail on several near‑term operational changes.
In a unanimous vote the board authorized district leaders to join litigation identified in the board packet by case number 223md3080 in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey; the resolution directs the superintendent or a designee to sign the attorney‑client fee contract, subject to the district's legal review. Superintendent Kelvin Bus told the board there is no cost to the district to join the action and that potential recovery would be a financial benefit if the litigation succeeds.
The board also accepted a fiscal 2023‑24 audit presented by Gabridge & Company. Auditors issued an unmodified (clean) opinion and noted three internal‑control findings related to journal entry approvals, timing of budget amendments and material audit adjustments, but reported no federal compliance findings. Finance staff said the district's combined fund balance increased to roughly $36 million at year‑end.
Trustees approved a sinking‑fund budget revision to reflect updated revenue and expenditure estimates tied to approved school security work and the Verado project. The board voted to approve monthly financial payments and to accept the auditor's report after the audit presentation.
On personnel matters the board approved a set of hires, transfers and separations, including promotion of the business‑office manager, Angela Brock Carter, to director of finance and an interim assignment for Danny Jennings to serve as interim athletic director/assistant principal through June 30, 2025. Trustees directed staff to ensure transition plans and certification requirements are satisfied and to return additional compensation calculations for combined duties where applicable.
The board also approved the purchase of a comprehensive 21st Century STEM education system as presented in the packet. The packet lists the purchase total as “1,333 18” (amount not clearly specified in the transcript). During debate trustees asked for a clear implementation plan showing how the STEM purchase will align with recently purchased textbooks, literacy materials and outside partners to avoid duplication and to document expected student outcomes.
What passed — votes at a glance - Motion to approve the meeting agenda (as amended): carried (recorded votes in meeting). - Insulin litigation resolution: motion carried unanimously. - Acceptance of the 2024 audit report: motion carried unanimously. - Sinking fund budget revision for FY24‑25: motion carried. - Purchase of 21st Century STEM system (staff report T1): motion carried. - Staff reports H1, H2 (with removal of one transfer for further review), and H4 (retirements): majority votes recorded; one transfer (Sarah Cadet) was removed for additional review at the work session.
Next steps Board members asked administrators to: confirm whether any building reassignments require a formal board vote after legal review; provide a single implementation “puzzle” that maps the STEM purchase to other district purchases and partner programs; and supply compensation analyses for combined assignments such as the interim athletic director role.
