Detroit Lawmaker And Former DPS Teacher Supporting Benton Harbor Schools In Fight

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repgaydagnogo

A former Detroit Public Schools teacher now in the Michigan House of Representatives is standing with Benton Harbor Area Schools in the effort to prevent the state from closing Benton Harbor High School. Democrat Sherry Gay-Dagnogo has issued a statement calling the proposal given to the school board by the departments of Education and Treasury “disheartening,” and she warns how the issue with BHAS is handled will sent a precedent for how other struggling districts will be handled by the state going forward.

Rep. Gay-Dagnogo is urging Governor Whitmer and members of the administration to attend Tuesday’s school board meeting or to come back to town to get the local perspective soon. She says the state takeover of districts including Detroit has left schools predominantly in urban communities “eviscerated” and in worst condition, both academically and economically. She adds how the community has responded shows Benton Harbor officials and city leaders “were not properly engaged in developing the prescribed solution.”

Photo courtesy of Michigan House Democrats.