Benton Harbor Area School

There are a lot of problems happening in the community of Benton Harbor. A problem that is happening is all of the schools and businesses closing. This proposal is for the politicians who say they are doing things for the city of Benton Harbor but are only taking away what’s left of the city to add to the many things St. Joseph already has. Schools are closing down because no one cares about them anymore. There aren’t reliable and responsible people who are making sure that they budget correctly and do things for the schools that need to be done.

There aren’t enough teachers or staff members. Doing something about Benton Harbor area schools is necessary because there are so many kids who depend on it. If nothing is done about all of the schools closing then Benton Harbor families will have to face many things such as finding another school to attend, which are 20-30 minutes away and finding the transportation to get so far.

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This will also complicate schools that Benton Harbor children will go to because of overpopulation. According to WNDU, “Some changes are coming to Benton Harbor Area Schools.

According to our reporting partners at WSJM, Dream Academy will be closed next year, and those students will go to the high school.

Also, kindergarten will be moved to the Discovery Enrichment Center. Third grade classes will be moved to Hull, and the central administration office will be moved to the third floor of the high school. Acting superintendent Patricia Robinson says the changes are due to financial constraints. The district's board also says five administrators will not have their contracts renewed (WNDU, 2018)”.

It might be the end of three under performing schools in Benton Harbor. Michigan’s School Reform Office is looking to make a decision about closing International Academy at Hull, Dream Academy and Steam Academy at MLK as early as late February. “Now state representatives are speaking up. Michigan State Republican Kim LaSata, released a statement shortly the potential school closures. In that statement she says she’s deeply concerned about the future of those three schools. She says she’s been in contact with the School Reform Office and local officials so that the best outcome is reached”.

(Gutierrez, 2017). According to SRO Officer Natasha Baker there is still some hope. “We will reach determination after working with the school. Within 30-45 days there will be a report that is generated with the final determination.” That report will take into consideration graduation rates if they apply as well as achievement and improvement. “We want as a human right to make sure that every kid has an opportunity and so with that said I think it’s in the best interest of the children and family,” said Baker. According to Baker, Michigan law states if there is another high-quality option, within a reasonable distance for the kids and families, there really isn't a reason to keep the school open.

In this case they’ve been failing for three consecutive years. “We will apply that rule across the state because we believe that every kid regardless of their demographic needs access to quality education opportunities in order for a good life after high school,” said Baker. Parents weren’t left in the dark. Baker says they received a two-part letter that includes options for the future. “Higher quality school options in the event that they want to put their kid in a nearby school and that is free and open enrollment,” she said. A big reason why school systems are failing as well as businesses in Benton Harbor has a lot to do with the Whirlpool Corporation.

Let the truth be told, capitalism generates inequality and wealth, status and power. You must recognize the unfairness of a system that allows wealth to accumulate to an unlimited degree and claim to provide equal opportunity for the people. It is a system that undermines democracy by concentrating power and wealth in the hands of a few (Pinkney, 2017). The oppressor is the establishment, which operates the system that oppresses the people. The establishment no longer needs educated workers as it once did. It once took 50 people to make one automobile. Now one person makes 50 automobiles. Education is the last thing on the oppressor’s list for the minorities. Whirlpool Corporation, a global appliance manufacturing company, is the largest single employer and single biggest political influence on local government in Berrien County, MI. Whirlpool controls the county commissioners, Berrien County Courthouse, its judges and prosecutors, Benton Harbor Commissioners and Benton Harbor School District and Board.

”. Now we have three schools closing, overcrowded classrooms and there is no telling what kind of education the children will get. In addition, the school system has gotten many loans from the state. Where is that money? Who is responsible and accountable for our students’ education? Who is responsible for the attack on our school system? The Whirlpool Corporation is determined to crush the residents of Benton Harbor. The economy and social equality is the essence of democracy and is the antithesis of capitalism. We must confront the Whirlpool Corporation at all cost. If Whirlpool was dedicated to our school systems like they ae with business and invest in better education rather than better business, schools will be able to stay and may even find decent teachers and staff.

Now we have three schools closing, overcrowded classrooms and there is no telling what kind of education the children will get. In addition, the school system has gotten many loans from the state. Where is that money? Who is responsible and accountable for our students’ education? Who is responsible for the attack on our school system? The Whirlpool Corporation is determined to crush the residents of Benton Harbor. The economy and social equality is the essence of democracy and is the antithesis of capitalism. We must confront the Whirlpool Corporation at all cost. Another reason we need Whirlpool to be on our side is because even if the people of Benton Harbor try to stop the board from closing the schools, it still won’t be enough without the power Whirlpool has.

Closing schools has become an almost reflexive, corporate solution to a complex fiscal and social problem – a problem to which no one has found a satisfying answer. There are ways to stop a school from closing. Instead of protesting the school board in a school district, we can go after school policies and budgets within our state. If we don’t have the power to change a board member’s mind on closing a particular school, we should go after the law that is in place in a state. Districts shutter, sell or destroy physical properties typically for said fiscal reasons. Districts also terminate contracts of poor-performing service providers to make way for new leaders who most often radically rearrange the organs of a school – making it in essence a new school. In either case for students, alum and family members, closing a school can feel like excommunicating a grandfather to the wilderness to save money. My proposal is that we should target the politics part of education laws that doesn’t benefit school systems that affect minorities. There have been other proposals made. For instance, I read that hosting a walk out could be beneficial to make change on laws and or deciding whether or not schools should be permanently closed or not. There is a bigger issue when it comes to the education system. Sometimes there aren’t enough workers because teachers aren’t being paid enough, basically not enough to even survive financially.

They have to buy their own classroom items and pay for most things out of pocket. So maybe we should be going after how much school staff members, especially teachers’ pay rates and that could be a huge start. Consequently, more and more families are following their tax dollars but are also demanding better public options. Districts in growing metropolitan areas should do everything to keep schools open while improving them. If leaders leave little academic and physical room for growth, then recruitment becomes difficult. School closing is a solution in need of a solution. But what alternatives exist for districts? Colleges of education should physically and literally be part of the solution. Schools and universities must partner in ways to maximize their economic and social benefits with the explicit goal of sustaining and growing neighborhoods. I always remind people that the goal of school reform is not simply to close an achievement gap. The average salary of a teacher in Michigan is around $50-60,000. We should find ways to support students and reform schools and maintain community assets (Perry, 2014).

In conclusion, I believe that something needs to change in terms of the Whirlpool corporation and the significance the company has when it comes to decision making with Benton Harbor area schools. We need our schools to remain open for lower income families. Although it’s a start trying to keep schools open, we also need to focus on how much we pay teachers and staff members and make sure that they are good enough to teach students. I also blame Gov. Rick Snyder for not doing enough to protect Michigan education laws. It seems as though he is making laws worse. We need better funding and budgeting while also employing teachers who are passionate and qualify to teach.

There has been so many teachers and staff members in and out of Benton Harbor and that can confuse things a bit also. It’s a big deal to a bunch of families because they can’t afford to relocate their children to different school districts. Very often, when a lot of schools close in one school district, the closest families can send their children is probably further than they can travel.