Benton Harbor Area Schools hosts public meet and greet with Superintendent Finalists

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. -- Benton Harbor Area Schools (BHAS) held a community meet and greet Tues. evening in the Benton Harbor High School Library for the three final candidates in the district’s search for the next superintendent.

The three candidates: Jeff Dase, the deputy superintendent for Rock Island-Milan School District, Dr. Simone Griffin, the regional director for Learnwell Educational Services, and Dr. Dallas Lee, the Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services and Opportunities for Elementary School District 159.

Each candidate had about an hour to mingle with the public around the room before each gave a 10-minute slideshow presentation on a topic of their choice, which was then followed by a Q&A from the community for each candidate.

“I’m a big proponent in touchable role models. Somebody that actually came from where you are… that is being successful. So, we bring them back to talk to our kids so our kids see them right in front of them and say, ‘yeah I can be successful coming out of Benton Harbor Area Schools’,” said Dase.

“I know if my kid is operating on grade level, I’m not gonna get him the same book I give to a baby that’s not reading on grade level. It has to be rigorous at their level. And then relevant, they’re not gonna always care about Shakespeare, so how do we make sure that we introduce [inaudible] and hip hop into the curriculum,” said Griffin.

“…but it is our responsibility, a moral imperative if you will, to give our young people, who in my opinion sometimes are the furthest removed from opportunity, our very best. So when they leave us, they can do what they want to do, be who they want to be,” said Lee.

The vetting on the candidates isn’t over, BHAS is currently completing a comprehensive background check on all three. Once those are in, the board hopes to announce a decision by July 8th.