Benton Harbor Area Schools released from consent agreement

LANSING, Mich. -- The state treasurer has released Benton Harbor Area Schools from its consent agreement it signed in 2014 due to a financial emergency in the district. The state says the agreement is no longer needed.

State Treasurer Nick Khouri said the district was released from the agreement under the Local Financial Stability and Choice Act so the district can focus on helping students and improving academics through an agreement with the Department of Education.

The district signed a Cooperative Agreement with the state's Department of Education to "provide leadership, academic and financial stability to the district."

“Benton Harbor Area Schools has a plan in place that focuses on both improving finances and educational services through its partnership with the state Education Department,” Khouri said. “The Consent Agreement is no longer needed to address the financial emergency.”

In 2014, a state Financial Review Team concluded the district had a financial emergency. BHAS and the state entered into the Consent Agreement.