Benton Harbor school board considers staffing cuts

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. -- The Benton Harbor Area Schools (BHAS) Board of Trustees is considering staff cuts as they work to finalize the budget for the 2025-2026 school year.

They are looking to "right-size" the district staff after years of falling enrollment amid schools of choice.

"The purpose of rightsizing is to streamline our assets," said Trustee Elnora Gavin.

Approximately 30 jobs are on the line ahead of the upcoming school year, because of an estimated $5 million budget shortfall.

School Board President Dashuna Robinson sent ABC57 a statement Monday:

"Due to an anticipated decrease in federal revenue, BHAS is conservatively completing a structural balance of our budget. Our goal is to maintain our positive fund balance to further cement a strong financial future. One area that we are assessing is district staffing. Our goal is to maximize our current workforce costs, so that it is right sized according to the current needs of our student population..."

Robinson says no decision has been finalized yet.

Gavin, one board member who agreed to speak with ABC57, opposes any staff cuts at BHAS.

"The positions are needed. Regardless of our enrollment, we need our special education teachers, we need our community and family engagement coordinators," Gavin said. "We are not in a position in which this has to happen."

The deadline for the school board to finalize the budget is June 30.