Good afternoon Tiger Nation,
Recently, I was involved in a confrontation that was both regrettable and unfortunate. As your Superintendent, I hold myself to the highest standards of professionalism and care, and I deeply regret that this situation occurred.
Since that time, I have met personally with the parents and students involved. Through open and honest dialogue, we have reached a place of mutual understanding and reconciliation. I am grateful for their willingness to come together in that spirit.
As a district, we remain committed to fostering respect, empathy, and strong relationships across our schools and community. This experience has strengthened my commitment to modeling those values and ensuring that every interaction reflects the dignity and care our students and families deserve.
While we cannot share specific details to protect the privacy of those involved, our priority remains ensuring a safe and respectful environment for our students. Additional questions or concerns can be directed to info@bhas.org.
Thank you for your continued trust and partnership as we work together to create a positive environment for all members of our district community.
With respect and appreciation,
Simone Griffin, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Benton Harbor Area Schools
Web: www.bhas.org Office: (269) 605-1000
The BHAS Board of Education is holding a board meeting on Tuesday, November 11, in the Benton Harbor High School Library. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. and will also be live-streamed on Zoom. You are invited to join using the following link: http://bit.ly/43hSJ3w
Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held throughout the day. Please contact your child's school for more information. We strongly encourage all parents and guardians to attend and connect with your child's teachers to discuss their academic progress.
Your involvement makes a difference! #Tigerpride
Benton Harbor Area Schools Youth Sports Camps are happening every Saturday for boys and girls in grades 1–5!
Join us at MLK Elementary (715 E. Britain Ave.) from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. where students will learn sports skills and fundamentals in a fun, encouraging environment.
Please have your child wear gym shoes and gym pants or shorts — we’ll provide a T-shirt that they should wear each Saturday.
There’s no commitment required — come when you can! Each week may feature a different sport, but every session helps students grow into well-rounded athletes.
We look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow morning! 🐾
Dear Benton Harbor Area Schools families,
At Benton Harbor Area Schools, the safety, security and well-being of our students and school community is our top priority. I’m writing to provide an update regarding an allegation of inappropriate conduct involving school employees and a Benton Harbor High School student.
On Monday, Oct. 27, school administrators became aware of an allegation of inappropriate conduct involving a member of our support staff and a high school student. We immediately launched an internal investigation into the matter consistent with our school policies and procedures. We also contacted local law enforcement.
As a result of our initial review, a support staff member has been placed on unpaid leave and three contracted employees have been terminated. We are cooperating with the Michigan State Police Office in their investigation and will continue to do so. Our internal review is also ongoing and active, and I encourage anyone with information regarding this matter to contact my office directly at simone.griffin@bhas.org. At Benton Harbor Area Schools, we take all reports of inappropriate or potentially illegal behavior or misconduct seriously and thoroughly investigate any such allegations or reports.
I understand this update may come as a shock and disappointment to our school community. Please know these alleged behaviors do not reflect the vast majority of our amazing school employees who work hard every day to provide a quality education to our students and conduct themselves with integrity and professionalism. Our top priority remains the safety and well-being of all Benton Harbor students, and we are committed to maintaining a secure, supportive learning environment that helps them succeed.
We will provide updates as information becomes available and appropriate to share.
Sincerely,
Simone Griffin, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Benton Harbor Area Schools
www.bhas.org
Statement Regarding Employee Conduct Investigation
Benton Harbor, Mich. — On Monday, October 27, 2025, the District received a complaint alleging inappropriate conduct involving several employees.
In response, the employees in question were immediately removed from their duties, and a formal investigation was initiated to review the allegations thoroughly.
While we are unable to discuss details of an ongoing investigation, please be assured that the District takes all such concerns with the utmost seriousness. Our top priority remains the safety and well-being of our students, and we are committed to maintaining a secure and supportive learning environment.
Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make our Pink Out Day so special!
#BreastCancerAwareness #PinkOutDay #TigerPride
The BHAS Board of Education is holding a board meeting on October 28 in the Benton Harbor High School Library. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. and will also be live-streamed on Zoom. You are invited to join using the following link: http://bit.ly/43hSJ3w
The Lions Club will be visiting all Benton Harbor Area Schools on October 23 & 24 to provide vision screenings for students. 👓
If you have questions or would like to opt your child out, please contact your child’s school office.
T-H-A-N-K Y-O-U 🧡🖤
Homecoming 2025 wouldn’t have been possible without our incredible team and supportive community! 🐯 Every detail, from planning to execution, made this weekend unforgettable. Thank you for your hard work and dedication. BHAS appreciates you all!
🎥 Hear Dr. Griffin’s heartfelt thanks to everyone who made Homecoming possible!
Students kicked off Homecoming Weekend last night with the bonfire, and we’re keeping the energy going all day!
🔥 Tailgate Party: Join us before the game for food, music, games, and fun for all ages!
🏈 Game Time: 7:00 PM | Benton Harbor vs. Buchanan at Filstrup Field
🎓 Alumni Mixer: After the game — reconnect, reminisce, and celebrate Tiger pride!
🎟️ Game tickets: GoFan.co
🎟️ Mixer tickets (Proceeds benefit the Class of 2026): bit.ly/47i3aqK
🍽️ It’s National School Lunch Week! 🎉 Help us make school meals even better by taking the Taher School Lunch Survey: https://bit.ly/4ngUt6J
Your feedback helps us serve nutritious, delicious meals students love!
Get ready for a full weekend of Tiger pride, celebration, and community fun! We can't wait to see everyone rep their orange and black and make memories with our students, staff, alumni, and community!
🎟️Game tickets: GoFan.co
🎟️Alumni Mixer Eventbrite (All proceeds benefit the Class of 2026): https://bit.ly/47i3aqK
