The education and well-being of students, the support for parents, and the fair treatment of school staff are fundamental values that MUST be upheld at all times. Unfortunately, in Benton Harbor, Michigan, these principles have been jeopardized due to the actions and decisions of Superintendent Simone Griffin. Allegedly, there have been numerous and shocking incidents causing harm  to staff, parents, and students, which have raised serious concerns within our community.

Benton Harbor Area Schools are not strangers to Superintendents coming into the district with a dismantling agenda after being coached by anti-black and anti-public school's advocates.

We have the heart and the ability to recover from these ongoing attacks, but if this continues we will lose everything we have fought so hard for including the lives of our children. Educators, parents, and even students have reported experiencing adverse effects—including stress, inadequate support, GROSS misconduct and DISHONEST communication—stemming from  Superintendent Griffin's administrative decisions. Such experiences can have long-lasting impacts on the educational environment, staff morale, and student performance. It’s crucial that we, as a community, demand accountability and strive for transparency in our educational system to ensure that such events do not continue to reoccur.

Providing verifiable data from surveys and testimonies supports these claims, presenting a clear case for the necessity of corrective action. According to recent reports, a significant percentage of the staff  are afraid and have expressed a lack of confidence in the current administration, suggesting an URGENT need for reform.

Therefore, we call upon the Benton Harbor Michigan's Board of Education top officials to take these growing concerns seriously, hold the Superintendent accountable, and implement effective corrective actions. We are calling on  President Dashuna Robinson and Vice President Trenton Bowens to move on the urgent community request for the IMMEDIATE REMOVAL  of Dr. Simone Griffin whose actions worsened the current issues.

By signing this petition, you are standing with us in seeking justice and improvement in our schools. We need your support to demand immediate action, ensuring a positive future for our children’s education and a supportive atmosphere for all stakeholders involved. Join us in making a difference by holding those in power accountable for their actions.

CALL TO ACTION:

Tell the school board to:

• STOP neglecting red flags and letting problems fester.
• STOP supporting Superintendents when involved in misconduct.
• CREATE community oversight to prevent superintendents from cutting critical jobs and vital programs.
• SHOW the Superintendent that BULLYING IS UNACCEPTABLE!!
• HIRE a NEW Superintendent that has INTEGRITY and a GENUINE heart for public school communities.