Should Benton Harbor High School students have access to the Drivers Ed course for free or should families pay additional fees for the course?

The BHAS Board of Education voted to bring Drivers Ed back to Benton Harbor Area Schools by or before Fall 2025, but Board Trustees are in debate as to whether or not to charge BHAS families fees and/or deposits. Over a decade ago, Drivers Education was a free course at Benton Harbor High School. Private driving schools now charge up to $650 in fees. The district has a budget that would fully cover the Drivers Ed costs with the American Rescue Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds (ESSERIII). The Benton Harbor students, community and allies also fought and won debt forgiveness for their school district in 2023 from the State of Michigan in the amount of $12.5 million in response to unfair policies that caused harm to public schools in Michigan's majority Black cities.