BENTON HARBOR, Mich – Benton Harbor area schools are officially under new leadership.

Dr. Robert Herrera will take over the academically and financially struggling school district in an effort to turn it around.

He will take over the new school district under a revised partnership agreement with the state of Michigan.

Dr. Herrera has 90 days to create a plan to make improvements and four years to turn the district around.

In addition, he successfully improved school districts including the South Haven district which he led for six years.

“We grew from 3.7% to the 92st percentile over a three year period” Herrera said.

Dr. Herrera will report directly to a State school reform, not the school board