LAST Chance for Public Comment before Budget Vote

Monday, May 5 is your last chance for public comment before a potential budget vote on May 8.

The facts:

• The Board of Ed’s adopted budget was cut by nearly $1.3 million
• It takes 10 out of 15 aldermen to restore that funding
• Monday, May 5 at 7:30 pm is the Last Chance for Public comment before a potential budget vote May 8.

What’s at stake if the cut isn’t reversed:

• Increased class sizes in elementary in middle schools
• Cuts to STEM, world languages, and music in elementary schools
• Elimination of after-school clubs and summer athletics
• Pay-to-play athletics, parking fees for students.
• A potential forced closure of Harborside Middle School—before the long-range plan is finalized
See full list of potential cuts here

Show your support:

Monday, May 5 at 7:30 PM
📍 Board of Aldermen Meeting at Milford City Hall
🗣️ Last opportunity for public comment before a possible budget vote on May 8
Wear red for ed

This isn’t about politics or personalities. It’s about protecting what matters most — our kids and our community.
Even if you can’t stay the whole time…
Even if public speaking isn’t your thing…
Even if you just show up to be counted — it matters.
Every voice, every presence builds momentum.
Whether five people come or fifty, we’ll keep showing up — because our kids and our schools are worth it . . .

Watch your Aldermen as they meet with Superintendent Dr. Cutaia and Board of Ed Chair Sue Glennon as they presented the education budget.

The final vote is projected for Thursday, May 8, (pending official announcement) so there’s still time to contact your aldermen and demand full funding.

ACTION needed to Save Milford CT Schools

The Milford Board of Finance has reduced our Board of Ed Adopted budget by $1,286,419 — a huge blow to a skeletal budget where the requested increase was made solely to address rising fixed costs, unfunded mandates, and losses in federal funding.

This decision WILL require CUTS to current programming and staff. It will have a devastating impact on Milford schools. 

We are asking Milford’s Board of Alderman to restore $1,286,419 in the Education budget and allow the Board of Education to conclude the Long Range Facilities Plan for our schools, a plan requested by Mayor Giannattasio that allows for school consolidation in a carefully planned manner.

If funds are not restored this cut could mean
-forced school closure
-loss of sports and extracurriculars
-Increasingclass sizes
-Eliminating progress in education, world languages, career pathways, AP Classes, STEM labs, and more

Links with further Info:

Milford Public Schools Budget Central
Video of Superintendent’s Budget Presentation
Board of Education Discussion on Impact of Reduction

Make no mistake: this is a sensible budget that protects the exceptional programs that make our schools stand out — and honors the 18 months of careful, community-driven planning the Board has undertaken. Premature cuts and school closures would derail that progress just as we near the finish line. Now is the time to tell the Board of Aldermen to fully fund our schools.

This is an economic issue. Meaningful investments into schools mean thriving cities: people choosing to move into and stay in Milford. A 2020 study found that a 1% increase in school spending increases the value of homes by .95 percent. Households highly value spending on the salaries of teachers and staff.1

Our children need support NOW. Cuts will place a greater burden on Milford’s school system at a crucial time for children, teachers and staff. 

This is a workforce issue. Milford’s decision-makers have led strong progress toward high-quality education, world languages in all grades, career pathways, STEM labs and more. These are supports our students need to be prepared for the workforce. 

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1Bayer, P.J., Blair, P.Q., Whaley, K. A National Study of Public School Spending and House Prices. 2020. https://www.hks.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/Taubman/PEPG/colloquium/2021-02-18-pepg-colloquium-blair-et-al.pdf023