Breaking News: Milford Postpones Vote to Close a School

By Brian McCready, Patch Editor

MILFORD -- In front of 75 concerned parents, the Board of Education decided Monday night to postpone approving a plan that would likely lead to the closing of Harborside Middle School within three to five years.

Additionally, not one board member made a motion to close an existing elementary school.

The board under the leadership of Majority Leader Laura Fucci introduced a motion to add additional classrooms at West Shore Middle School, which would have allowed the school board to revisit in three years the anticipated closing of Harborside.

But Minority Leader John DeRosa said not all of the facts are known and urged the board to postpone a vote. DeRosa suggested the board eliminate plans to close Harborside.

It was at this time that Fucci suggested that the board postpone any vote on Harborside until the November 10 meeting.

More than 75 parents attended and 25 spoke out against closing Harborside.

In order to close Harborside an addition is required at West Shore to accommodate additional students there. Already plans have called for a $19.5 million project at West Shore to replace the roof and windows, perform code upgrades, and add an art and music wing.

But officials said Monday to add eight regular education and three special education classrooms along with enlarging West Shore’s gym would add another $8 to $10 million to the cost bringing the overall West Shore renovation and addition project to up to $30 million.

Additionally, DeRosa who has spoken about the possibility of closing an existing elementary school due to declining enrollment, passed on introducing the idea formally on Monday night. It’s unclear whether DeRosa will pursue that option at the November 10 meeting.

School officials have said if they close Harborside taxpayers will save $750,000 annually.

What did the board do Monday night?

The school board voted to return the school system next year to a K-5 elementary school configuration. Additionally, the district will pay a consultant $43,000 to implement redistricting plans.

The district also approved decentralizing the pre-K program, and it will now be housed in three schools instead of one. The school board also voted to add new programs across the district Monday night.