Milford School Budget Proposal Includes Major Changes

MILFORD, CT — New Superintendent of Schools Dr. Anna M. Cutaia's $95.078 million budget proposal for fiscal 2019-20 would include a 1.89 percent spending hike if approved.

The size of the proposed budget increase isn't new. Since 2014-15, Milford school budget requests have all been below a 2 percent increase each year.

But what is new is that Cutaia's proposal includes several significant changes that are aimed at moving the district into the future from an educational standpoint.

Here are some of the major changes:

This spring students in grades 5-9 will receive Chromebooks and next school year it will be expanded to grades 3-4 and 10-12. Cutaia notes that this initiative will have little or no extra costs for taxpayers.

World Language will be introduced starting in Kindergarten and grade 1 next year. It's currently only offered in sixth grade and up. Cutaia says the plan is to introduce Spanish to kindergartners and first graders next year and then add it to second, third, fourth, and fifth-graders in future years.

Middle sports clinics are included in the superintendent's budget plan. Coaches will teach 12 sports including soccer, lacrosse, volleyball, tennis, and golf to middle school students in five week increments.

Technology upgrades include adding more robots for classrooms and offering Robotics I and II courses. New interactive whiteboards would replace existing smartboards, which offers additional tools for students and syncs up with their Chromebooks. The interactive boards will first be used at Jonathan Law and Joseph A. Foran's science departments.

High School juniors will engage in 'Aced My Interview,' a program that provides students with live interviews in preparation for college and/or career experiences.

Hiring of a security guard for The Academy

Flexible comfortable classroom furniture, which may include couches and portable desks would begin to replace existing desks and chairs. This will began in three classrooms at each of the middle schools next year.

Fitness room added at Harborside Middle School

What Are Milford's Results

Milford now has 190 AP Scholar students, and that number has doubled over the past five years. Key Club students have been recognized at the state level, local students have attended the Science Olympiad at Brown University and creative writing and art students have been honored.

Milford students are able to partner with local businesses to get real-world experience. Students continue to get accepted at top tier universities including Yale University.

91 capital projects were completed at the city's 14 schools this summer.

Money Saved

The school system is proposing to eliminate six full time positions next year, though no layoffs are expected, Cutaia said. This will save $236,700. Other savings include: $45,000 for replacing an electronic database and $175,000 for property liability and telecommunications.

Fixed Costs

A total of 77.9 percent of the total proposed budget is connected to salaries and benefits for staff members. Additionally, health insurance costs are expected to increase by 9 percent next year, which comprises nearly 20 percent of the total increase in the budget. Cutaia said Milford isn't alone when it comes to escalating health insurance costs. The average increase is between eight and 12 percent, she said.

Student Enrollment

Currently, there are 5,595 students in the district and that is projected to decrease to 5,454 pupils next year.

Closing Statement

"While only in my position as Superintendent of Schools for a few month, I have had the opportunity to hear from stakeholders about what makes Milford great, as well as what can make us even greater," Cutaia said.

"This budget advocates for the educational needs of our students, and continues to move our school district forward with essential program improvements yet is mindful of economic conditions facing our community. Preparing a budget that takes all these factors into consideration is a challenging task and I'd like to thank our leadership team and members of the business department for their role in its development," Cutaia added.

The Board of Education is expected to vote on Cutaia's budget proposal at 7 p.m. on Jan. 23 at the Parsons Government Center.