Milford School Closing: A Real Possibility, Officials Say

MILFORD, CT — In January, the Milford Board of Education approved a $106.48 million budget for fiscal 2023-24, which represents a 4.32 percent increase over the current spending plan.

In March, the Board of Finance approved a 2.58 percent spending increase, which represents a $2.61 million increase over the current school budget, which expires on June 30, 2023.

While the finance board approved an overall increase, it was still $1.8 million less than the Board of Education had sought. And now school officials are considering what they may have to cut.

On Monday night, Superintendent of Schools Anna Cutaia told the school board that closing an elementary or middle school or The Academy are all "real possibilities."

Cutaia said $3.5 million of the proposed $4.48 million spending increase is needed just to cover salary and benefits increases for the district's 1,300 employees. Additionally, another $330,000 is required for special needs tuition/contracted services and the transportation contract mandates an additional $311,000.

Of the proposed $4.48 million increase, Cutaia said all but $177,000 was tied to mandates and or contractual obligations. But she said the finance board approved budget increase of $2.63 million doesn't even cover the $3.5 million needed to pay for contractually obligated pay increases for staff members.

Additionally, 71 percent of the schools budget is tied to salaries and benefits, Cutaia said.

Cutaia said the reduction in funding will "slow us down in progress and represents a step backwards..."

The Board of Aldermen adopts a final school and city budget in May.

Closing a school?

Closing an elementary school would produce $1.2 million in savings for one year, Cutaia said. Staff would need to be reassigned and redistricting would be required at each elementary school. Class size could increase and there would likely be some layoffs, Cutaia said. She said no specific elementary school has been mentioned, though she added closing an elementary school would be the "most disruptive of all the options."

Closing a middle school would result in a $1.7 million one year saving, and may target Harborside Middle School due to the fact that school needs renovations totaling $28 million. Closing Harborside would produce a long-term $28 million savings, officials said.

However, closing a middle school would result in redistricting impacting the other two middle schools.

Cutaia said closing The Academy would only save $500,000 and "we'd be moving children who are at the greatest risk."

Additional, potential budget cuts were unveiled, and you can view the full 19-page document here. You can also view the school board discussion by clicking here.

The Board of Finance perspective

The finance board voted 4 to 1 against approving the full budget initially sought by the school board. Finance Board member Ray Arnold said he felt the school system is "top heavy with more administrators and counselors than teachers," according to meeting minutes.

Finance Chairman Brian Lema said he's concerned by the declining enrollment over the past decade and despite the reduction in students, more positions have been added, meeting minutes state.

Other members noted that the 2.58 percent increase for the school system is the largest approved by the finance board in a decade. Additionally, a city official told Patch that besides the school board's operational budget, the city also pays for school employee's health insurance and those costs are skyrocketing along with debt relief on school capital projects.

On Monday night, Cutaia said that over the past decade the number of administrators has stayed flat at about 34 position and the number of teachers has actually decreased from 561 to 534 positions. She also said student enrollment is plateauing and there isn't the ability to make staffing reductions.

Board of Education Minority Leader Andrew Fowler, a Republican, released a statement on the school budget to Patch.

"Notes from the Milford Board of Education March 27 Meeting:

"So we might have to close down a school --- yes, you read that correctly.

"Last week, Mayor Ben Blake's appointed Board of Finance told the Board of Education to cut $1.8 million from its budget. It's common knowledge though this cut was orchestrated by the mayor --- and what an action to take, dropping this bomb on Milford before getting out of dodge...

"Even though I voted against the budget, what strikes me most is that it was passed by duly elected representatives, accountable to Milford's voters. What about the Board of Finance? They're not subject to voters -- and the Mayor is trying to use them as a cover. And the Mayor won't be on the ballot in November, so neither will he.

"(Meanwhile, I have on good authority, the City's budget increased by more than 6% -- way more than the 2.58% increase imposed by the Board of Finance. But I digress...)

"Still, the Board of Alderman has the ability to add the $1.8 million back into the budget; but the reality is that this hard discussion is happening. It's a reality.

"So last night, the Board of Education went over line items to cut to reach the $1.8 million mark. The "cleanest" move as Dr. Cutaia described would be to eliminate a school, the more likely target being Harborside (which would save $1.7 million). Other proposed options were eliminating the World Language program, School Counselors, Freshmen Sports, but those are piecemeal cuts when stacked next to monetary amount we have to achieve.

"No decisions have been made. We've only held discussion on each line item's impact (beyond the money).

"Regardless, even though these cuts are now the Board of Education's responsibility, it's really a decision made by the Mayor. The Board of Finance wouldn't have acted if he didn't want it. And I don't think the Board of Alderman (with the Mayor's party having a supermajority) will buck and add the $1.8 million -- but that's just political conjecture.

"I challenge the Mayor to make cuts in his own City budget (maybe not budget for all those unfilled city positions too!), or closing a school will be the final stamp in his legacy," Fowler concluded.

Blake could not be reached for comment.