Milford School Officials Reviewing Walking Distance Guidelines for Students

The Milford Board of Education is reviewing the walking distance guidelines for students.

Currently, if you live within one mile of an elementary school you need to walk to school, if you live within 1.5 miles of a middle school you need to walk, and if you live within 2 miles of a high school you need to walk to school.

But the school board asked the administration to prepared a report for October that would in some cases shorten those guidelines allowing more students to ride the school bus.

School board members have discussed reducing the requirement from the high school from 2 miles to 1.5 miles and examining what impact there would be if the middle school requirement was reduced from 1.5 miles to 1 mile like the elementary school.

There would be no change at the elementary school level. The key fact is no decisions have been made by the school board, and at this time it’s being reviewed.

“Yes, there was a number of Board members who were interested in reviewing the walking distance guidelines. It was decided that we would report to the Board at their October meeting,” said Chief Operations Officer James L. Richetelli Jr.

Richetelli noted that some students who live inside the walking distances are transported if there is not a safe walking route as defined by the school board’s policy.

“Lastly, I would point out that our current walking distances are very common in districts throughout the state and, in fact, are those that are recommended in the Connecticut State Department of Education sample Transportation Policy,” Richetelli said.

In July meeting minutes, Richetelli noted that reducing the walking requirements could have big financial impact.