Republicans Will Not Vote to Close Harborside Middle School

By Brian McCready, Patch Editor

When the Board of Education reconvenes next month to discuss the possibility of approving a plan that could lead to the closing of Harborside Middle School within three to five years, Republicans will be voting against that proposal says Minority Leader John DeRosa.

DeRosa, who spoke with Milford Patch, said the four Republicans are united in their opposition to closing Harborside Middle School.

But in the end, the Republicans won’t have the final say on the matter. The board currently is comprised of six Democrats and four Republicans, and all that is needed in order to approve a proposal is a majority vote.

DeRosa said the Long Range Planning Committee has proposed for more than 18 months the idea of closing one or two elementary schools but Democrats, at the most recent meeting, did not put forth that proposal. He questioned why that didn’t happen.

“By the number of parents that showed up and voiced their concerns and opinions about closing Harborside they felt they were blindsided and they were,” DeRosa said. “That discussion didn’t happen until late summer.”

DeRosa said it was Democrats who led the push to approve a plan to close Harborside. He said there are still too many unanswered questions about closing Harborside.

He said if Harborside closes will more money be needed for an addition at East Shore Middle School? Already, plans to expand and renovate West Shore to accommodate the additional Harborside students could cost $27.5 million and questioned if that figure could increase.

Original estimates to expand East Shore were $12 million and costs have ballooned to $22 million. 

Here are related stories about the school system and the possibility of a school closing.

• Breaking News: Milford Postpones Vote to Close a School
• Milford Schools Spend More than $130,000 on Consultant Fees
• How Much Will Taxpayers Immediately Benefit By Closing Harborside Middle School?