The Board of Aldermen Budget Vote will be Monday, May 13 at 7 pm at City Hall. Please plan to attend – wear red to show your support for reinstating $1.335M in cuts made to the BOE adopted budget.
CALL YOUR ALDERMEN. It takes 1 minute! It’s easy and quick – find your Alder’s contact information and use our short template.
Commit to contacting your Aldermen before the Budget Vote Monday, May 13. Aldermen need to hear from people who support the progress in our schools and investing in education.
Consider highlighting points made by Julie Nash, Director of Economic and Community Development for the City of Milford about how the education budget is integrated into economic development.
“Workforce development starts in education … When we are looking at a $1.8M cut or a $1.3M cut, we’re talking about things that are significant … We’re making sure that the eSports lab I created with Affinity eSports and Dr. Cutaia lives on. Because the jobs of today are not the jobs of tomorrow and if we don’t have the resources in our school system, kids are leaving Connecticut.” She added, “Our median age in Milford is 47.4. We need to make sure our young people stay, and if we’re not supporting them, and … supporting our businesses in town, then we’re not going to survive.”
Click the video below to watch her powerful statement.
Watch her statement on this topic which makes a powerful argument for funding the school system.
Public Hearing Reflection
Reflecting on the April 15th Board of Aldermen public hearing.
With a total of 37 comments made about the education budget, an overwhelming majority – 30 individuals – expressed strong support for reinstating funding to the Board of Education’s proposed budget.
Yes, there were some speakers who said they supported education, but not reinstating funds. One person acknowledged the high inflation rate and increasing costs, then asked in the next breath to go back to a 1% education increase. We know this wouldn’t even cover contractual obligations! Others spoke to concerns about items that are not part of the requested budget increase this year.
We cannot be distracted by online discourse that seems designed to attack education funding. We KNOW Milford can and must invest in education. Speaking to this, a commenter in the public hearing called for both town parties to stop attacks on social media, noting “our children are caught in the cross-fire,” and reiterated the concern that the non-elected Board of Finance has such a significant role in cutting education funding.
Last year we heard from hundreds of parents about the progress that is drawing families to Milford, like STEM labs and world languages in elementary schools, teacher stability and mental health supports. A Milford resident and real estate agent with 16 years of experience and 33 years as owner of a real estate appraisal business, stated:
“When families approach me, their primary concern is about the quality of our schools. They want to know not only how close the schools are, but the investments we as a community are making across elementary, middle, and high schools, and that their children will receive the help they need to be prepared for the future. … As a parent of 6 children, 3 who have attended Milford Schools – with my youngest graduating from Foran 3 years ago – I have firsthand experience of how we have made progress and sound investments over the years. I can confidently share this with prospective Milford homebuyers.”
From a resident who moved with his family to Milford in part because of the excellent education system:
“Unfortunately, we are in a climate where there is huge inflation, and we can’t have increases of 1% every year. It’s unfortunate, that’s where we are.” He added: “I’m glad to see that all of us are in favor of a good educational system and I would argue that the best way for us to get there is to make sure we are participating in the process all throughout. Our leaders in town who are specifically trained in how to put together budgets and educate our children have very thoughtfully and consciously put [the proposed budget] together.”
Watch the 4/17 education budget hearing.
How will this 1.335M cut affect our schools if not reinstated?
This cut will have significant programmatic impact that forces us to DEFER INVESTMENTS in:
- Programs our students want and needto prepare themselves for the competitive economy of the 21st Century:
- Digital Media
- World Languages (ASL in Middle School)
- Engineering and Design
- Esports
- Upgrades to our sports and music programs:
- Replacing musical instruments (Middle and High)
- New band uniforms (Foran)
- Summer Sports Training (High Schools)
- Projects that put us at future risk if not completed:
- Security cameras and computers
- Buildings and grounds repair and maintenance
- Firewall upgrades for cybersecurity
- Specialized programming that will actually save money over time in out-of-district tuition:
- Behavioral Support Program
- Specialized Support Program
- Clinical Therapy Supports
- additional clinical therapy supports not covered by grant from Bridges
- Enhancements and updates to Curriculum (partial list!)
- Middle School
- Addition of American Sign Language
- World Language digital textbooks/resources
- Updated seating in English Classrooms to support a more student focused instructional model
- High School
- New textbooks for AP US Government & Politics and AP Environmental Science courses
- Software for Personal Finance
- Digital textbooks for Statistics and Calculus courses
- updated seating in Math Classrooms to support a more student focused instructional model
- New textbook for Medical Mysteries course
- Middle School
Last year the Board of Aldermen, the Democratic majority and Republican minority, with Mayor Giannattasio in the position of Minority Leader, showed bipartisan and unanimous support for restoring education funding, following a diligent process of consideration and strong community support.
Again this year, we will look to our elected Alders for their diligence. And, we call on Mayor Giannattasio to keep his campaign promise and prominently advocate for education funding.
Education lies at the heart of a vibrant Milford community. Another year of deferred investments risks weakening our community and diminishing Milford’s appeal to small businesses and homeowners alike.
I want to make my voice heard – what can I do to support Milford schools? Email or call your Alderman, and sign up for updates here and follow us on Facebook. The next step will be the Board of Aldermen budget hearings, beginning with public comment at City Hall around mid-April. We’ll send an update when the date is available.
Where can I learn more about the Board of Ed’s proposed budget?
MilfordEd Advocates 