Milford Middle School Could Close As District Faces Budget Cuts

MILFORD, CT — A Milford middle school is facing threats of closure after the school district's proposed budget was reduced.

Harborside Middle School previously faced potential closure in 2023 also due to budget cuts. Now the Milford Board of Education "is considering closing it as part of a long-range facilities plan," according to Stand for Milford CT Schools.

Protesters showed up to City Hall on Thursday to urge the Board of Aldermen to restore $1.3 million to the Board of Education's original request of $115 million, according to Hearst Connecticut Media.

The school district's requested budget was cut by the Board of Finance last month in a 3 to 2 vote. Some members were concerned about potential tax increases for residents, though others argued that federal cuts to education funding could create unanticipated problems.

See related: Milford Board Of Finance Cuts Schools' Budget Request

Schools Superintendent Anna Cutaia said that the schools' initial budget request had already taken into account rising costs and that it merely maintained the existing level of services.

"We have been very clear since January that this budget is a 'maintenance budget' addressing operational increases, hence any reductions to our request will definitely impact programming," Cutaia said. "Our educational system is not immune to the economic conditions that impact all of our lives, therefore, we proposed a move-forward budget with no new programming for the upcoming year."

Following the finance board's proposed cuts, Cutaia said they started early work on drafting potential cuts because of "the significant impact we predict it will have on our educational system."

Those ideas were shared at the Board of Education meeting on March 31 with the Preliminary Considerations for 2025-26 Proposed Budget Reduction.

"We consider that as the beginning of the dialogue on how we will make the $1.3 million reduction," Cutaia said. "The (Board of Education) will consider other reductions at the upcoming April 14 meeting."

Cutaia noted that the Board of Education will make its final decision in about a month, which will be based on the final Board of Aldermen vote in May.

Stand for Milford CT Schools contends that keeping the school open makes sense for Milford. The organization argues that keeping Harborside open benefits taxpayers and students by having shorter bus rides, keeping a vital community anchor in downtown, among other benefits.

Read more: Milford Elementary School Principal Honored By State PTA