The Milton School Committee unanimously authorized a series of fee increases for Community Schools and transportation on Wednesday, as members grappled with a mounting FY27 budget crisis and a surprise funding decision by the Select Board. The move to raise rates for after-school programs comes as Interim Superintendent John Phelan warned that the town’s current 3% budget allocation is not an acceptable number to maintain district services, especially following the unexpected loss of $130,000 in federal Title 1 funding for the Tucker School. Motion Made by M. Loring to approve the Community School fee increases. Motion Passed (6-0-0).

The financial tension was punctuated by a heated discussion regarding a $500,000 allocation from the Select Board. While the committee had requested the funds be placed in the school-controlled Special Education Circuit Breaker account to rebuild a reserve that recently sat as low as $8,000, town officials instead placed the money into a Special Education Stabilization Fund under the Select Board's oversight. Business Manager Katie Blake explained that the stabilization fund lacks the flexibility of the Circuit Breaker, describing it as a tool for one-time costs rather than recurring volatility. Chair Amanda Serio expressed significant disappointment with the lack of coordination between the boards. I'm frustrated because I feel like we're being asked to use your expertise, but then it feels like we're dismissing that expertise by recommending the money go elsewhere, Serio said.

Member Mark Loring noted that the Select Board’s decision took us by surprise, while Member Nathan David Hutto characterized the current financial planning atmosphere as lacking direction. I have a couple of concerns. It sounds like we're without a map. While it would be good to channel money to the belt, I feel like we're still solidly in abstraction, Hutto said. The committee is now preparing to present its case to the Warrant Committee on Tuesday, even as the district identifies further budget gaps, including the $500,000 that Interim Superintendent Phelan noted is going to an account on the town side, not into our budget.

Community members utilized a public hearing to voice sharp opposition to specific proposed cuts intended to bridge the deficit. Suzanne Bridges urged the committee to reconsider the elimination of the nursing department head position, calling the move shortsighted and a risk to student safety. The current director is available to answer questions on medically fragile students in real time. Who will provide daily support when a one-to-one nurse has a concern? Bridges asked. Rob Milts, representing the Special Education Parent Advisory Council (CPAC), expressed relief that certain positions were restored but warned against using special education staffing as a budgetary pressure valve. Milts argued that short-term, short-sighted cost cutting does nothing to prolong these financial pressures and would eventually lead to more expensive out-of-district placements.

Amid the fiscal uncertainty, the committee moved forward with a major instructional milestone by selecting HMH Into Reading as the new K-5 literacy curriculum. K-8 Literacy Director Cat DeRusso explained that the material was a unanimous recommendation from the selection committee because it allows the district to retain its UFLI phonics program while providing better writing resources and virtual coaching for teachers. Member Elizabeth Carroll emphasized the importance of the multi-year effort to find a gold standard for the district, adding, I'm interested in ensuring consistency across the four elementary schools. Assistant Superintendent Carla Cocosa praised the roadmap used to select the material, noting the team was extremely dedicated to choosing something that was a fit for our students.

The committee also took a first look at a policy change that could give the Milton Police Department remote, real-time access to internal school security cameras during active emergencies. Currently, police only have access to external footage. Member Annamma Varghese explained that the access would function as a switch turned on only during incidents to help officers see hallway footage before entering a building. The goal is to foster a healthy partnership. We're trying to figure out if it makes sense to give them access to interior footage so they are better prepared in an emergency, Varghese said. Member Bao Qiu joined her colleagues in reviewing the proposal, which will return for further consideration.

Progress on physical infrastructure was also highlighted, with Member Varghese reporting that the Tucker playground project is targeting a June 2027 groundbreaking with an estimated cost of $850,000. Additionally, the committee was informed that the Request for Qualifications for an Owner’s Project Manager for the upcoming MSBA school building project has been approved, moving the district closer to selecting a firm by July. Student representatives Samantha Talbert and Taylor Scully provided a brighter note to the evening, celebrating the girls' hockey team's advancement to the state championship at the Garden and the success of the robotics team in qualifying for state championships.