The Milton School Committee’s final public forum on the FY27 budget revealed deep community anxiety over proposed staff reductions and a growing power struggle with town leadership over the control of emergency reserve funds. During a tense session on Wednesday night, parents and staff advocates warned that cutting leadership positions in the nursing and special education departments could compromise student safety and long-term financial stability. The committee is preparing for a final budget vote on March 16th while navigating a sudden $130,000 shortfall in federal funding and a contentious decision by the Select Board to divert $500,000 into a town-controlled account.

The forum’s most vocal opposition centered on the planned elimination of the Nursing Department Head. Resident Suzanne Bridges urged the committee to reconsider, noting that removing the leadership position overseeing student health services poses a significant risk to student safety, mental health, and legal compliance. Bridges questioned how the district would handle emergencies involving medically fragile students if the lead nurse was tied to a specific building, adding, Who will be available to cover the one-to-one nurse in an emergency if the lead nurse is assigned to a building?

Rob Milts, Co-Chair of the Milton Special Education Parent Advisory Council (CPAC), echoed these concerns, characterizing the budget as a moral document. While Milts expressed relief that two Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) positions were preserved, he warned that reductions to special education staff are inherently counterproductive. We believe reductions to special education staff will lead to further out-of-district placements, Milts said. Short-sighted cost cutting does nothing but prolong these financial pressures.

Interim Superintendent John Burrows acknowledged the very interesting budget year and the difficult trade-offs required to protect the classroom. He noted that while research suggests 65% of peer districts use a lead nurse model rather than a director, the district is still weighing competing interests for $110,000 in currently uncommitted funds. These funds are now largely earmarked to save math intervention positions at Tucker School following the unexpected elimination of $130,000 in federal Title 1 money. I intend to use the uncommitted $110,000 to support those Title 1 positions so we don't lose that math intervention, Burrows explained.

The committee’s frustration boiled over regarding a $500,000 allocation that the Select Board recently voted to place into a town-side Special Education Stabilization Fund rather than the school-controlled Circuit Breaker account. Business Administrator Katie Pinkham explained that while a stabilization fund can handle significant expenses, it is not a long-term tool for recurring costs. Chair Amanda Serio expressed sharp disappointment in the move, suggesting it undermined the committee’s management of district affairs. I'm frustrated because it feels like we're being asked to use your expertise, but then that expertise is being dismissed by recommending the money go elsewhere, Serio said.

Member Nathan David Hutto also voiced concerns about the lack of consensus between the two boards. I don't know that having public boards debate each other on the floor of town meeting is a good idea. We should resolve that before, Hutto noted, while adding that he trusts the management team to handle the risk inherent in the current budget projections.

Amid the financial debates, the committee moved forward with a major instructional milestone, unanimously supporting the selection of HMH Into Reading as the district’s new K-5 literacy curriculum. The selection followed site visits to Andover and Hingham and a multi-year review of state-approved materials. Director of Early Literacy Katarina Rosh told the committee the curriculum would allow the district to retain its successful UFLI phonics program while providing better physical resources for students. Children deserve more than a stapled packet; they deserve the full anthology to hold and write in, Burrows added, noting that the budget for these consumable workbooks has already been secured.

Member Elizabeth Carroll praised the rigorous selection process, calling it a gold standard for the community. It has taken years to get to this point. I'm happy I'm here next year to see the implementation, Carroll said. Member Bao Qiu questioned how parents would track student progress under the new system, prompting Rosh to clarify that module-by-module communication and a robust student platform would be provided. Member Mark Loring applauded the focus on physical books to get kids off screens and inquired about ongoing support for staff. We will use teacher teams for in-school PD and virtual coaching sessions with the publishers, Rosh replied.

The committee also reviewed a proposal to right-size Community Schools fees to ensure the program remains self-sustaining. Member Mark Loring, reporting for the Finance Subcommittee, noted that while Milton remains competitive with peer districts, residents should expect fee increases this year and likely again in FY28. Interim Superintendent Burrows clarified that these increased fees also fund the pool for tuition assistance for families in need. A formal vote on the fee hikes is expected on March 16th.

Safety and infrastructure remained on the agenda as Member Annamma Varghese provided updates on the Tucker playground project, which faces an estimated $850,000 price tag. Varghese also introduced a potential policy shift regarding school security, noting the district is reviewing whether to grant the Milton Police Department remote access to internal hallway cameras during active emergencies. This would not be for all-day monitoring, Burrows clarified. It would be a switch turned on during an active emergency so they can see and direct officers in real-time.