Hundreds of parents packed the Jonathon Law High School auditorium in Milford to hear and comment on the school board’s plan to eliminate an elementary school and cut 45 positions.
The district is facing a $2.2 million budget gap and is looking to fill it through the cuts.
“It’s upsetting. It’s happening very fast. I think not a lot of thought went into it," Sean Lawless, who has two children in the school district, said.
Milford Board of Education members disagree. The Acting Superintendent of Schools went through a lengthy presentation at Monday's Board of Education meeting to set out all the options the district considered.
"Everything has been on the table. We know that some of these proposed changes will be sad and difficult to absorb. They differ from what we know, what we are familiar with," Dr. Mark Stapleton, the Chairman for the Board of Ed said.
The school board says closing Simon Lake Elementary School and reconfiguring the existing elementary grades into K-2 and 3-5 is the most financially feasible option with the least impact on education.
But many parents disagree, especially those with children at Simon Lake and parents with several children in the school system.
"I’m scared to death, because that would mean three of my kids going to three different schools and that really upsets me. We’re within walking distance to the school and I love it, and I really hope this doesn’t go through," Sue Myers said.
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"It's hard enough to balance your work life and your family life with the school. Now you have to juggle between two different schools, different activities and support school programs, after school programs. It’s a big deal," Lucila Massey said.
Parents say the school board is not thinking about what’s best for the children or the future of the Milford school system.
"They should let the elementary schools stay the way they are," Dorothy Smith said.
"The central focus that people are not talking about is the children. I’m hearing about dollars, I’m hearing about jobs, and I’m not hearing what’s best for the education of Milford’s kids," said Bridget Lawless.
The budget isn’t a done deal yet. It's currently in the hands of the Board of Alderman, who can either add to it or make more cuts. The members will give their recommendation in May.
