2021 - November

I hope you are doing well and enjoying today's beautiful Fall day.  We are among some of the most challenging times ever experienced in public education, and for that reason, I would like to take this moment to thank you for your patience, understanding, and support as we, students, families, faculty and staff, and members of our community, focus on the important work of educating children and strive to take positive steps forward. I urge you to please join me in the tireless efforts to rally and stand together as a community regardless of differences in beliefs and opinions.  I've included several important messages and active links in this email communication. 

 

• Return To Learning Plan: Last evening, the Milford School Board made a revision to the criteria within the Return to Learning Plan. Effective immediately, masking will be required when there are TWO clusters within a school. Clusters are three or more related cases, and an indication of possible transmission of the COVID virus within the building. At this time, our schools do not have two clusters, therefore mask-wearing is optional until notified otherwise.  *Mask wearing on buses continues to be a federal mandate.  

• Rite Aid Vaccination Clinic: The amazing team of School Nurses here in the Milford School District have begun to work with Rite Aid to coordinate a family vaccination clinic.  As is familiar with our yearly Flu clinics, Rite Aid will set up after-school hours for any family that would like to take part.  Vaccination is respected as a personal choice. Clinics are conducted in communities as a convenience to families.  Tentative dates of Thursday, Dec. 2nd and Thursday, January 6th from 4:00-7:00 p.m. have been set.  More information from our School Nurse Team will be shared soon.

• 2022-2023 Proposed Budget:  The District Administrative Team presented the FY23 Proposed Budget in a joint meeting of the Milford School Board and Budget Advisory Committee in a 4-hour public session on Saturday, Nov. 13th.  We will continue to work collaboratively through the budget process, in preparation for the Public Hearing in January.  For your convenience, Saturday's Budget Proposal Overview can be found HERE.

• SAU/Maintenance Building Project: The Milford School Board Facilities Sub-Committee has been charged with taking an in-depth look at the Feasibility Study conducted last year by Lavallee Brensinger Architects.  Last evening, the committee's Board representatives Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Vitulli presented the School Board with a MEMO outlining the committee's recommendations to move forward with determining the specific costs associated with an SAU/Maintenance building project.  Please review the communication HERE as well as the Conceptual Design HERE.  The advantages and cost savings are included for your convenience. The School Board voted to approve the request to spend $4,500.00 to have a Construction Manager provide specific costs of which to inform a possible warrant article. 

• Critical Race Theory (CRT):  The educators of the Milford School District strive to teach with dignity and respect each and every day, and to treat each student and family equally in a manner that is inclusive of all.  Our educators do not and will not teach or advocate that an individual or group is superior or inferior to another.  We will not discriminate.  I am confident that our School District policies and the Educator's Code of Conduct are clearly understood. We have defined procedures within our District to follow should a concern arise.  Thank you for supporting our teachers and thanking them for their dedication to the teaching profession.

• Social-Emotional Learning (SEL):  Student and Staff Wellness is an important aspect to teaching and learning. Our District SEL curriculum teaches kindness, empathy, compassion, positive peer interactions, decision-making skills, etc. These are not new topics as we've been integrating student and staff wellness into education for years.  I'm happy to share with you some of the SEL type lessons that are often included in the classroom HERE.  ChooseLove is an SEL program adopted by the State of New Hampshire and founded by Scarlett Lewis after the Newton, CT tragedy.  More information about ChooseLove can be found HERE.  Additionally, the District's School Counseling and Health Education curriculum includes other opportunities for skill development and can be accessed HERE.  As always, please don't hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher or Principal should you have questions or concerns.