Be heard at Milford School deliberative session tonight

Thursday, February 4, 2010

MILFORD - A four-classroom addition to the Jacques School will be back on the school district ballot again this year.

The $1.7 million article, with 75 percent, or $1.27 million, to be paid by the state, will be presented along with other school articles at a Deliberative Session tonight, Feb. 4, at 7 p.m. in the high school cafeteria.

The article calls for the razing of the nearby Bales annex to make way for construction. Last year the plan failed to get the needed three-fifths super majority vote.

School officials say the addition of kindergarten last year means extra room is needed.

One School Board member opposes the plan.

In a letter to the editor of The Cabinet last week, board member Bob Willette said he is against “the demolition of the sound annex building.”

School Board Chairman Peter Bragdon said, however, a permanent modular addition is the best way to add needed space

“If I thought the annex could be used effectively as an adjunct to the Jacques School, then I would agree with Bob,” said Bragdon in an e-mail. “But due to logistics, including the lost educational time and the heavy traffic flow between the buildings, I think it is impractical to use the annex as part of the Jacques School.”

Bragdon also said the 75 percent state funding for the construction project is available this year and is not guaranteed beyond this year.

The district’s $35.3 million operating budget reduces several full-time staff positions to part time and is larger than the default budget of $35.4 million that would go into effect if the budget is defeated.

The board voted 3-2 in favor of the budget, with Bert Becker and Paul Dargie opposed.

Another warrant article authorizes the district to acquire property for more high school parking, paid for through the sale of district-owned property on Brookfield Drive, that was originally part of the Heron Pond elementary school property.

Article 3 is a four-year collective bargaining agreement with the Milford Administrators’ Association that would cost the district $82,701 in 2010-11. The school board voted unanimously in favor of it.