In her final session as chair of the Milton School Committee, Amanda Serio presided over the introduction of new fiscal guardrails designed to protect the district from unpredictable spending spikes. The committee transitioned toward the next phase of the FY27 budget process by outlining formal policies for reserve accounts, including a Special Education Stabilization Fund that the Select Board intends to seed with $500,000 in certified free cash. This joint account with the Select Board will serve as a financial buffer, requiring a majority vote from both bodies to access funds.

Member Mark Loring detailed the mechanics of the stabilization fund, noting it would feature a funding floor of $100,000 and a ceiling capped at 2% of annual net school spending. If it drops below the floor, we must formulate a plan to restore it within two funding cycles, Loring explained, adding that funding would primarily derive from year-end budget surpluses. Member Bao Qiu questioned the flow of these funds, asking, If we have money left at the end of the year, it goes into this account? Loring clarified that while the funds must first be certified as free cash by the town, they would then be allocated via Town Meeting. Finance Manager Katie noted that the town treasurer would invest the balance and emphasized that she has never seen a situation where a reasonable request was withheld by the Select Board.

The committee also performed a first reading of a revised Circuit Breaker Policy, which remains under the exclusive control of the school department. This policy establishes a funding floor at 75% of the district's reimbursement and a 100% ceiling. Superintendent John Burrows praised the effort to codify these rules, stating, I want to thank Katie for this work. This ensures responsible spending and oversight. These measures arrive as the district manages a record-high special education population of 18.6% and faces rising specialized transportation costs.

Beyond fiscal planning, the meeting featured a comprehensive presentation from district leaders on how student data currently shapes classroom instruction. Brian Celic, Director of Mathematics, explained how the district uses i-Ready diagnostics to catch students falling behind. At the elementary level, we use i-Ready as a diagnostic for math (K-5) and the DIBELS literacy screener, Celic said, noting that educators use MCAS item analysis to identify specific domains, like geometry, where instruction might need adjustment. Director of English Language Arts Cat Young added that tools like DIBELS allow teachers to triangulate information and determine if intervention is needed, sharing that diagnostic data is now communicated directly to families through the district's portal.

The transition from middle to high school was a point of focus for the committee. High School ELA Department Head H Hardy noted that teachers from Pierce Middle School and Milton High School have begun observing each other's classes to bridge the gap in expectations. One thing we found was that middle school did more excerpt-based reading, while high school jumped into lengthy readings, Hardy said. We are trying to bridge that by doing more longer readings at Pierce. Member Annamma Varghese expressed appreciation for these efforts, asking how data specifically helps bridge the gap or the drop in expectations during that 8th-to-9th grade leap. Celic highlighted the Calculus Project as a key success, explaining it creates a cohort for students from traditionally marginalized groups to preview difficult content during the summer.

The evening was marked by emotional tributes to Chair Amanda Serio, who is stepping down from the board. Member Elizabeth Carroll presented a gift to the departing chair, remarking, Your leadership has been so steady through everything... it’s an opportunity for you to enjoy time with your family. Member Nathan David Hutto, in his first year on the board, noted, I’m sure being the chair of the school committee is not easy and you make it look easy. I just really appreciate your service to the town. Serio, reflecting on her tenure, said she gained an even greater appreciation for everything that the school administration and the school committee does, and all the teachers.

In other district news, freshman student representative Taylor Scully reported that spring sports are in full swing and term four has officially commenced. Superintendent Burrows celebrated the Milton High School Theater group’s state championship win for their production of The Sparrow and noted that the girls' hockey team was recently honored with a parade. Member Bao Qiu reminded the community that the Milton Foundation for Education will celebrate 10 educator award winners next Tuesday, with the Celebration for Education scheduled for May 2 at the Hoosic Club.

The board concluded its public session by discussing ongoing contract negotiations. Member Carroll reported that the committee has fully exchanged proposals with the Milton Educators Association (MEA) Unit A and described the talks as productive so far. Following the public updates, the committee moved into executive session to further discuss collective bargaining strategy.