The Milton School Committee signaled a major shift in district strategy Wednesday night, centering on the potential acquisition of the 4.7-acre Labberet College campus on Adams Street. Superintendent John Failen presented a roadmap for the site that would transform it into a centralized Early Childhood Center for all Milton pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students. The proposal seeks to alleviate persistent overcrowding at the town’s four elementary schools while resolving a long-standing point of community tension: the French/English lottery for incoming students. Under the centralized model, all students would start their educational journey at the same facility before dispersing to their neighborhood schools for first grade.

Superintendent Failen emphasized that the Labberet site, which features a historic mansion and two modern additions, offers a unique opportunity to use existing infrastructure for immediate relief. This eliminates the French/English lottery stress for one year, as everyone starts in the same place, Failen explained, noting that the model would free up significant space at existing schools, potentially allowing 6th grade to return to elementary buildings and easing pressure on Pierce Middle School. Committee members reacted favorably to the early childhood focus, though they raised logistical questions regarding the transition. Member Annamma Varghese praised the concept, stating, The Pre-K/K model is fantastic. It introduces students district-wide at a young age, which could help break down social segregation later in middle school.

The acquisition timeline remains aggressive, with town leaders needing to finalize plans and bids by late August. Member Nathan David Hutto raised concerns regarding the site’s location on the edge of town, noting transportation is a concern as this isn't a walkable neighborhood. Meanwhile, Member Mark Loring cautioned that the district must look toward long-term growth. I'm concerned about the 'mansion.' It's not student-usable space, Loring said. We need to make sure we don't build something that is at capacity in four years. Chair Amanda Serio pushed for a swift decision to assist the town’s architectural consultants, stating, I'd like to narrow this down by June 3rd. Motion Made by A. Serio to ask the Town Administrator to secure an architect to look at the site. Motion Passed (6-0-0).

Financial stability remained a cornerstone of the meeting following a successful Town Meeting earlier this month. Chair Serio reported that the school budget was sanctioned overwhelmingly by town members, ending a three-night session on a high note. The school budget was approved overwhelmingly. We appreciate the support of Town Meeting members, the Select Board, and the Warrant Committee, Serio said. In a related fiscal move, the committee held a public hearing on school choice and ultimately opted to maintain its current policy of closed enrollment. Failen recommended the opt-out, citing space constraints and the fact that the state only provides roughly $12,000 in funding for a student who costs the district $18,000 to educate. Motion Made by N. Hutto that Milton not be a school choice district for the FY27 school year. Motion Passed (6-0-0).

The committee also moved to solidify its leadership and oversight for the coming year. As part of a broader shuffle of subcommittee assignments, Nathan David Hutto was designated as the incoming Finance Chair. Motion Made by A. Serio to accept the subcommittee assignments for the 2026-2027 school committee session. Motion Passed (6-0-0). Additionally, a new Superintendent Search Committee was formed, consisting of Members Elizabeth Carroll, Nathan David Hutto, and Mark Loring. This group will organize the search for a permanent successor to Failen, who described himself and Assistant Superintendent Kala Kakosa as short-timers dedicated to setting a professional foundation for the next administration.

Assistant Superintendent Kakosa provided a detailed year-in-review of the district’s professional development (PD) efforts, highlighting five strategic priorities including data-driven instruction and increasing rigor for underperforming students. Kakosa revealed that due to a one-year agreement with the Milton Educators Association (MEA), the 2026-2027 calendar will contain no half-days for students. This shift requires the district to rethink how it delivers training to staff. Next year, there are no half days due to a one-year agreement with the MEA because of how the calendar fell in September, Kakosa noted. We are working on a PD roadmap to give to staff by the end of June. Member Bao Qiu questioned how classroom observations are utilized in this new data-heavy environment, asking, Do we document those notes in a centralized location for each teacher? Kakosa confirmed the use of a state-mandated online portfolio but stressed that the real work happens in the ongoing dialogue between evaluators and teachers.

Member Elizabeth Carroll expressed optimism about the transparency of the current administration’s curriculum work. It's refreshing to have this level of insight into PD, Carroll said. I appreciate that you're setting the table for the next permanent superintendent. Looking ahead to the FY28 budget cycle, Member Hutto inquired if the district was missing financial opportunities to support teachers. As we think about the FY28 budget, are there resources we should be talking about for PD? Are we leaving opportunities on the table? Hutto asked. Failen suggested that future budgets might need higher allocations for leadership training and potential third-party support for the district’s Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework.

In administrative news, Failen announced that the district is nearing the end of a historic hiring spree. Milton is finalizing an offer for a new Director of Business and Finance and is interviewing seven candidates for a newly created HR Director position—the first in the district’s history. This is exciting as Milton has never had its own HR person, Failen said, adding that search pools have been significantly diversified, with two of the three finance finalists being people of color. The meeting concluded with the release of previously shielded records regarding the Labberet site. Motion Made by A. Serio to approve and release the minutes from the executive session meeting on April 29, 2026. Motion Passed (6-0-0).