Milford Board of Education Summary: May 7 Work Session & May 15 Regular Meeting
Across two meetings, the Milford Board of Education continued discussions surrounding tuition-free all-day kindergarten, the district’s financial forecast, and celebrated several student and staff accomplishments.
Tuition-Free All-Day Kindergarten
The Board continued its deliberation on whether to move forward with offering tuition-free all-day kindergarten for the 2025–2026 school year; ultimately deciding not to move forward this school year. Key takeaways included:
Recognition of the academic and social-emotional benefits of all-day kindergarten.
mCLASS DIBELS assessments show that students in all-day kindergarten significantly outperform half-day peers in early literacy benchmarks by midyear, reinforcing the academic benefits of expanded access.
A recent ThoughtExchange survey with 374 participants revealed strong support for all-day kindergarten, alongside concerns about funding the program given current financial challenges.
Current Kindergarten Landscape:
Approximately 65% of Milford students are currently enrolled in all-day kindergarten.
90.5% of students across Ohio attend all-day kindergarten.
The Board, while maintaining tuition-free programming as a long-term goal, opted to delay a decision to ensure financial sustainability and plans to revisit the discussion following a more detailed budget analysis and the conclusion of the state performance audit.
View the May 15 Kindergarten Presentation
Financial Update
Treasurer Doug Ackermann presented an amended five-year forecast that highlighted:
“The District’s projected financial outlook has significantly improved—from an anticipated $6 million deficit in Ending Cash Balance for FY2029 in the May 2023 forecast to a current projection of more than $12 million in positive cash on hand through reductions in expenditures.
An increase in the district’s cash reserves from 139 to 167 days.
A June 30 End Cash Balance of $38M as of April 2025.
Enrollment declines of over 700 students since FY22
Ongoing fiscal concerns due to declining enrollment and potential state funding changes, including the phase-out of the state’s funding guarantee and a proposed 30% cap on reserve funds.
Find the Full 5-year Forecast : https://5il.co/3gheo
Find the 5-year Forecast Presentation: https://5il.co/3ghe
Student & Staff Spotlights
Student artists from Meadowview Elementary were honored, along with presentations from their building principal and a 6th-grade student leader on the impact of Sources of Strength campaigns.
Milford Junior High’s student cooking team was recognized for competing in the Ohio Student Chef Showcase, placing among the top five in the state.
Feed Our Flock, a local nonprofit supporting Milford students, was celebrated for its lasting impact as it officially closes operations.
Brandon Ditken, Milford band director, was named a Country Music Association Foundation Music Teacher of Excellence—one of only 15 recipients nationwide outside of Tennessee.
Facilities & Middle School Construction
Jeff Johnson provided updates on the new Milford Middle School construction:
Learning stairs, updated band/choir rooms, media center, and gym facilities are nearing completion.
Demolition of the current Junior High and relocation efforts will begin immediately after school ends in June.
New traffic patterns and bus logistics will be implemented for the 2025–2026 school year.
Personnel & Leadership Transitions
Several administrative changes were approved:
Misty Goetz promoted to Director of Teaching and Learning.
Todd Wells named Principal of Milford Middle School.
Kevin Metzger, a Milford graduate and current assistant principal, was named the new Principal of Milford High School.
Lauren Eigher will transition into the role of Milford Middle School Assistant Principal for the 2025–2026 school year.
Paul Daniels, outgoing Chief Academic Officer, was recognized for his years of service as he transitions to a superintendent role in New Richmond.
Social Media Policy Update
The District confirmed that comments are now disabled on its Facebook page to prevent the spread of misinformation and protect staff time. Community members are encouraged to communicate via email or public comment.
Other Highlights
Milford won the Miami Township Chamber of Commerce’s BAM Award for Best Large Business.
180 students are projected to enroll in 6th grade band next year—double the usual number—thanks to improved scheduling at the new middle school.
The Board also approved a new drone elective course at Milford Academy and a K–5 math resource adoption.
Board Member Michael Wilson took time to recognize the incredible work of school PTOs and PTAs throughout the year. He encouraged all families to consider joining their school’s parent organization to stay connected and support school-wide initiatives.
Correction Note:
During the May 7 session, a community submission was mistakenly read aloud suggesting that Loveland City Schools offer tuition-free all-day kindergarten. This information is incorrect—Loveland does currently require tuition. The Communications Department regrets the error and affirms its commitment to factual accuracy.