The Milford Board of Education held its regularly scheduled meeting on September 17, 2026, to recognize students and staff, receive District updates and conduct Board business.

Celebrating Milford’s Fine Arts

Director of Communications and PR Parker Brown began the evening’s presentations by sharing several recent accomplishments from Milford’s fine arts programs and introducing the featured student artists from Milford Middle School.

Two Milford High School students were selected for the Ohio Music Education Association All-State Band, a highly selective ensemble featuring some of the top student musicians in Ohio. Ten students were also selected for the Cincinnati Youth Wind Ensemble, a yearlong honors ensemble hosted by the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.

Brown also recognized the MHS Wind Ensemble and Chamber Singers for recording a musical tribute honoring each branch of the United States Armed Forces. Led by new band director, Jacob Carpenter in collaboration with choir conductor Meghan Schatt, the recordings were featured during Milford’s September 11 football game and will be shared again for Veterans Day.

The Board then recognized featured student artists from Milford Middle School. Guided by art teachers Ms. Huggins, Ms. Witte and Ms. Desgrange, the students created watercolor landscapes, perspective drawings and colorful relief sculptures during the first month of school.

WEB Leaders Help Students Find Their Place

Milford Middle School eighth-grade students shared how the WEB program helps incoming sixth graders transition into middle school.

WEB stands for “Where Everyone Belongs.” Through orientation activities, school tours, small-group games and continued peer support, WEB leaders help new students feel welcomed, included and connected.

Remembering Shane Ferguson

Milford Middle School Principal Todd Wells presented a special mission moment honoring longtime Milford educator and administrator Shane Ferguson.

Wells shared a word cloud created from descriptions submitted by Milford staff. The words included compassionate, student-centered, inclusive, kind, genuine, loyal, caring, funny, humble, leader, mentor, friend and family.

He reflected on Ferguson’s ability to build meaningful relationships, make others feel welcome and keep students at the center of every decision. Former students frequently returned to Milford looking for “Ferg,” a testament to the lasting impact he had on generations of students.

District Expands Financial Status

Superintendent Dr. Bobbie Fiori and Treasurer Doug Ackermann are visiting Milford schools to help staff better understand school finance.

The presentations explain revenue, expenditures, deficit spending, cash balances, state funding and the effect of vouchers on the District. Milford is also sharing financial information with the community through its new “Finance in a Flash” video series.

Board members noted that school finance can be complex and emphasized the importance of helping staff and community members understand which financial factors are controlled locally and which are determined by the state.

Financial Update

Ackermann presented a financial snapshot covering the first two months of fiscal year 2027.

The District earned approximately $456,000 in interest through August. The current Five-Year Forecast projects approximately $1.5 million in deficit spending for the fiscal year, which would reduce the District’s beginning cash balance of approximately $32 million to around $30 million.

Ackermann explained that revenue is not received evenly throughout the year. Property tax payments arrive twice annually, creating temporary differences between monthly revenue and expenditures. The District maintains a Board policy requiring a reserve equal to at least 90 days of operating expenses.

Administrative expenditures were reported at 13.52%, below the 15% threshold established in House Bill 96.

The Board also approved the District’s annual appropriations. General fund appropriations were approximately $5 million lower than the previous year, reflecting the District’s continued work to control expenditures.

District Report Card

Dr. Fiori presented an overview of Milford’s 2025–2026 Ohio School Report Card, highlighting areas of achievement and continued growth.

Milford earned an overall rating of 4.5 stars, exceeding state standards. Of Ohio’s 607 school districts, 92 received an overall rating of 4.5 stars, while 61 earned five stars.

Although the District also earned 4.5 stars the previous year, its underlying score increased from 3.75 to 3.91. A score of 4.125 is required to earn an overall five-star rating.

Milford’s component ratings included:

Achievement: 4 stars

Milford earned an achievement score of 89%, just one percentage point below the five-star threshold. This component measures student performance on Ohio State Tests and high school end-of-course exams.

Progress: 4 stars

Milford exceeded state expectations for student academic growth. More detailed student progress data is expected to be released in October.

Gap Closing: 5 stars

This rating increased from four stars the previous year. Milford demonstrated notable improvement in math growth among students with disabilities and economically disadvantaged students. The District also met the state’s gifted performance indicator.

Graduation: 5 stars

Milford maintained its five-star graduation rating, which incorporates both four-year and five-year graduation rates.

Early Literacy: 4 stars

Milford maintained four stars despite changes to Ohio’s calculation for promotion to fourth grade. Approximately 91% of Milford students met the state’s updated promotion requirements without previously permitted exemptions.

College, Career, Workforce and Military Readiness: 4 stars

Milford improved from three stars to four stars in this component. The rating reflects opportunities such as Advanced Placement courses, College Credit Plus, industry-recognized credentials, military enlistment, internships, apprenticeships and work-based learning.

Dr. Fiori credited Milford’s students, families, teachers and staff for the results. She also noted that chronic absenteeism and mathematics will remain areas of focus. Building administrators began reviewing preliminary report card data before the school year and are already working with their teams to establish improvement goals.

Board Business

During the meeting, the Board approved:

• The August 20, 2026, regular meeting minutes

• Treasurer’s reports, contracts, new vendors and donations

• Annual appropriations

• Three Board policies

• Personnel and human resources items

• An AP Studio Art fee adjustment

• Transportation impracticality determinations

The Board concluded the meeting by entering executive session to consider the employment of a public employee. No additional action was taken.