Milford's Ohio Report Card score climbed from 3.75 to 3.91. The district also honored students and a longtime educator at the Thursday, Sept. 17, board meeting.
The Milford Board of Education kept its overall 4.5-star rating on the 2025–2026 Ohio School Report Card, but the underlying score jumped noticeably, according to a district recap of the meeting. A score of 4.125 would earn five stars. Only 92 of Ohio's 607 districts earned 4.5 stars, and 61 earned five.
Two components improved. Gap Closing rose from four stars to five, driven by math growth among students with disabilities and economically disadvantaged students. The district also met the state's gifted performance indicator. College, Career, Workforce and Military Readiness climbed from three stars to four.
Achievement earned four stars with an 89% score, one percentage point below the five-star threshold. Graduation held at five stars. Early Literacy earned four stars, with about 91% of students meeting the state's updated promotion requirements without previously permitted exemptions.
Superintendent Bobbie Fiori credited students, families, teachers and staff for the gains. She said chronic absenteeism and mathematics will remain focus areas. Building administrators began reviewing preliminary data before the school year and are setting improvement goals.
Fine arts and student recognition
Communications director Parker Brown opened the meeting with fine arts highlights. Two Milford High School students were named to the Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA) All-State Band, a selective statewide ensemble. Ten Milford students were also chosen for the Cincinnati Youth Wind Ensemble, a yearlong honors group hosted by the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.
Milford Middle School students displayed watercolor landscapes, perspective drawings and relief sculptures created during the first month of school under art teachers Ms. Huggins, Ms. Witte and Ms. Desgrange.
The MHS Wind Ensemble and Chamber Singers recorded a musical tribute honoring each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. New band director Jacob Carpenter and choir conductor Meghan Schatt led the recordings, which debuted at the Sept. 11 football game and will be shared again for Veterans Day.
Ferguson tribute
Milford Middle School Principal Todd Wells presented a tribute to longtime educator and administrator Shane Ferguson. Wells shared a word cloud compiled from staff descriptions of Ferguson. The words included "compassionate," "student-centered," "humble," "mentor" and "family." Wells reflected on Ferguson's ability to build relationships, make others feel welcome and keep students at the center of every decision. Former students frequently returned to Milford looking for "Ferg."
Board business
The board approved annual appropriations, with general fund appropriations about $5 million lower than the previous year. The district said the reduction reflects continued work to control expenditures. Administrative expenditures were reported at 13.52%, below the 15% threshold set by House Bill 96.
Treasurer Doug Ackermann reported the district earned roughly $456,000 in interest through August. The current five-year forecast projects about $1.5 million in deficit spending for fiscal year 2027, which would reduce the starting cash balance of about $32 million to around $30 million. The district maintains a board policy requiring reserves equal to at least 90 days of operating expenses.
The board also approved three board policies, personnel items, an AP Studio Art fee adjustment and transportation determinations. The meeting concluded with an executive session to consider the employment of a public employee. No additional action was taken.
More detailed student progress data from the Ohio Report Card is expected in October.
