Hello all,

Happy school beginnings for all! Milford is back in with the 2024-2025 year! I’m officially a junior in high school as of writing this. 

I sincerely apologize for the lack of updates since April. Petition-wise since then, I went to the Milford School Board of Education meeting on May 16th to deliver a speech about the Makerspace. I was told there were staff shortages and that Milford would try their best to staff someone in the Makerspace, even just for Flex time (and later another newly implemented morning period known as “Activation”). Nothing has happened since. 

After writing a whole petition, being interviewed on FOX19, finding and bringing sponsors to the right people, and speaking at the BOE meeting, I lack much information on the Makerspace’s fate. I’ve been left out of conversations and told contradictory statements, so I’ll put them both here. All 438 of you have signed and backed me through this petition; Knowing the fate of the Makerspace is something you all deserve to know. 

When I asked Dr. Arnold during MHS’s open house, he told me that there was staff shortages. The teacher who was in the Makerspace, Mr. Jackson, was moved to another place in MHS. Dr. Arnold told me he’d see Mr. Jackson’s schedule and see if Mr. Jackson could run the Makerspace during Activation. There was no mention of any of the sponsors or the grant Milford was looking for back in May. 

However, asking Mr. Jackson himself the same day, he was told nothing. He told me about his new position in the high school, but running the Makerspace was never mentioned to him.

As of today, my friends and I have heard nothing regarding the Makerspace since the first few days of school. Nothing has been said. Nothing has been heard other than what I know.

The Makerspace meant everything to me. It still does; It’s convinced me to work with computers in some way for my future career. There are so many skills that I have been taught, and so many friends I’ve made and bonded with along the way. This creative outlet was everything to me. I know it meant a lot to other people too. After all, who else goes out of their way to make digital hall passes to one place basically every other day? Schedules at least one of their flexes in the Makerspace?

That was my community.

While in hindsight, I may have lost, I believe this is a huge achievement in the long run. I managed to stick up for something that my community loved. The Makerspace did get the necessary attention it needed. Milford did look for a solution. In the end, staffing shortages are the main issue that needs to be sorted out. I can’t control staff shortages, but I can control the news and petition about the Makerspace. 

That’s all I can and could do. 

The power in numbers is unbelievable to me and I’m so appreciative that all of you believed in me. Thank you to all of you who signed: Students, parents, current and former teachers, and even the strangers who’ve seen this. Without all of you, I wouldn’t have had the ability to get the Makerspace the attention it needed. 

This petition won’t be marked as a success until I see or hear that the Makerspace is reinstated for at least one period of the day. Students deserve the Makerspace as much as I do; They deserve the opportunity and community. 

I encourage those who haven’t signed to please do so. While this may seem like the end, people who want the Makerspace reinstated should be heard. 

From sponsorship offers to signatures, it’s all been really helpful for the Makerspace. My community and I couldn't ask for more. Thank you all again for the enormous amount of support.

Sincerest regards,

Kenzie