Matt Bucher, who has served on Milford School District Board of Education since 2022, attended his last official meeting on Monday, June 15. Bucher chose not to run for the At-Large seat he has held for four years in order to run for state office.
“So, this may no doubt surprise many of you, but I do have something to say,” Bucher said after Board President Scott Fitzgerald recognized his service. “What strikes me most is how far this district has come. Let me say it plainly: our financial footing has never been stronger. Our reserves are higher than they’ve ever been. I’d argue Milford may now be one of the most secure public school districts in the state — and that financial security is what lets us weather whatever comes next.”
Bucher stated that when he first joined the board, he was receiving calls from parents nearly every day and that there were fight-club videos circulating on social media.
“Today I can go weeks without a single call about discipline. That isn’t luck — it’s the work of this board, our administrators, and our teachers,” Bucher said. “Our schools are safer than they have ever been. This board organized our first district-level safety management leadership, and every school is now covered by our teams of constables working hand in hand with our SRO’s. Our first duty is to keep these kids safe. We’ve given parents something they were owed all along — real transparency, and a real voice in what’s taught here. Our groundbreaking policy on curriculum development, review, and adherence has restored parents’ trust in this district, and restored the perception of fairness in the classroom.”
After more than a few struggles, according to Bucher, the board assembled a superb leadership team which is moving toward academic recovery.
“And we’ve kept faith with our taxpayers. We brought the new middle school in on time and under budget. We’ve held the line on taxes — in fact, we’ve cut tax rates repeatedly over the last four years,” Bucher said. “None of this was any one person’s doing. Every bit of it was a collaboration between this board, our staff, and our community. Not bad. Not bad at all.”
There were some things that Bucher was most proud of during his term on the board.
“Through personal appeals, I helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for the renovation of project-adjacent areas of this very building. I’ve lobbied for legislation that strengthens our schools and against legislation that would weaken them — working with others to stop bad bills, and to help our legislators craft policies that will help local schools, not hinder them,” Bucher said. “I founded the Buccaneer Educational Foundation, Milford’s first charitable educational nonprofit. With the hard work of some extraordinary people across greater Milford, some of whom are in this room tonight, we raised over $100,000 in our very first full year — something all but unheard of around here.”
Bucher finished by saying it had been an honor to serve on the school board.
“For me, serving on this board was always just volunteering by another name. We here, all of us, believe in public education. More than eight in ten children will be educated in their local schools, in buildings like these, by people like the ones in this very room. These schools are the anchors of our communities. These kids will run this country one day, in every meaningful way, and we owe them the very best start we can give them,” Bucher said. “I’m now entering my twentieth year of volunteer service to this district and these kids. The nature of that service may change. But let me assure you of one thing: I’m not going anywhere. Thank you.”
Superintendent Travis Moorman thanked Bucher for his service.
“I most certainly want to thank Mr. Bucher for his time serving on the school board. As many of you know, his term will end at the end of this month. Dr. Sarah Hale will be replacing him for the at-large seat that he currently holds,” Moorman said. “Although I’ve only been in this position for one year. I greatly appreciate the advocacy that Mr. Bucher has brought to the table for education, as he looks forward to his future potential endeavors. We most certainly are looking forward to having an education advocate in the General Assembly, should you be so fortunate to be selected for that position, so me personally, and most certainly want to open the floor for any other board members that wish to say anything. But thank you very much for your service to the Milford School District.”
School Board President Scott Fitzgerald commended Bucher on his unwavering support of the district.
“I will add that you’ve been a powerful force on the board ever since you’ve been here, and I’m sure you’re going to be a powerful force everywhere you go. So, good luck,” Fitzgerald said.
Board member Jennifer Massoti thanked Bucher for his help and guidance.
“I’ve only been on the board for a very short time, but I appreciate always more thoughtful questions, insight into everything that has happened, and your support,” Cindy McKenzie, who will continue her service on the board after winning an election in May, said.
Hale will be sworn in to the at-large seat on the board in July. Hale served as the Chief Operating Officer for the district for 11 years before taking a position at the University of Delaware.
Bucher will face Morgan Hudson in the Republican primary in September. Should he win the primary, he will face Joshua Pennington in the general election.
