As bad luck would have it, a water line broke at Milford High School recently, at a point above a stockpile of new textbooks.

The math texts were ruined and had to be replaced, at a cost of about $31,000, said Kathleen Perry, the assistant superintendent for human resources and business operations.

Milford High School Principal Michael Tempesta pulled the money from eight different accounts, Perry told School Committee members, including a small amount from the Target Corp., which distributes funds to schools selected by shoppers who use its credit and debit cards.

The town is self-insured, so no insurance company could be billed for the damage without it coming from taxpayers eventually, School Committee Chairman Patrick Holland said, when another committee member asked why the school district doesn't have insurance for accidents.