To the editor:

As Portsmouth residents consider the upcoming school bond referendum, I want to share some information about the district’s facilities and the work included in the proposed plan. As superintendent, one of my most important responsibilities is making sure our students and staff have safe, healthy and functional spaces to learn and work.

The 2021 bond targeted several important health and safety needs throughout the district, including major HVAC upgrades at our elementary schools, new bathrooms at all four schools and replacement of aging roofs at the elementary schools. Those projects addressed some of the most immediate needs at the time. However, maintaining our schools and keeping them safe is an ongoing responsibility, and as our buildings age, new needs arise.

We saw this firsthand at Portsmouth High School when an unexpected roof failure disrupted instruction about a year and a half ago. This event demonstrates why it is important to plan ahead and address aging building systems before they become larger problems. Tackling critical maintenance needs before systems fail can help prevent larger problems, lower costs to taxpayers by maximizing state reimbursement and minimize disruptions for our students and staff.

The proposed bond is part of a new five-year Capital Improvement Plan, with a significant portion of the work focused on Portsmouth Middle School. The projects identified in the plan include a full roof replacement and modernization of classrooms and fire protection systems. The plan also includes upgrades to the middle school’s HVAC system, along with improvements to the health suite, technology infrastructure and science labs. It also includes important safety work at the elementary and high schools by replacing cracked and damaged pavement and the remaining sections of the high school roof.

The purpose of sharing this information is to give residents a clear understanding of the condition of our facilities, the needs identified through our capital planning process and the projects included in the proposed bond. There are significant decisions involved in maintaining aging school buildings, and our responsibility is to be transparent about those needs and the associated costs.

Our teachers and staff work hard every day to provide Portsmouth students with a strong education. Safe, well-maintained schools are an important part of supporting that work. I encourage residents to learn more about the proposed projects on our website, review the district’s facility information, attend the upcoming community presentations at the middle school on Oct. 27 at 5 and 6:30 p.m., and participate in the Nov. 3 referendum.

Whatever individual decisions residents make, an informed community is an important part of this process. Our responsibility as a school district is to provide residents with the information to understand the needs of our schools, the long-term planning required to address them and the associated costs. The proposed projects are eligible for up to 35 percent state reimbursement. Approving the bond would allow the district to move forward with the necessary projects and, in turn, access state reimbursement that can offset a significant portion of the cost to the community.

Dr. Elizabeth Viveiros

Superintendent of schools

Portsmouth