# 10.27.2026 School Board


**Body:** City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire
**Date:** October 28, 2026
**Jurisdiction:** SLED

**Tags:** Education, Transportation, Grants & Funding, Physical Infrastructure


The Portsmouth, New Hampshire School Board meeting was held October 27, 2026. Special education planning and costs were the main budget-related discussion. Staff reported approximately $700,000 in projected gross out-of-district tuition savings and $83,000–$100,000 in transportation savings, with transportation arranged through three bus companies after seeking competitive rates from multiple providers. The board discussed reinvesting resources in district programs, including the ALPS elementary and RISE middle-school programs; ALPS currently uses agency-contracted staff, with a goal of replacing them with district employees over time. Possible future budget requests include a school psychologist, reading specialist, and certified occupational therapy assistant; none were approved at this meeting. A three-year grant supported by city abatement funds is expected to enable hiring an additional social worker, primarily for elementary schools.

Facilities discussion noted that the Little Harbor playground is open and that design meetings are underway for New Franklin School. The CTE renovation application timeline has shifted from the 2027 cycle to a later cycle associated with FY2030, as the district still needs to define project goals, secure an architect, and complete planning and community engagement. No contract award or new purchasing approval was made. The board approved policies ACA and JLCD with an amendment clarifying that complaints may be verbal or written, and approved policy JF for first reading; these were not procurement actions.

**Source:** City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire