# 10.6.2026 School Board

The Portsmouth School Board met on October 6, 2026. The board approved updated food-service employee job descriptions after the union’s concurrence; staff said the updates would not create an additional financial burden or amend the collective bargaining agreement. The superintendent reported that the Little Harbor playground project was nearing completion, with court-line painting planned for spring. The board also received an early FY2028 continuing-services budget estimate of $75.45 million, up about 5.23% ($3.75 million) from the current adjusted budget of approximately $71.71 million. The estimate is preliminary and assumes existing staffing and services, with contractual changes; health-insurance costs remain uncertain. The presentation also reviewed city capital planning and school-related capital funding, including $50,000 for playgrounds in FY2027 and broader city borrowing and debt-service figures. No new contract awards or purchasing approvals were identified.

The board voted unanimously to recommend a “no” vote on November ballot question 2 concerning HB 1,300’s school tax cap and to issue a statement explaining its position. Members discussed the cap’s potential effects and the uncertainty of applying it to Portsmouth’s government structure. The board approved two policies on second reading and one on first reading; it deferred the other first-reading policy because the version containing proposed enrollment-reporting language was not available for review. It also approved the FY2028 budget meeting schedule and appointed a board delegate to the New Hampshire School Boards Association assembly.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Education, Construction & Infrastructure
**Topics:** Physical Infrastructure, Policy
**Published:** October 07, 2026

### Sources
- [10.6.2026 School Board](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8UyXlSm3Bc) - City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire