Portsmouth officials report $55,000 RIDE grant and emergency response after high school roof failures

Town Administrator Raynor told the Portsmouth Town Council on Feb. 24 that the Rhode Island Department of Education has offered Portsmouth at least $55,000 for the Math Matters/Learning365RI program to support out-of-school math learning for K–8 students. The town will work with school administration to prepare a proposal; Raynor said grant funds must be spent by September 2025.

Nut graf: During the same report, Raynor and school officials described increasing and widespread failures in the high school’s roof membrane. The administration has invited state-approved roofing firms to submit repair quotes as the superintendent pursues an emergency declaration with the RIDE School Building Authority.

Raynor briefed the council that recent inspections “reveal the roof’s waterproofing properties have failed” and that “serious leaks have created major disruptions to the building’s interior during rain and snow events.” He said quotes from state-approved roofing companies are expected in the next two weeks and that students remain in class while the administration implements interim responses during weather events.

Council members pressed for more detail on maintenance history and inspection practices. One councilor asked who was responsible for ongoing roof maintenance and whether the roof should have been replaced earlier. Raynor said the roof had been monitored and was scheduled for replacement in the town’s five-year capital improvement plan, but the recent increases in failures followed freeze–thaw cycles that accelerated membrane deterioration. The superintendent was in the meeting and was invited to answer technical questions; Raynor and the superintendent indicated a combination of internal monitoring and outside inspections had been used.

Raynor also announced a revised RFQ schedule for the town solicitor; qualified attorneys may submit proposals by 4 p.m. on March 18. He noted Founders Day programming on March 7 that will include display of the original Portsmouth Compact at Friends Church and state archivist participation.

Ending: The administration said it will pursue emergency repair quotes through the RIDE School Building Authority and continue interim mitigation while the council and school leaders assess capital planning and maintenance policies. The council requested follow-up reporting on inspection history and the procurement of repair quotes.