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Superintendent reports hires, resignations, Hathaway bond tour and Melville heating fix
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Kenworthy updated the committee on personnel changes, Hathaway bond‑project tours Jan. 15, a temporary heating fix at Melville and the FY2026 budget timeline, including a joint town council kickoff Jan. 27.
Superintendent Dr. Kenworthy told the School Committee on Jan. 14 that the district had two new hires and two resignations since the December meeting and outlined operations and budget next steps.
"I welcomed officially, 2 new hires that have started. Sarah Williams as the library media specialist at Melville ... and Lisonbee Kimmel as a general school aid at Hathaway," Dr. Kenworthy said, and noted resignations of Kathleen Silvera and Kimberly McKenna. He also named two winter coaching appointments at Portsmouth High School.
Dr. Kenworthy announced the District Building Committee will meet at Hathaway on Jan. 15, followed immediately by a public tour of recently completed bond projects including restrooms, new HVAC systems and a newly installed elevator.
He also addressed heating issues experienced at Melville before the meeting. Facilities staff identified the immediate problem as the district’s ability to sustain water temperature and contractors implemented a temporary solution. "What's the temporary solution?" a committee member asked; staff answered that the interim measure was to raise the temperature coming out of the boiler room and to adjust pumps while a long‑term fix is developed.
The superintendent said the FY2026 budget process has begun: schools and departments submitted requests and leaders have presented to central office; the Finance Subcommittee will draft a first budget for the full committee to review at its Feb. 11 meeting. He also reminded the committee that SurveyWorks (the statewide RIDE survey for students, staff and families) opens late January through March and said a joint town council–school committee budget kickoff is set for Jan. 27.
The committee received the update and planned recognition of Melville’s five‑star result at a future meeting.
