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Portsmouth committee tentatively awards OPM, hires athletic director and approves pay and contract renewals
Summary
The Portsmouth School Committee unanimously approved a tentative owner’s project manager award contingent on fee negotiations, renewed the athletic trainer contract, hired a new director of athletics and approved part‑time/substitute rates and salary increases for individual contract employees.
The Portsmouth School Committee voted unanimously Tuesday to tentatively award owner’s project manager services for stages 1 and 2 of the district capital plan and approved several personnel and contract items, including a contract renewal for the district athletic trainer and the hiring of a new director of athletics.
The votes, each recorded 7‑0, follow a request by district staff to move several items forward before the summer break. The committee’s action on the owner’s project manager (OPM) is tentative and contingent on successful fee negotiation; staff said they will return the full contract for final committee approval once terms are settled.
District staff presented the OPM procurement as a qualification‑based selection. “The district received 3 proposals,” operations and procurement staff reported to the committee, and an evaluation panel that included district and town representatives “determined that Perrigan Group was the most qualified proposer.” The motion recorded in the minutes specifies a tentative contract award to Peregrine Group for stages 1 and 2 of the application process “subject to a successful fee negotiation.” The committee voted to approve that tentative award and directed staff to negotiate fee terms and return with a final contract.
The committee also unanimously approved a contract renewal for athletic trainer Josh King. Superintendent Kenworthy told the committee Mister King has been “doing an outstanding job,” and the renewal continues the district’s contracted arrangement for trainer services.
On personnel moves, the committee approved the selection of Chris Cobain as the next director of athletics and student activities. Superintendent Kenworthy described Cobain’s background in education and athletics and said the search included “over 20 district and community representatives.” Cobain addressed the committee after the vote, saying the process had been “very, very grueling. It was very fair. It was very thorough,” and that he looked forward to working with students, coaches and families.
The committee also adopted recommended increases to part‑time and substitute pay rates for 2025–26 and approved salary increases for staff on individual contracts. Human resources staff and the personnel subcommittee reviewed regional comparators and recommended the changes; the motions passed 7‑0.
Votes at a glance: - Tentative award: owner’s project manager services for stage 1 and stage 2 to Peregrine/Perrigan Group (tentative, contingent on fee negotiation). Vote: unanimous, 7‑0. Note: full contract to return for final approval after fee negotiations. - Athletic trainer contract renewal (Josh King). Vote: unanimous, 7‑0. - Appointment: Chris Cobain, director of athletics and student activities (new hire). Vote: unanimous, 7‑0. - Part‑time and substitute pay rates for 2025–26. Vote: unanimous, 7‑0. - Salary increases for individual contract employees (leadership/individual contracts except superintendent). Vote: unanimous, 7‑0.
Committee members and staff framed the actions as routine end‑of‑year business needed to keep operations on schedule through the summer, and staff emphasized that the OPM award remains subject to a negotiated fee and a later formal contract vote.
The committee did not record any dissenting votes or amendments to the motions.
