Portsmouth High School roof deteriorated after winter thaw; auditorium closed while district seeks bids and emergency aid

Portsmouth — School officials gave an update Tuesday on extensive leaking at Portsmouth High School (PHS) after warm weather and heavy snowmelt exposed failing roofing materials that maintenance staff say have reached the end of their useful life.

The School Department's new facilities director, George Simmons, told the Portsmouth School Committee the roof membrane “has lost its oil” and elasticity, is splitting in many areas and has saturated insulation that freezes and thaws, creating recurring leaks. He said staff have installed temporary tarp drains and bucket systems to catch water and that custodial and maintenance crews have kept the roof surface largely dry while the district lines up longer-term repairs.

The condition led administrators to close the auditorium to outside use. Simmons said ceiling tiles are wet and some are falling; because tiles sit 25 to 30 feet above the floor, the space is not safe for public events until the roof and interior repairs are completed. The district has also filed an insurance claim for interior damage and equipment losses, the superintendent said.

Why it happened and next steps

Superintendent Dr. Kenworthy told the committee the district was not previously informed that the remainder of the PHS roof was in “a critical state.” He reminded the committee that the district maintains a five-year capital improvement plan on file with the RI Department of Education School Building Authority (SBA) and that projects completed outside an approved capital plan are eligible for emergency reimbursement up to $500,000 per year. School leaders said the likely total cost will exceed that figure.

Simmons said the plan will prioritize replacement work: first the Classroom Wing AB building, then the band room and auditorium, then the D building, pending bids and available funds. He described the roof as approximately 25 years old (a typical 30-year warranty period has effectively elapsed) and said the installations will be stripped to the substrate, the defective insulation removed and the system rebuilt to current code, including additional drains/scuppers where needed.

Bids and timing

District staff invited contractors to a roof walk-through; Simmons said six companies attended and the district expects to receive quotes within two to three weeks. He said contractors told the district work can begin in cold weather down to about 25 degrees Fahrenheit, but lower temperatures would prevent proper roofing installation; doing the job during the school year is possible but disruptive. The facilities director said interim patches are not a reliable solution because the membrane has lost elasticity and patched areas would likely require continuous monitoring.

Funding and reimbursements

Dr. Kenworthy said the district will pursue the SBA emergency reimbursement (the district described the limit as eligibility for emergency projects up to $500,000 in a year) but expects the project to exceed that amount. The administration plans to use available school capital reserves, coordinate with the town for additional funding and — if necessary — pursue bonding or inclusion in the next five-year capital plan. The committee discussed whether the town could seek a waiver or legislative relief to ease the tax levy impact of large capital needs.

Operations and learning impacts

PHS Principal Dr. Heath described contingency plans for classroom moves. The district's Aspen room-availability system identifies about 13 spare rooms at present; teachers know alternative classrooms and staffing plans are in place so instruction can continue if spaces must be vacated. Heath said custodians, maintenance staff, teachers and students have adapted and that only limited interior damage has been reported so far (some ceiling tiles and a few auditorium seats). He also described continuing monitoring during a projected storm and said the district will consider a one-off remote learning day only if conditions require it.

Community outreach

The superintendent said the district will send a public update to families and that the administration and facilities staff will work with the town to identify funding strategies. Officials said town engagement will be required because reimbursement from the SBA for an unplanned project is limited and the town will need to consider how to address the funding gap.

Provenance: This article summarizes committee chair and administration statements and testimony from Facilities Director George Simmons and Principal Dr. Heath during the February 25 public meeting. Ending: The district said it will move quickly to evaluate bids, seek emergency SBA reimbursement and work with the town to fund roof replacement; the auditorium will remain closed to outside use until safe repairs are completed.