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Parents press Portsmouth to fund New Franklin renovations and accessible playgrounds in CIP
Summary
School officials and parents urged councilors to fully fund New Franklin Elementary renovations and playground upgrades in the CIP; the superintendent said renovations aim to address inadequate classroom and special‑education spaces.
Parents and school officials used the CIP hearing to press for full funding of New Franklin Elementary’s renovation and of accessible playgrounds across the district.
Superintendent Zach McLaughlin told the council the school has been receiving recurring capital allocations but the proposed CIP includes a more complete renovation for New Franklin to align it with Dundera and Little Harbor schools. McLaughlin said the renovation emphasizes additional intervention spaces and classroom improvements to avoid relying on non‑instructional areas for specialized services. "We already offer objectively lesser educational experience than the other two buildings... the need for additional space is only going to grow," McLaughlin said.
Multiple parents testified during public comment. Julie Gallant, a parent of three New Franklin students, thanked the council for including CIP funding and called for councilors to tour the school to see cramped conditions that have led to staff providing services in closets and hallways. "Putting all that time and effort into working with Ken and some other people... Our school needs it," she said. Another parent, Kyle Lawton, said early‑intervention services sometimes occur in inadequate spaces and urged the council to move the renovation forward.
The CIP lists $10,000,000 for New Franklin across two fiscal years (staff provided a two‑year funding profile during the presentation), with $5,000,000 proposed in FY27 and a further $5,000,000 in the following year. School leaders said deliverables include an additional net classroom and improved intervention and special‑education spaces.
The council also heard support for playground upgrades and for ADA‑compliant restrooms at the South Mill Pond site; staff said portable accessible toilets are currently available at major recreation sites and that permanent restrooms are planned for later CIP years but are under evaluation for closer sites such as the Hanover Garage area.
Councilors asked whether redistricting could be accelerated so the district can better plan for enrollment changes that might affect facility needs. McLaughlin said the district will continue to monitor housing patterns and maintain a school‑board committee to reexamine redistricting on a biannual cycle.
No final budget decisions were made at the meeting; staff and councilors agreed to schedule a school tour prior to final CIP adoption and to provide additional documentation on deliverables and enrollment forecasts for use during budget deliberations.
