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Parents, students press Portsmouth council to keep New Franklin School renovation in CIP
Summary
Dozens of parents, staff and students urged the Portsmouth City Council on Nov. 17 to preserve funding in the capital improvement plan for an expansion and renovation of New Franklin School, citing cramped classrooms, safety hazards and inequities with other elementary schools. Council extended the CIP public hearing to Dec. 8.
Dozens of parents, staff and students urged the Portsmouth City Council on Nov. 17 to keep a proposed renovation of New Franklin School in the capital improvement plan, describing outdated and unsafe facilities that they say harm learning.
"My school needs a lot of help," fourth-grader Wyatt James told the council in a prepared statement. "For example, it needs a new gym. The tiles are cracking. Sometimes when I'm playing, I trip." Wyatt, who identified himself as living at 1600 Islington Street, also described a library that functions as a hallway and playground equipment with exposed metal that had been temporarily patched with tape.
Parents and educators followed his remarks with detailed descriptions of the building's condition. "There are people teaching children in closets. There are lessons happening in hallways," said Lisa Robley, who said she tutors at New Franklin and described shared, partitioned teaching spaces for multiple small groups. Joanne Simons, principal at New Franklin, told the council she spoke for 65 staff members and emphasized the need for secure entryways and improved learning spaces.
Supporters argued the project addresses equity across the city's three elementary schools. "It's simply not fair to these Portsmouth kids to go to school in a space that is too small and is not conductive to learning and playing," said Neli Clark, who said she lives at 152 Essex Avenue and has two children at New Franklin.
City staff clarified that New Franklin remains included in the proposed CIP package and that the council will have opportunity to tour the facilities before final votes. Deputy city manager for finance asked the public to note that some CIP items include aspirational federal funding that may require future adjustments.
After discussion, councilors voted to extend the public hearing on the CIP to Dec. 8 to allow more testimony and to include any revisions in the packet for that meeting.
What happens next: The council will continue the public hearing Dec. 8, when it may consider revisions and votes on the CIP. The project remains a proposed item in the CIP as presented.
