Superintendent Dr. Viveiros told the Portsmouth School Committee on Jan. 13 that Boys Town Portsmouth "will no longer be accepting students as of January 1," and that the closure will affect the district’s budget because the district currently receives about $510,000 annually in group-home aid tied to the Boys Town campus.

Dr. Viveiros said district budget planners are already discussing the financial implications and that staff will factor the change into upcoming budget deliberations. She thanked Boys Town for its partnership since 2005 and said the district will examine options to address the funding gap.

In the same update, Dr. Viveiros reviewed personnel changes: two new hires (a paraprofessional at Portsmouth Middle School and a general school aide at Melville), a resignation of a high-school special-education teacher, and clerical retirement at Hathaway. She also listed coaching staff additions and said the district is seeking substitute teachers, custodians and school-nurse substitutes.

Dr. Viveiros outlined a deputy-superintendent hiring timeline: post the position on Feb. 23, convene a screening committee the week of March 13, hold first-round interviews the week of March 30, final interviews the week of April 6, and aim to have a contract ready for School Committee review on April 14.

The superintendent also reminded the public of kindergarten registration starting Feb. 2 (with March in-person sessions at Portsmouth Middle School), a Feb. 5 career and technical education open house for eighth- and ninth-grade families, and other district events.