Portsmouth School Committee approves calendar changes after debate over end-of-year professional development

PORTSMOUTH — At its April 30 meeting, the Portsmouth School Committee approved revisions to the 2025–26 and 2026–27 school calendars after members and public speakers debated whether the final days of the school year should be for students or reserved for staff professional development.

The committee first considered a motion that would have made both June 17 and June 18 staff professional development days (removing student attendance those days). That motion resulted in a 3–3 tie and failed. Chair Emily Copeland then asked the superintendent for an alternative. The board subsequently approved, by a unanimous 6–0 vote, a revised 2025–26 calendar that ends the student year on June 17 and designates June 18 as a staff professional development day. The committee also voted unanimously, 6–0, to adopt the district’s proposed 2026–27 calendar (option 2), which adjusts school days in response to a state primary moving from Sept. 8 to Sept. 9 and includes three makeup days at the end of the year for snow days.

Why it matters: The state education commissioner shortened the required school year from 180 to 178 days, forcing districts to revisit calendars and prompting discussion about how to use limited days to balance instructional time with teacher collaboration and curriculum implementation.

What was said: The superintendent told the committee she was asking for reconsideration because May 22 "is not ideal" for students, noting that several student events fall on that date. Public commenters urged retaining end-of-year professional development time. "I would rather do it at the end of the year," said Tannen Longway, who told the committee they live in East Greenwich and work at the middle school, arguing it avoids putting substitutes in every classroom. Margie Brennan, the district’s science instructional coach, told the board that end-of-year professional development "would allow teachers to reflect on what worked, identify gaps, prepare for next year, and strengthen alignment across the district."

Board debate reflected competing priorities. Committee member Mr. Delahanty said the issue had been discussed thoroughly and that parents he spoke with opposed changing the calendar. Other members, including Mr. Fox and the member who originally proposed the May date, described the superintendent’s alternative as a reasonable compromise that preserved a PD day while minimizing disruption for families. Chair Copeland emphasized transparency in placing the superintendent’s request on the agenda and noted the need to meet submission deadlines.

Votes and outcomes: On the 2025–26 item, the board first voted down (3–3) a motion to make both final days staff PD. The names recited for that roll call were: in favor — Mr. Farber, Dr. Emily Copeland, Ms. McDade; opposed — Mr. Delahanty, Ms. Skian, Mr. Fox. After the superintendent offered an alternative calendar (adding May 22 back and setting the student last day as June 17 with June 18 as a PD day), the committee approved that alternative 6–0. The 2026–27 calendar (option 2) also passed 6–0.

Budget and scheduling details: Committee members asked whether additional PD days required extra pay or additional funding. The superintendent explained that because teachers are contracted for an 181‑day work year, designating an existing contracted workday for PD does not necessarily require extra pay; she also explained the district’s use of early-release time increases total PD hours (with early releases and contract time providing roughly 12 PD hours versus a single 6‑hour standalone PD day). The committee asked staff to notify families immediately about the approved changes.

What’s next: The board announced upcoming subcommittee meetings and noted the town council provisionally approved the school budget, and the committee adjourned. Staff were directed to communicate the calendar changes to families and post the revised calendars in district materials.