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Portsmouth panel splits on calendar change, votes to shift two staff days
Summary
After heated debate about instruction lost during five emergency virtual days, the Portsmouth School Committee voted 4–3 to revise the 2025–26 calendar so students end June 17 and staff receive professional development days on May 22 and June 18.
The Portsmouth School Committee voted 4–3 on April 14 to revise the 2025–26 school calendar, keeping students in session through June 17 and converting two staff professional development days to May 22 and June 18.
Superintendent Dr. Viveiros proposed shortening the student year to 178 days — effectively moving the last student day to June 16 and using June 17–18 for staff development — after the commissioner waived two days following the district’s five days of virtual learning during the 2026 blizzard. "I would actually say that our teachers were working harder just trying to be connected with the students," Dr. Viveiros said, arguing the district successfully pivoted and that the extra PD days would recognize that work.
Opponents raised family- and instruction-related concerns. Committee member Ms. Kean said she had "spoken with lots of families in the district, and I don't support ending the school year 2 days early for students," arguing that elementary virtual instruction averaged closer to 30 minutes a day and that students lost services and instruction during the closures. She and other members warned the change would impose child-care burdens on families who had already planned summer schedules.
The committee first voted on Dr. Viveiros’s original proposal and it failed 3–4. Members then adopted a secondary motion to split the two PD days, placing one on Friday, May 22 (ahead of the Memorial Day weekend) and the other on June 18, while keeping students in school through June 17; that motion passed 4–3. Supporters said the amendment better balanced staff recognition and family needs.
Several members suggested alternatives, including adding an in-year PD day or early-release days to reduce disruption. Committee members also urged the superintendent to coordinate with local care providers (AlphaBest and other vendors) to minimize impacts on families.
The amended calendar reflects the committee’s judgment that some combination of staff professional development and preserved student instructional time best fits the district’s recent experience with extended virtual learning. The committee did not adopt further changes to the calendar at the meeting.
