Council Passes $3.3M Middle School Bond

The City Council unanimously passed a $3.3 million bond on Monday night to complete the $40.8 million Portsmouth Middle School project after several residents told them to "finish the job."

With 43 percent of New Hampshire Department of Education building aid hanging in the balance, several councilors said they could not see any reason why the city should not complete the project.

Assistant Mayor Robert Lister said the original plan was to support kids education in grades 6, 7 and 8. “It’s important that kids get a good education and want to come back to their community,” he said.

“I believe, and it’s my opinion, that we would be irresponsible if we do not complete the Middle School project,” he added.

Councilor Jack Thorsen said, "Our backs are against the wall." He compared a decision to not go forward with the project to making a car and then deciding whether to buy the tires.

Councilor Brad Lown said he has a child who is a sixth grader at the Portsmouth Middle School and knows how much the students and staff like learning in the newly constructed wing that was finished last summer. He said the average city homeowner would have to pay an extra $15- to $25 in local property taxes each year to support the bond.

Councilor Esther Kennedy said she was still not pleased with the project's cost overruns that and felt the council was "letting the city down" by approving the additional money. She said between the $3.3 million bond and the more than $2 million in items that were already cut, the city has lost $6 million on the project.

Kennedy also said the council should always be hesistant about increasing local property taxes because there are many people who cannot afford it. "Every time we raise our taxes, another group of people can no longer afford to live in our city," she said.

During the public hearing, councilors heard from many residents including two Portsmouth Middle School students who said the conditions in the 1970s portion of the building that will be renovated with the bond is in deplorable condition.

Ashley Cooper, a Middle School 8th grader, said she and her classmates enjoy learning much better in the new section of the school. "Students take learning more seriously in the better classrooms," she said.

Abby Wolfe, a middle school 6th grader, said the current band room has no windows and is very uncomfortable.

Portsmouth Schools Superintendent Ed McDonough told the council that without Phase 3, the middle school would not have a new auditorium or student commons. The building would also not be connected.

Jim LaPosta of JCJ Architects in Hartford, Conn., said Gilbane Construction would be forced to "button up" the 1970s middle school portion, or close it off and students would have no way to walk from the older portion of the middle school to the new wing.

In March, LaPosta gave councilors a detailed look at the structural deficiencies that need to be addressed in the 1970s portion of the school that he reiterated during Monday night's meeting.

"If we're serious about providing a good education to our students, then we need to complete the job," said Larry Drake, the chairman of the Portsmouth Democratic Committee.