May 10, 2000

Portsmouth East a Thing of the Past?

Rumors and discussion of Portsmouth East's closure have been thrown around for ages now; nothing has ever come of them. However, in the past year or so, it is very close to becoming a reality.

For months, angry Portsmouth East students, parents, and alumni have been attending school board meetings, calling up the powers-that-be, or performing other actions to help keep Portsmouth East operating. Portsmouth City Schools are very much in favor of closing Portsmouth East, and shipping the students in Sciotoville to Portsmouth High School in downtown Portsmouth until a new school can be built.

Although enrollment has been down in both schools, the people of Sciotoville are furious at this proposition. They have begun fighting to acquire a new school for both Portsmouth and Portsmouth East, instead of one larger consolidated school in downtown.

On a good note for East, a large amount of land - around 100 acres - has been donated for a new Portsmouth East building. An official meeting will take place on Thursday, the 11th of May, to find out exactly what the fate of Portsmouth East will be. Watch here for updates.