Portsmouth School Board Candidates Outline Priorities Ahead of Election

Portsmouth, October 10, 2025

News Summary

Incumbent Portsmouth School Board candidates have outlined their priorities as they prepare for the upcoming election on November 4, 2025. Key issues discussed include budget management, redistricting, and diversity and inclusion policies. Candidates emphasize the importance of educational quality, financial planning, and potential changes in student enrollment and state funding. Public discussions are expected to continue as the election approaches, focusing on these critical topics.

Portsmouth

Overview: Incumbent Portsmouth School Board candidates have presented their views ahead of the 2025 election. Election Date: November 4, 2025. The candidates outlined priorities including budget management, redistricting, diversity and inclusion (DEI) policies, and responses to possible changes in enrollment and state funding.

Key developments

The candidates emphasized financial planning and educational quality as central concerns. Several incumbents cited the need to monitor class sizes and redistricting, prepare for potential open enrollment effects, and respond to evolving state and federal funding levels. DEI and student participation policies in athletics also surfaced as distinct points of emphasis among candidates.

Incumbent candidates and positions

The following summaries list each incumbent candidate with biographical details and the positions they presented.

Nancy Novelline Clayburgh (Age: 74)

• Education: Bachelor of Arts from Emmanuel College, Master of Arts from Boston University.
• Occupation: School Board member and visitor assistant at Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth.
• Political experience: Elected official for 25 years, 19 years as School Board member, six years as city councilor, current School Board chair, previously assistant mayor for two years.
• Involvement: Boards of One Sky Community Services and Friends in Action, member of Portsmouth Rotary, small business owner (Bow Wow Bones).
• Key Issue: Maintaining quality education while being mindful of taxpayer needs; all Portsmouth schools rank in the top 22 in NH; budget scrutiny is vital.
• Redistricting Opinion: Supports current plan; believes it will eventually balance with new families moving into neighborhoods.
• DEI Position: Supports non-discrimination and recognizes challenges posed by government restrictions; believes athletes should participate based on gender at birth.
• Open Enrollment: Optimistic about attracting students due to high ranking; board must prepare for budget implications.

Brian French (Age: 51)

• Education: Executive master’s in business administration, master in computer engineering.
• Occupation: Engineering leadership.
• Political Experience: Vice Chair of the Portsmouth School Board for eight years; past member of Portsmouth Library Board of Trustees and Recreation Board.
• Key Issue: Financial pressure; advocating for fair state support and long-term financial planning.
• Redistricting Opinion: Supports revisiting boundaries annually to balance capacity and community continuity.
• DEI Position: Believes in equal opportunities for all students in sports; will support fair and inclusive policies.
• Open Enrollment: Advocates for proactive steps to model financial impacts and enhance school attractions.

Steve Adler (Age: 70)

• Education: Master’s in elementary education and school administration.
• Occupation: Retired elementary school principal.
• Political Experience: Volunteer at Music Hall, Ski Disability Program, tour guide.
• Key Issue: Ensuring adequate funding for quality learning programs amid potential state and federal budget cuts.
• Redistricting Opinion: Supports monitoring and updating redistricting to address class sizes and student distribution.
• DEI Position: Endorses non-discrimination policies; committed to revising policies to safeguard students’ rights and integration.
• Open Enrollment: Emphasizes the need to consider current within-district enrollment; will adjust policies as necessary.

Roy W. Helsel (Age: 89)

• Education: Bachelor’s in business management from the University of New Hampshire.
• Occupation: Retired.
• Political Experience: None.
• Key Issue: Supporting educational measures for students with special needs and multilingual students.
• Redistricting Opinion: Believes community input is vital for future redistricting decisions.
• DEI Position: Holds a traditional view of gender roles; articulates clear opinions on these matters.
• Open Enrollment: Highlights importance of state funding to cover potential enrollment costs.

Genevieve Becksted Muske (Age: 52)

• Education: Bachelor’s in business administration with a concentration in industrial-organizational psychology.
• Occupation: Assistant manager in real estate processing and closing.
• Political Experience: Current member of the Portsmouth School Board and active community participant.
• Key Issue: Importance of listening to community voices and providing a supportive environment for faculty and students.
• Redistricting Opinion: Advocates reassessment of redistricting processes to address current challenges.
• DEI Position: Supports diversity and inclusivity in schools, emphasizes the importance of safe environments for all students.
• Open Enrollment: Calls for thorough research on potential impacts of open enrollment on community finances and communications.

What to expect before the vote

Voters can expect continued public discussion around budgeting, possible redistricting revisions, and how the district will handle open enrollment and DEI-related policy changes. Candidates emphasized planning for potential shifts in student population and state funding while maintaining educational quality.

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Additional Resources

• Brian French: Portsmouth School Board Candidate
• Steve Adler: Portsmouth School Board Candidate
• Roy Helsel: Portsmouth School Board Candidate
• Genevieve Becksted Muske: Portsmouth School Board Candidate
• Wikipedia: School Board
• Google Search: Portsmouth School Board elections

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