Northport board authorizes up to $13,600 service agreement with LIFT to cover program gap

The Northport Public School District Board of Education voted unanimously Jan. 12 to authorize Superintendent Neil Wetherbee to enter into a service agreement with LIFT for the remainder of the fiscal year in an amount not to exceed $13,600.

The motion was made by board member Jamie Scripps and supported by board member Ben Hale; a roll call vote carried 7-0. The authorization follows board discussion of a draft service-based agreement prepared by legal counsel and concerns about the absence of a current written agreement.

Rebekah Tenbrink, Executive Director of LIFT, told the board about countywide funding structures and said Northport faces a funding gap that affects LIFT programming in the district. Laura Cavendish, speaking on behalf of the PTO, outlined upcoming events and fundraising goals and thanked the board for moving to address the immediate funding shortfall. Public commenter Kali Dignan urged the board to consider adding an athletic director or program coordinator as a longer-term staffing option to help sustain programs.

Board members framed the vote as a short-term funding measure to preserve LIFT services while staff and legal counsel develop a formal agreement and consider risk management terms. The motion authorizes the superintendent to execute an agreement not to exceed $13,600; the board did not specify additional funding sources in the motion.

The superintendent and district staff will carry out the agreement and follow normal contracting procedures; the board did not record any amendments to the motion at the time of the vote.