'This Is A Repudiation:' What's Next After Northport School Board Shake-Up?

Two of the most vocal and persistent critics of Northport Public School's administration won seats on the school board by wide margins.

So, what happens now?

Eric Potes and Kali Dignan were elected Tuesday. Dignan blasted incumbent Carrie Wadas by a 10-to-1 margin for a partial term ending in Dec. 2028. At 1,097 votes for one of two 6-year seats, Potes far outpaced incumbents Daniel Duffiney and Ben Hale at 625 and 476 votes, respectively.

Potes and Dignan are part of a group of parents, former parents and community members who have been extremely critical of Superintendent Neil Wetherbee and his dad, longtime school board member Tom Wetherbee. They cite concerns with parent communication, shrinking enrollment, conflicts of interest and more.

“This is a repudiation on the Wetherbees, and Neil and his performance,” Dignan tells The Ticker of the election results. “People are ready…to see some accountability.”

Dignan says she’s looking forward to having an official role after many years on the outside looking in, during which time her input was limited to written messages or public comment at board meetings.

“I'm going to be asking more questions. I'll have more than three minutes to talk and (Neil Wetherbee) will have to answer me,” she says. “He didn't have to in the past.”

Potes also believes the election results show that plenty of people in the community have concerns about what’s happening at the school.

“It feels like the whole community is behind (Kali and I), and it's been a great turnout. We've had a lot of support, and I’ve been humbled by the numbers,” he tells The Ticker. “I think there's a definite acknowledgement and a willingness to push for change.”

Dignan and Potes both say they'll work to improve the district, regardless of who they’re serving with.

“I see the large task ahead. It's a big charge, and I don't take it lightly. Being an alumnus and former parent of a kid at Northport, and someone who wants to see the school thrive, it's going to take a lot of hard work,” Potes says. “My pledge is to put in the time and to represent the will of the parents as well as the teachers and just to work hand in hand.”

But both Potes and Dignan still want Tom Wetherbee to resign from the board, citing perceived conflicts of interest tied to him overseeing his son in an official board capacity. 

“Tom's had almost 20 years on the Northport Board of Education. It's been a good run,” Potes says. “With respect to the time and hard work he's put in to Northport Public School, it's time to consider stepping down and making way for some new ideas.”

Tom, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, declined comment for this story. Neil Wetherbee says he’s ready to work with Potes and Dignan.

“I always welcome fresh perspectives that new board members can bring to the table, and this year is no different,” he tells The Ticker.

He also says he’s unfazed by the heat he continues to catch from certain people in the community.

“Criticism doesn't bother me. I am human and therefore not perfect. And no school is perfect. The question I ask myself every day is: How can we make Northport School even better? I will work with anyone who shares that goal,” he says. “I welcome constructive criticism that helps us continue to improve the educational experience for our students.”

Much criticism has also been leveled at the board for (in the opinion of the opposition group) not providing adequate oversight or appropriately challenging Neil Wetherbee. Dignan, who has been very critical of the board in that regard, hopes her and Potes’ election is a wake-up call for other board members.

“I hope they're paying attention to the voters and start holding the superintendent more accountable, asking hard questions, not believing everything and stop being rubber stamps,” she says. “Hopefully they get the message, too.”

School board President Ben Purdy says the board has always done its job in that regard.

“I look forward to working with Eric and Kali, and I think serving on the board will give them a great chance to see the processes that are put in place and how decisions are made, and that things aren't a rubber stamp,” he tells The Ticker. “Decisions are made carefully and with the best interest of students in mind.”

Purdy and Wetherbee both cite continued strong academic performance scores as evidence of effective governance and decision making in recent years.