PRISM founder Isaiah Truman told the Contract Review Committee on Jan. 10 that his nonprofit wants $100,000 from the countygrant program to expand a youth mentoring and sports performance program focused on Nantucket High School students.

Truman said the nonprofit already provides free memberships and coaching to dozens of high-school students and that the requested funds would pay for a small team of year-round coaches to reach more students and stabilize staffing. "We are fundamentally lacking in these types of programs," Truman said, adding the group would use the money to underwrite professional coaches and expand a pilot during the school year.

Truman and the committee discussed program scope and safeguards. Veronica Bolchuk, chair of the Contract Review Committee, asked about vetting for coaches who would work with underage students. Truman said the organization conducts background checks and long-term working relationships with coaches and that he would comply with any school-required CORI or fingerprinting process: "I'm happy to comply with whatever the need is, to, in the best interest of the kids," Truman said.

Committee members pressed on realistic participation numbers and outreach to students who don’t take part in sports. Linda Williams and others noted that many high-school students do not play sports, and asked how the program would reach that population. Truman described outreach strategies including a MediSpa-style program, partnerships with guidance counselors and mandatory meet-and-greet sessions at the high school to introduce students to the program and build trust.

Truman said the organization has asked the town and local partners for support: the group submitted a $300,000 warrant to the town and asked the golf club for a matching contribution; PRISM’s request to the Contract Review Committee is for $100,000 as a one-year pilot. "At this point, we have $0," Truman said. "Even a $100,000 would explode the program."

The committee did not take a vote on the request at the Jan. 10 meeting; members said they would ask follow-up questions and consider the program in deliberations next week.

The committee also discussed how private nonprofits working on school property should coordinate with town departments if the program would place staff or operate on school grounds.

If committee members need further details, they said they will request clarifying budget figures and written descriptions of outreach and vetting processes before deliberations.

The committee will continue interviews and deliberate at meetings scheduled later in January; funding decisions will be reflected in the committee’s award report.