Schroon Wildcats Staying At Home

Wildcat basket ball sensation Jesse Shaughnessy on the proposed Bolton-Schroon Athletic merger: “This simply makes no sense at all". Photo courtesy Jesse Shaughnessy 

The historic Schroon Lake Central Wildcats will be staying in Schroon – with the board of Ed voting 5-0 to reject an offer from Bolton Central to merge athletic teams.

At a school board meeting last night, the board was presented with a petition signed by more than 287 families and students opposing the merger.

Both parents and students took to the floor when the topic was open for discussion, including Bob and Catherine Vanderwalker, Jeff Subra, Carmine Decker, Lil Richardson, Donnie Anslow, Clare Whitney, Rich Hall, Brandon Dugan, Craig and Heather Maisonville, Caleb Masionville, Jesse Shaughnessy and Louise Higgens.

“This simply makes no sense at all. It takes away our school pride, something that has been here for 70 years,” Jesse Shaughnessy told Schroon Laker over the weekend.

“There is something special when you play for your school and your whole town is out to support you. That would not happen with a merger,” said the star basketball player.

The board wants to form a sports subcommittee with both BOE members and representatives of the explore the current state of sports teams at SLCS and the future of its various athletics programs.