LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY — The board of the Sullivan West School District voted unanimously on March 28 to merge the school’s varsity football team with that of the Roscoe-Livingston Manor-Downsville team.

Board member Trevor Peachey expressed the views of several board members with he noted, “how tough it is on a community to vote on something like this.”  But he said after talking to the coaches and others in the community it became clear that if the board did not approve the merger, the seniors and juniors at the school would have no opportunity to participate in an organized football league next fall.

Board member Kathleen Meckle said, “I feel really badly for the seniors who won’t have an opportunity to play here, but hopefully in the long run it will grow our program in the coming years, so that our upcoming students will have a vibrant program.”  

Board member Ken Cohen asked “Is this merger really for one year only? Most schools that merge rarely go back to fielding and individual team.” But he said he would vote in favor of the merger because he wanted, “the kids and the community to decide themselves if this is something that will work or not.”

Sullivan West Director of Athletics David Franskevicz filed an application for the merger in January, after taking a poll of students who might be interested in playing football next year. Only 12 students said they wanted to play; to remain in the league they are in now would require at least 16 students.

Franskevicz also said at a previous meeting that he had conducted a closed ballot vote on the issue and reported “overwhelming” support for the merger.

At previous meetings, parents raised many questions and concerns about the matter, and complained about not being sufficiently informed about the issue.  At the special meeting on March 28, however, no one rose to speak during the public comment period of the meeting.

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