Members of the Saranac Lake School Board of Education and administrators practice social distancing in the high school auditorium at their meeting Wednesday night. (Enterprise photo — Griffin Kelly)

SARANAC LAKE — The Saranac Lake School Board of Education approved the formation of a girls modified lacrosse team at its meeting Wednesday night.

At the start of the month, it looked like the approval was going to happen, but the team, a coach and a schedule would have to be put together in a matter of days to participate in the spring sports season. However, with schools closed and athletic activities put on hold in response to COVID-19, it’s bought the district some time to get the logistics of a lacrosse team figured out.

Public schools across the state have closed their doors and switched to distance learning until at least April 20. Things are still up in the air, and there is the possibility schools could be closed even longer.

School board member Mark Farmer — a former director of athletics for the district — said the hope is to get the girls on the field for a few games, even if the season is only four weeks long.

“I wouldn’t be shocked if they canceled (the season),” he said.

Nevertheless, Farmer said approving the team now puts the school in a good position for next year’s season.

The modified girls lacrosse team would be a Saranac Lake athletic program in which Lake Placid students can participate, similar to the boys modified team. This means all the management and scheduling is handled by Saranac Lake administrators. It is not a merged Saranac Lake Placid group like the varsity lacrosse teams, where both districts manage the program. Lake Placid students can play on Saranac Lake’s modified team, but they need to find their own rides to practice each day.

Members of the Saranac Lake School Board of Education and administrators practice social distancing in the high school auditorium at their meeting Wednesday night.
(Enterprise photo — Griffin Kelly)