Muskegon Heights plans sports for fall | Education

MUSKEGON HEIGHTS, Mich. (WZZM) -- Leaders with the new Muskegon Heights Public School Academy charter school say the athletic program is a work in progress, but say they are making progress.

The charter school replaced the debt riddled public school system earlier this year, but the efforts to add a new sports program have been quite a challenge.

The district's new athletic director, Glen Metcalf, answered parents' questions Monday night about the upcoming school year, including key sports, like football.

Metcalf so far he has scheduled seven varsity and seven junior varsity football games, and four or five volleyball games.

"My job right now is to pick up those pieces and make sure those schedules are filled to their capacity. We might only get eight games, but we will honor those contracts and make sure we have an opportunity for our young people to compete."

But first, he needs a coach, and he hopes to hire one by next week. He also wants to get athletes ready for the fall season.

"One of our goals is next week to get the gym open, get the weight room open," says Metcalf. "I'm going to try to put together something so those things are available for our young people to get in and start lifting weights, start running and getting an open gym."

Metcalf says he plans to put the schedule, including who the teams are playing, on the Internet soon.

As for what class the school will compete in, Metcalf said he has to wait for enrollment numbers.

Based on numbers this spring, the MHSAA had already reclassified Muskegon Heights Charter School to drop from class B to class C status for next school year.