Nov 15, 2007
Flint Kearsley Invited to Join Flint Metro League

Flint Metro League principals voted 9-0 yesterday to invite Kearsley Community Schools to join the league starting in the 2008-2009 school year. Kearsley will become the tenth member of the FML, returning it to its largest previous size before the closing of Ainsworth High School in 1986.

According to FML president Keith Smith, principal of Clio High School, "We're delighted for Kearsley to be accepted into the Flint Metro League. Their quality educational and athletic programs will add a lot to our league."

Kearsley's school district is located just northeast of the city of Flint. The high school, with a current enrollment of 1,235, would have its closest league competitor (Clio) only 12.5 miles away, and its farthest league travel would be to Oxford High School, about 35 miles away.

Kearsley is being admitted to the Flint Metro League after an extensive application process that included a site visitation by FML representatives, a presentation to principals and athletic directors, and completion of an application that detailed such items as Kearsley's academic programs, enrollment projections, travel distances, scope of its athletic program, sportsmanship initiatives, crowd management practices, and non-athletic extracurricular offerings.

The Flint Metro League will now begin planning for ten-school competition in its 21 sports offerings. A league-wide meeting of its varsity coaches is being planned for November to provide the coaches' input into the best methods of scheduling within MHSAA limitations for each sport.