MIDDLEBURG — The Midd-West School board voted Monday to establish its own football program…if the district receives funding from the NFL. The Daily Item reports the surprising announcement was made to district officials by James Zack, PIAA District 4 President. Zack says Midd-West has a very good chance of receiving a three-year grant from the NFL’s new High School Kick Start program.
That program supports the establishment of five football programs in five states. Zack said he learned of the NFL program only late last week. He informed Midd-West school officials immediately since the board is debating how to move forward since Juniata County School Board decided not to continue its cooperative agreement with Midd-West in the 2018 season after many years.
Funding from the NFL would not cover any stadium renovations, which are expected to cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Superintendent Rick Musselman told board members they could vote to start a football program in 2018 contingent on receiving the NFL grant. He also says Midd-West is the only school district in Pennsylvania the PIAA recommended.
If given the NFL grant, the board agreed to use it with a seven to one vote. The panel unanimously agreed not to move forward with a cooperative agreement with Mifflinburg.
