By David Fleet
Editor
Goodrich-On Monday night the school board of education voted 7-0 to enter into a cooperative agreement with the Brandon School district for a boys and girls swim team. Similarly, on Monday the Brandon Board of Education also voted 7-0 supporting the agreement.
“We’re excited to partner with Brandon and to offer the opportunity to Goodrich for a swim team,” said Dave Davis, athletic director/assistant high school principal following the announcement. “With Brandon’s enrollment lower and Goodrich joining the Flint Metro League next year it’s a perfect combination for the new team.”
According to the terms of the deal, Brandon will provide the pool, facilities, head coach and busing to away contests. Goodrich will provide their own transportation to practices at Brandon High School, and assistance coaches. Each school will provide their own Pay-to-Play fees. Brandon will keep the gate revenue and pay for officials. Both schools will provide concession workers for the events.

“These are programs that limping along, by merging together we actually are able to provide more opportunities to kids,” said Matt Outlaw, Brandon superintendent.
“I think there’s a lot of upsides.”
So far, 12 Goodrich High School students and 10 Goodrich Middle School eighth grade students have signed up to swim for the new team. A name for the combined squads has not been determined.
“We want to be able to make sure we are offering all of our students all possibilities when it comes to after school clubs and athletics, “ said Dan Stevens, Brandon high school principal.
Fall practice begins for the girl’s swim team in August while the boy’s team starts in November. The Goodrich/Brandon swim team will compete with Corunna, Fenton, Holly, Kearsley, Owosso and Swartz Creek/Flushing in the Flint Metro League.