The Green Bay Area Public School Board voted unanimously to provide football for 7th and 8th graders starting next season.

"Access is an issue and is an important issue, and that is a part of this," said School Board member Andrew Becker.

A few residents spoke up against the move, citing concerns over safety and spending, but school officials say they have safeguards in place.

"Specifically, we have procedures that are in place in terms of concussion and impact testing, that we do to insure the kids are safe," says director for secondary schools, activities and athletics Mark Smith.

Eric Gordee, an associate principle at Lombardi Middle School, says a big part of safety will be buying top-notch, well fitting equipment, and providing expert training for coaches.

"This isn't going to be a Lombardi Middle School football team, it's not going to be an Edison football team, it's going to be a cooperation between Lombardi and Southwest, between Edison, Red Smith and Preble," says Gordee.

In the first year, costs for the program will be about $276,000. That money will come from the District's Community Service Fund, which pays for most school activities.

School officials say, they don't plan to waste any time getting students signed up for football next year.

"We're going to begin the communication plan tomorrow, get our students aware of the opportunity," says Smith.

Smith says more than 500 students at area schools have expressed interest in playing next year.