Meeting was convened at 10:15 a.m. by Chairman Majikes
ITEM 1 Chairman Majikes welcomed member schools to the meeting and quickly introduced the PIAA District II committee members as well as PIAA Executive Director Brad Cashman.
ITEM 2 Chairman Majikes thanked all of the member schools for their cooperation during the past year in regard to hosting district championship events in all of the various sports. The cooperation of all of the member schools in District II is greatly appreciated.
ITEM 3 A motion was made by Tim Honeywell (AD – Berwick), seconded by Bob Coleman (AD-Scranton) to approve the minutes of the 2010 Annual Business meeting. Copies of those minutes were provided to all member schools present. All Ayes
ITEM 4 Eligibility Chairperson, Mike Ognosky, reviewed with all the member schools present copies of the three most utilized eligibility documents. He requested that member schools have the documents readily available in their guidance offices and asked that all schools make it an integral part of the registration process for new students:
· The first document is the “Athletic Transfer Waiver Request Form” and should be utilized whenever a new student enrolls in your district and plans on participating on an athletic team. The receiving school completes the form and sends it to the sending school. The sending school then completes their portion of the form and returns it to the receiving school. They, in turn, send it on to the committee for action.
· The second document is the “Foreign Exchange Student Eligibility Agreement” should be utilized when enrolling a foreign exchange student who plans on participating on an athletic team. The District completes the form and sends it on to the District Committee for action.
· The third document is the “Member School Request for Decision on Athletic Eligibility” and should be utilized when a member school is requesting that the District Committee consider granting additional eligibility to a student enrolled in their school.
ITEM 5 Mike Ognosky reviewed the recently conducted “Changing the Culture in Sports” seminar at the University of Scranton and explained that the District II Committee will continue to offer professional development opportunities in the area of coaches’ education. The District is tentatively planning a training of personnel from member schools in the summer with the goal of training at least two people from every district who, in turn, can implement the training program in their district. Information will be forthcoming in the next few weeks.
ITEM 6 Frank Victor, District II Treasurer, gave the 2010 Treasurer’s Report. Our Total Expenses for the 2009-2010 operating year was $334,894.49; while our Total Income for the same period of time was $288,271.20 – a loss of $46,623.29. Our fund balance as of June 30, 2010 was $87,835.95; a decrease in the fund balance of $46,623.29. We currently have $15,701.42 in our checking account, $59,807.66 in our PIAA corporate account, and $12,328.87 in a Certificate of Deposit.
A motion was made by Frank Parra (AD- Wyoming Area High School), seconded by Fred Barletta (AD-Hazleton Area High School) to approve the Treasurer’s Report as submitted. All Ayes
ITEM 7 Jim Higgins presented the Credentials Report. There are 43 High Schools and 46 Junior High Schools present at today’s meeting.
ITEM 8 Vice Chairman Tom Jenkins introduced Brad Cashman, who presented a review of the three amendments that will be voted on at today’s meeting by the member schools from District II:
· An amendment to Article V, Organization and Authority, Section 2, Transfer of Schools from one PIAA District to another, of the PIAA Constitution, which, if approved, would (1) reorganize Section 2, and (2) clarify the process and define the standard of review for the Board of Directors in considering the request of a member school to transfer to a different PIAA District, effective July 2, 2011. 89 Ayes, 0 Nays
· An amendment to Article VII, Powers and Duties of Board of Directors and Officers, Section 1, Powers and Duties of Board of Directors, of the PIAA Constitution which, if approved, would clarify that the Board of Directors (1) has the authority to request, receive, and/or otherwise obtain information whenever it hears and decides matters in dispute between PIAA member schools located in different jurisdictions or appeals from decisions of Regional Panels or District Committees; and (2) in assuming that responsibility, the Board of Directors shall not be required to assume the position of investigator, effective July 1, 2011. 89 Ayes, 0 Nays
· An amendment to Article VII, Powers and Duties of Board of Director and Officers, Section 1, Powers and Duties of Board of Directors, subsection K, of the PIAA Constitution, which, if approved, would mandate east-west championships in all Team sports by providing for all final Team Championship Contests to include one Team representing all Teams from PIAA Districts 12, 11, 4, 3, 2, and 1 and one Team representing all Teams from PIAA Districts 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, and 5, effective July 1, 2011. 0 Ayes, 89 Nays
ITEM 9 Brad Cashman, Executive Director of the PIAA, then offered other comments and remarks highlighting PIAA By-Law Amendment changes made during 2010-2011 as follows:
· Amended the Code of Ethics pertaining to High School Athletics, Section 3, to clarify that Coaches should not criticize the actions or decisions of Contest officials through the media but should utilize the appropriate review processes for said officials, effective January 27, 2011.
· Amended the Code of Ethics to High School Athletics to modernize and clarify the Code of Ethics as it relates to contest officials, effective January 27, 2011.
· Amended the Code of Ethics to High School Athletics to expand the expectations of spectators at Contests and clarify the possible consequences for engaging in unethical behavior, effective January 27, 2011.
· Amended Article 1, Age, Section 3, Waiver of Maximum Age Rule, of the PIAA By-Laws, to clarify that any waiver of the maximum age rule granted by a District Committee is limited to no more than one year, effective January 27, 2011.
· Amended Article VII, Period of Participation, Section 6, Waiver of Sections 1A or 1B, to clarify that any waiver of the seasons limit granted by a District Committee is limited to no more than one season in the sport, effective July 1, 2011.
· Amended Article VII, Period of Participation, Section 6, Waiver of Sections 1A or 1B, to (1) clarify that a waiver of Section 1B may not be considered unless a District Committee has first waived Section 1A, and (2) to further clarify that Section 1C may not be waived by a District Committee and make consistent the terms “repeat of a school year or semester” and “which was subsequently repeated”, effective March 24, 2011.
· Amended Article XVI, Season and Out-of –Season Rules and Regulations, Section 2, subsection c, Football, of the PIAA By-Laws, to clarify that participation in the fall on a community based non-school affiliated youth football team does not constitute a violation of sub-section 2, effective July 1, 2011.
ITEM 10 Brad Cashman then discussed current issues that the Board of Directors is discussing and urged schools to contact their District Chairperson and offer feedback:
· The PIAA Board of Directors is investigating the potential to assume jurisdiction over, and establishing a championship in, Competitive Cheer.
· The PIAA Board of Directors is investigating whether to establish two enrollment classifications in Team and Individual Golf Championships.
· The PIAA Board of Directors is considering, due to the current economic climate, the reduction of the maximum number of Regular Season Contests in all sports, except football, and offered a hand out to all member schools present listing the reduction under consideration.
ITEM 11 Chairman Majikes called upon Tom Jenkins, Vice Chairman of the District II Committee, and presented an award for his dedicated service to the District II Committee and wished him well in his upcoming retirement. Tom followed by thanking those present, especially those board members with whom he has served.
ITEM 12 Chairman Majikes led a discussion with member schools present regarding the status of the current budget issues across the state and their impact on the athletic programs. He offered some of the budget reductions that are being considered and various member school representatives spoke to the issue. Superintendent Michael Healy, Tunkhannock Area School District, suggested that a web page listing be created in which member schools would place information about budget impacts that they have on athletics. Secretary Mike Ognosky said such a story could be maintained – all member schools would need to do is supply the information to him and he will update the story as information is received.
ITEM 13 NEW BUSINESS – The following new business items were conducted:
Jim Sabatini entertained motions for the election of officers.
A motion was made by Tim Honeywell (AD- Berwick) and
seconded by Charlie Turco (AD – Pittston Area) that the present committee members be retained. All Ayes
A motion was made by Cliff Jones (AD-Coughlin), seconded by Bob Coleman (AD- Scranton) that the nominations be closed. All Ayes
The current committee members will be retained as presently constituted.
ITEM 14 A motion was made by Brian Durkin (AD-Forest City), seconded by Joe Gilhool (AD-Montrose Area) to adjourn. All Ayes
Meeting was adjourned at 12:23 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Mike Ognosky
Mike Ognosky
District 2 Secretary