Meeting was convened at 4:25 p.m. by Chairman Majikes
ITEM 1 Chairman Majikes called the meeting to order at 4:25 p.m.
Absent but accounted for: Dan Donovan, Don Kanavy, Tom Jenkins, Jim Higgins, Frank Victor, Ross Scarantino
Advisors Present: Dolores Dalickas, Phil Latinski, Donald J. Rogers
ITEM 2 Chairman Majikes welcomed Tony Rusnak, Principal of Forest City, to the committee.
ITEM 3 A motion was made by Bill King, seconded by Mike Costanza, to approve the minutes of the November 3, 2004 and November 28, 2004 meetings. All Ayes
ITEM 4 In Frank Victor’s absence, Chairman Majikes presented the treasurer’s report and reported that for the month there were no transactions in the account. He reported that Mr. Victor is still waiting on a number of reports from the Fall Sports in order to complete all accounts for those championships.
ITEM 5 Frank Galicki reported on the final disqualification numbers from the PIAA regarding fall sports competitions. Most notable were the high numbers of ejections in boys’ soccer. The total number of ejections for the season was 404, with 268 of those at the Varsity level. That is in comparison to football that had a total of 142 ejections, with 100 of those coming in varsity competitions. Chairman Majikes also informed the committee that there has been discussion at the state level regarding the potential inequity in the current suspension procedures for disqualifications as it relates to the various sports. The PIAA State Board of Directors has examined the various percentages of games missed per season due to the current suspension procedures.
At this point, 4:38 p.m., the regular meeting was temporarily adjourned and a closed eligibility hearing was conducted regarding Adam J. Wasielewski from West Side Vocational-Technical School.
ITEM 6 At the close of the hearing, 5:15 p.m., the committee deliberated on the
evidence and, following that deliberation, a motion was made by Jim
Sabatini, seconded by Bill King, to deny eligibility to Adam J. Wasielewski for the 2004-2005 school year. 7 Ayes, 6 Nays
The regular meeting was then re-convened at 5:30 p.m.
ITEM 7 Chairman Majikes provided the committee with information regarding the current status of eligibility of Home School Students and the growth of participation among those students. Reminder, the current PIAA by-laws allow for the participation of Home School Students at their school district of residence only if the Board of Directors of that district has approved a motion at a regular public meeting that allows for that participation.
ITEM 8 Chairman Majikes reported that the PIAA Field Hockey Steering Committee met recently and discussed many issues including the assignment of same district officials to a championship final involving two schools of that same district. Other items discussed included a recommendation that for all district level games each school supply either 5 orange or 5 white game balls depending on day or night game. There was also a discussion regarding the mandatory utilization of helmets and/or face masks for Field Hockey.
ITEM 9 Chairman Majikes reported that the PIAA Golf Steering Committee met recently and discussed the revisit of a feasibility study for the implementation of a state championship in team competition for both genders. The last time this was undertaken the recommendation was to conduct a boys’ championship, but to not hold a girls’ championship due to the lack of the required number of teams.
ITEM 10 A motion was made by Bill King, seconded by Frank Galicki, that the District II Committee recommend the retention of Joe Lalli and Maureen Williams as the Officials’ Representatives on the District II Committee for an additional two year term. All Ayes
ITEM 11 Chairman Majikes suggested to the committee that in light of the most recent events at the national level in regard to the use of steroids as a performance enhancer by professional athletes that the committee sponsor an educational session for member schools as to the destructive nature of that practice. The Committee strongly supported that suggestion and asked Chairman Majikes to attempt to schedule such a session this spring.
ITEM 12 Chairman Majikes reported that upon her return from her recent maternity leave, Melissa Mertz has requested a temporary reduction in her duties and responsibilities at the PIAA State Offices. That request was recognized and Jody Good will continue on staff and assist in the supervision of championship events, etc. until such time as Melissa returns to full time duty.
ITEM 13 The PIAA Handbooks have just recently been sent out to those member schools that requested paper copies. If you have not received your copy by the time you read these minutes please contact Frank Majikes.
ITEM 14 The PIAA main office has recently established a procedure that shortens the timeline from the time a local district committee rules on an eligibility hearing until the time the appeal must be heard at the state level. The new practice calls for an appeals hearing to be heard within 30 days of the initial local committee decision.
ITEM 15 On a first reading basis, the PIAA State Board of Directors passed that the starting date for Football will be the second Monday in August beginning with the 2006-2007 school year. A study will be conducted regarding the starting date for all other sports and a recommendation and action will be forthcoming.
ITEM 16 A PIAA State Committee is also studying Article IX, Section 4 of the PIAA By-Laws regarding “Multi Level Competition” as it relates to a number of sports. Multi Level Competition relates to the practice of splitting a program on any given day and having athletes from the same level (varsity, etc.) perform at different events on that day. An example would be a track team that splits its squad and performs at the varsity level at two different invitational events on the same Saturday. The discussion centers around the idea that this should count as two different events toward the mandatory maximum allowed.
ITEM 17 Chairman Majikes presented the committee information regarding the PIAA By-Laws regarding the eligibility of Charter School and Cyber-
Charter School Students. The current Charter School Law allows for that participation in the district of residence only if the Charter or CyberCharter School does not provide the competition. Again, in accordance with the current law the district does not have the authority to prohibit that participation unless the Charter School sponsors that sport.
ITEM 18 SPORTS REPORTS:
a.) Football (Tom Jenkins): In Tom’s absence (he is attending the Football Steering Committee meeting), Chairman Majikes reported that a meeting of the Football committee will be scheduled in the near future to review the awarding of District Championships at those classifications that are subject to sub-regional competition in the state playoffs.
b.) Volleyball (Maureen Williams): Maureen presented the final fall championships report for Girls’ Volleyball.
c.) Cross Country (Bill King): Bill reported on the Cross Country Steering Committee meeting. Issues discussed included the procedures that teams will be required to comply with at the awards ceremony at the State Championships. All teams will be required to be in full uniform at the time of the awards. The committee also discussed multi level competition as it applies to Cross Country and recommended that a PIAA official be required at every Cross Country meet. If you have feedback on any of those issues please contact Bill King.
d.) Tennis (Rose Crotti): Rose submitted the final championship report from this fall’s Girls’ Championships.
e.) Golf: A motion was made by Mike Ognosky, seconded by Tom Finan, appointing Tony Rusnak as the sports’ chairperson for Golf. All Ayes
f.) Basketball (Frank Victor): Chairman Majikes reminded the committee members that the date for the basketball seeding committee has been established on February 14th at the Pittston Convention Center.
g.) Wrestling (Dan Donovan): The Wrestling Steering Committee meeting will be held in the PIAA State Office on January 12th.
h.) Swimming (Jim Higgins): In Jim’s absence, Chairman Majikes presented the committee with the swimming format for the upcoming winter championships. A motion was made by Jim Sabatini, seconded by Tony Rusnak, to accept the format as submitted. All Ayes
ITEM 19 A discussion was held regarding a request by the swimming committee to increase the number of medals awarded per event from 6 to 8. After discussion, a motion was made by Tom Finan, seconded by Frank Galicki, to have the number of medals awarded in swimming per event remain at 6 as currently established. 12 Ayes, 1 Nay
ITEM 20 The committee discussed the awarding of district championships to teams in all sports that are required to compete in sub-regional formats rather than for a District II Championship. This has been occurring more and more as the state regionalizes its state championships. The committee will develop a procedure, across the board in all sports, to address this concern prior to the 2005-2006 school year.
ITEM 21 Chairman Majikes asked that those sports’ chairpersons that currently conduct junior high championships forward those formats to his office. Many districts across the state have shown interest in sponsoring junior high championships and District II is recognized as the leader across the state in that regard.
ITEM 22 A motion was made by Bill King, seconded by Maureen Williams, to grant eligibility to Jessica Murray, from Bishop Hoban to Dallas, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers and Residence, Section 8, of the PIAA By-Laws, principal to principal sign off. All paperwork has been received and is in order. All Ayes (Frank Galicki abstain)
ITEM 23 A motion was made by Bill King, seconded by Maureen Williams, to grant eligibility to Robert Stefanovich, from Bishop Hafey to Hazleton Area, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers and Residence, Section 8, of the PIAA By-Laws, principal to principal sign off. All paperwork has been received and is in order. All Ayes
ITEM 24 A motion was made by Bill King, seconded by Maureen Williams, to grant eligibility to Aubrey Mayorowski, from Old Forge to Seton Catholic, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers and Residence, Section 8, of the PIAA By-Laws, principal to principal sign off. All paperwork has been received and is in order. All Ayes
ITEM 25 A motion was made by Phil Cappellini, seconded by Tom Finan, to grant eligibility to Danielle Conway, from Crestwood to Bishop Hoban, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers and Residence, Section 8, of the PIAA By-Laws, principal to principal sign off. All paperwork has been received and is in order. All Ayes
ITEM 26 A motion was made by Tony Rusnak, seconded by Tom Finan, to grant eligibility to Michael Burns, from Wilkes-Barre Meyers to Bishop Hoban, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers and Residence, Section 8, of the PIAA By-Laws, principal to principal sign off. All paperwork has been received and is in order. All Ayes (Bob Okrasinski abstain)
ITEM 27 Chairman Majikes announced the following dates for the winter steering committee meetings at the PIAA State Offices:
Wrestling Wednesday, January 12th 10:00 AM
Swimming Wednesday, January 19th 10:00 AM
Basketball Saturday, January 29th 3:00 PM
The Swimming Steering Committee meeting will focus on the software training required in the reporting of district results.
ITEM 28 Chairman Majikes read a thank you card to the committee from Bob King, retired Athletic Director at Hanover Area, on the receiving of a lifetime athletic pass to District II events.
ITEM 29 A motion was made by Rose Crotti, seconded by Phil Cappellini, to adjourn the meeting. All Ayes
Meeting was adjourned at 6:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Mike Ognosky
Mike Ognosky
District II Secretary