Meeting was convened at 4:30 p.m. by Chairman Majikes
ITEM 1 Chairman Majikes called the meeting to order at 4:15 p.m.
Absent but accounted for: Danielle Adams, Bill King, Vito Quaglia, Mark Rinaldi, Bill Schoen and Chad Vinansky
Chairman Majikes began the meeting by welcoming members of the Scranton Rail Riders organization – Jeremy Ruby, Curt Camoni, and Robert Judge. They followed with a presentation to the committee on the following topics –
· They offered the utilization of their facilities – indoor batting cages, etc. – to District II schools.
· They offered the utilization of their banquet facilities to member schools for awards’ ceremonies, etc.
· They emphasized the importance of community relations to their organization and would like to honor member schools of District II on winning championships, etc. They would do so by hosting those teams at selected games and honoring them in pregame ceremonies.
ITEM 2 A motion was made by Jay Starnes, seconded by Fred Barletta, to approve the minutes of the November 17, 2015 meeting. All Ayes
ITEM 3 Frank Victor presented the financial report from the recently completed District II Football Playoffs. The District had very favorable weather and match ups throughout the playoffs and that resulted in a total amount of revenue received of $104,962 as compared to last year’s total of $75,321- an increase of $29,641. School shares will be $36,205 this year as compared to $20,487 in 2014 – an increase of $15,718.. Following the presentation of the report, a motion was made by Maureen Williams, seconded by Jay Starnes, to approve the report as presented. All Ayes
ITEM 4 SPORTS REPORTS:
· Basketball (Frank Majikes): A meeting of the District II Basketball Committee will be scheduled shortly in order to begin preparations for the 2016 District II Basketball Championships. Chairman Majikes will be contacting Committee members shortly in order to arrange a date.
· Field Hockey (Chris Gegaris): Chris attended the recent PIAA workshop and reported that there was much discussion regarding the utilization of officials in contests that were not PIAA officials. The Field Hockey steering committee strongly recommended that only PIAA qualified officials work state games.
· Football (Mike Ognosky): Mike reviewed the materials discussed at the PIAA State Workshops and also thanked Paul Sheehan, State Interpreter, for attending as well. Mike reviewed the potential schedule for next year’s state championships which may include a Thursday evening game, 2 games on Friday, and 3 games on Saturday.
· Swimming (Fred Barletta): Fred announced that the Swim Committee will be meeting shortly with Wilkes-Barre CYC officials in order to set up the District Championship meets.
· Volleyball (Maureen Williams): Maureen informed the committee that she had been requested to provide a list of District II sites that would be available to assist as locations for inter-district playoff games in the future. A number of committee members informed her that they would be glad to serve as hosts.
· Wrestling (Jay Starnes): Jay presented the initial information regarding the 2016 District II Wrestling format and emphasized that information will be distributed to the member schools shortly.
· Parents (Eric Emmerich): Eric informed the committee that a number of parents had contacted him with a serious concern regarding the dissolution of cooperative agreements in football following the release of the new 6 classifications by the PIAA.
ITEM 5 The Committee acted upon the following eligibility requests in accordance with Article VI, Transfers, Residence, and Recruiting, Principal to Principal Sign off, of the PIAA by-laws:
· A motion was made by Fred Barletta, seconded by Chris Gegaris, to approve the immediate eligibility of Gabriel Azevedo, Abington Heights to Scranton, in accordance with Article VI, Principal to Principal sign off, of the PIAA by-laws. All Ayes
· A motion was made by John Haas, seconded by Pat Patte, to approve the immediate eligibility of Emma Boyle, Scranton to Valley View, in accordance with Article VI, Principal to Principal sign off, of the PIAA by-laws. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Maureen Williams, seconded by Fred Barletta, to approve the immediate eligibility of Nadya Brown, Scranton to West Scranton, in accordance with Article VI, Principal to Principal sign off, of the PIAA by-laws. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Ron Collins, seconded by Eric Emmerich, to approve the immediate eligibility of Tyler Diggs, Wyoming Seminary/PA Cyber Charter to Hanover Area, in accordance with Article VI, Principal to Principal sign off, of the PIAA by-laws. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Chris Gegaris, seconded by John Haas, to approve the immediate eligibility of Jacob Edlis, Scranton to Dunmore, in accordance with Article VI, Principal to Principal sign off, of the PIAA by-laws. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Pat Patte, seconded by Maureen Williams, to approve the immediate eligibility of Jacob Gonzalez, Dunmore to Scranton, in accordance with Article VI, Principal to Principal sign off, of the PIAA by-laws. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Jay Starnes, seconded by Fred Barletta, to approve the immediate eligibility of Javan Harris, Coughlin to Scranton, in accordance with Article VI, Principal to Principal sign off, of the PIAA by-laws. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Chris Gegaris, seconded by John Haas, to approve the immediate eligibility of Jonathan Herrera, Scranton to Old Forge, in accordance with Article VI, Principal to Principal sign off, of the PIAA by-laws. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Pat Patte, seconded by Maureen Williams, to approve the immediate eligibility of Anthony Krug, Delaware Valley to Wallenpaupack, in accordance with Article VI, Principal to Principal sign off, of the PIAA by-laws. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Ben Tolerico, seconded by Chris Thomas, to approve the immediate eligibility of Chynna McDade, Peoples Prep Charter to Riverside, in accordance with Article VI, Principal to Principal sign off, of the PIAA by-laws. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Mary Ruth Tanner, seconded by Joseph Farrell, to approve the immediate eligibility of Morgan Novosel, Crestwood to Holy Redeemer, in accordance with Article VI, Principal to Principal sign off, of the PIAA by-laws. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Ron Collins, seconded by John Coyle, to approve the immediate eligibility of Alec Sampson, Wyoming Seminary to Dallas, in accordance with Article VI, Principal to Principal sign off, of the PIAA by-laws. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Fred Barletta, seconded by Eric Emmerich, to approve the immediate eligibility of Gino Setta, Susquehanna to Meyers, in accordance with Article VI, Principal to Principal sign off, of the PIAA by-laws. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Maureen Williams, seconded by Chris Gegaris, to approve the immediate eligibility of Summer Stevens, Scranton to Abington Heights, in accordance with Article VI, Principal to Principal sign off, of the PIAA by-laws. All Ayes
· A motion was made by John Haas, seconded by Pat Patte, to approve the immediate eligibility of Jason Williams, West Scranton to Scranton, in accordance with Article VI, Principal to Principal sign off, of the PIAA by-laws. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Fred Barletta, seconded by Chris Gegaris, to approve the immediate eligibility of Justice Ramirez, West Scranton to Scranton, in accordance with Article VI, Principal to Principal sign off, of the PIAA by-laws. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Fred Barletta, seconded by Chris Gegaris, to approve the immediate eligibility of Gabriel Azevedo, Scranton to Old Forge, in accordance with Article VI, Principal to Principal sign off, of the PIAA by-laws. All Ayes
· A motion was made by John Haas, seconded by Maureen Williams, to approve the immediate eligibility of Corvis Smith, Scranton/Fast Track Academy to Riverside, in accordance with Article VI, Principal to Principal sign off, of the PIAA by-laws. All Ayes
ITEM 6 A motion was made by Chris Thomas, seconded by Ben Tolerico, to approve the termination of the cooperative agreement in football between Carbondale and Forest City effective immediately. 14 Ayes, 1 Nay
ITEM 7 A motion was made by Jay Starnes, seconded by John Coyle, to approve the termination of the cooperative agreement in football between Montrose and Elk Lake effective immediately. 14 Ayes, 1 Nay
ITEM 8 A motion was made by Fred Barletta, seconded by Pat Patte, to approve the termination of the cooperative agreement in football between Northwest and Lake-Lehman effective immediately. 14 Ayes, 1 Nay
ITEM 9 The Committee reviewed a report from Pittston Area regarding the participation of an ineligible player in soccer. It also received a request from Pittston Area to considering providing eligibility for an athlete in swimming. Chairman Majikes will notify the Pittston Area administration of the hearing date for both of those matters.
ITEM 10 Chairman Majikes provided the committee members with a copy of the Corrective Action Plan provided by the Lake-Lehman School District as directed by the Committee following a hearing earlier in the year. Following discussion, the committee asked that the Secretary send them a copy of the corrective action letter sent to Lake-Lehman following that hearing and that the approval/disapproval of the action plan be delayed until the initial letter’s content can be reviewed.
ITEM 11 Chairman Majikes provided the committee with a letter for their review regarding the Hanover Area Basketball program as well as a question of eligibility of one of the players.. Following the discussion, the committee asked Chairman Majikes to contact Hanover Area and establish a hearing date for both of these matters.
ITEM 12 The Committee reviewed a request from a parent in Old Forge asking for information that would explain the process of a cooperative sponsorship between school districts.
ITEM 13 Chairman Majikes updated the committee on the progress of the conversations between NRF and District II. There are still a few questions to be addressed prior to any action on the part of the committee.
ITEM 14 After discussion, a motion was made by Fred Barletta, seconded by Chris Thomas, that requires that television contracts for the broadcasting of a District II event be paid in full prior to allowing for the setup of the broadcast or access will be denied. All Ayes
ITEM 15 Chairman Majikes announced that a member of the PIAA Staff at the State Offices, Sheri Dean, will be retiring. Congratulations Sheri and best of luck in retirement!
ITEM 16 A motion was made by Chris Thomas, seconded by Pat Patte, to provide for a $125 donation to the Luzerne Intermediate Unit #18 to assist in their Career & Academic Planning Event to be held at the Penn State Wilkes-Barre Campus on March 19, 2016. All Ayes
ITEM 17 The committee also approved a contribution to be provided in the memory of past District II Chairman, Anthony Marchakaitues, to East Stroudsburg University.
ITEM 11 A motion was made by Chris Thomas, seconded by Maureen Williams, to adjourn the meeting.
Meeting was adjourned at 5:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Mike Ognosky
Mike Ognosky
District II Secretary