Meeting was convened at 4:15 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, Jim Higgins, Ray Lowery, Don Kanavy, Vito Quaglia, Ross Scarantino, Mike Costanza

                        Advisors present:  Jim Sabatini, Phil Latinski

ITEM 2            A motion was made by Maureen Williams, seconded by Jeff Gregory, to approve the minutes of the December 17, 2008 meeting.  All Ayes

ITEM 3            The treasurer’s report was presented by Frank Victor.  The District II Fund Balance as of  January 21, 2009  was $196,636.27.  That includes total certificates of deposit of $70,107.18 and total savings and checking accounts of $126,529.  Frank also presented the final financial report for the recently conducted District II Football playoffs.  The District had net receipts of $135,326 for the 15 contests played and net expenses of $39,682, with a net income of $93,769.  Of that total net income, $47,992 was then distributed to the participating schools, 51 % of the total net income. 

                        Following the presentation of the treasurer’s report, a motion was made by Bill King, seconded by Frank Galicki, to approve the report as presented.  All Ayes

ITEM 4            Basketball Chairperson Frank Victor informed the District Committee that there would be a meeting of the District II Basketball Committee on Thursday, January 22, 2009 at the Wilkes-Barre Career & Technology Center in order to finalize the format for the upcoming District II playoffs.          

ITEM 5            Mike Ognosky reviewed the material discussed at the recent PIAA

Football Steering Committee meeting held at the PIAA State Offices on Thursday, January 15, 2009.  The highlights of the discussion are as follows:

§         The proposed brackets for a 6 classification state playoff format in football were presented by the State Office with the goal of creating a 15 week season without having to start football practice a week earlier.

§         The brackets also start the state football playoff system in week 11 for the eastern districts and in week 10 for the western districts.

§         Brackets call for 6 classifications with the schools divided evenly across all of the 6 classifications; 100 in each classification except A (101) and 6A (99).

§         Week #15 is the state championship weekend and it would be one week earlier than is currently held.

§         In the AA bracket, Districts II and XI would exchange places in the second year of the proposal.

§         The 4A bracket has been realigned in order to give District II 4 qualifiers in both years of the proposal.

§         District II would crown champions on the field in A, 3A, and 4A.

§         District II would be part of a sub regional tournament in 2A, 5A and 6A.

§         In the proposal we would lose 3 automatic qualifiers, but have the opportunity in the sub regionals to more than make up for those 3 qualifier losses with point system qualifiers.

After discussion the members present recommended that the District II representatives to the PIAA State Board of Directors vote in favor of the proposal in the upcoming first reading.

ITEM 6            Jay Starnes, District II Wrestling Chairperson, presented the formats for the upcoming District Dual Champions, Varsity Individual Championships and Junior High Individual Championships.  A motion was made by Joe Lalli, seconded by Dino Galella, to approve the formats as presented.  All Ayes

ITEM 7Chairman Majikes informed the committee that the issue of Competitive Cheerleading as a PIAA sponsored sport has once again come before the PIAA State Board of Directors for consideration.  He distributed material regarding the item and asked committee members to review it.

ITEM 8            Chairman Majikes also reviewed a number of items pertaining to Golf that have passed a first reading at the PIAA State Board of Directors level:

·        Date of the first competition for the 2009 season would be moved from August 24th to August 20th.

·        Date of the Regional deadline for golf for the 2009 season would be moved from October 19th to October 21st.

·        In the two year cycle beginning in 2010-2011, golf team state championships and golf individual state championships would be held at different times.

ITEM 9            Chairman Majikes informed the committee that the PIAA State Board of Directors has been asked to consider establishing an upper limit of $150 for any gifts/awards received by student-athletes for participation in an interscholastic competition.  For example, a gift received for participation in a Christmas tournament sponsored by McDonald’s or another sponsor.

ITEM 10          Chairman Majikes informed the Committee that the background checks for officials will be in place for all potential officials who have not taken an exam prior to February 1, 2009.  Any prospective official taken an exam following that date will be required to have all 3 clearances in place – Child Abuse, FBI Background and State Police Background.

ITEM 11         Chairman Majikes presented the proposed format for the upcoming

                        District II Swim Championships in the absence of District II Swim

                        Chairperson, Jim Higgins.  A motion was made by Jim Marcks,

                        seconded by Frank Victor, to approve the format as presented.  All Ayes       

ITEM 12          A motion was made by Joe Lalli, seconded by Maureen Williams, to adjourn the meeting.  All Ayes

Meeting was adjourned at 5:23 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Mike Ognosky

Mike Ognosky

District II Secretary