Meeting was convened at 1:20 p.m. by Chairman Majikes
ITEM 1 Chairman Majikes called the meeting to order at 1:20 p.m.
Absent but accounted for: Phil Cappellini, Maureen Williams and James Marcks
Advisors Present: Phil Latinski, Delores Dalickas
ITEM 2 Chairman Majikes thanked Maureen Williams for her service on the PIAA State Board of Directors for the past two years. Maureen will be leaving the PIAA State Board, but will be remaining on the PIAA District II Committee.
ITEM 3 Congratulations to Joe Lalli on his election to the PIAA State Board of Directors as the Officials’ Representative.
ITEM 4 A motion was made by Ray Lowery, seconded by Frank Galicki, to approve the minutes of the June 12, 2007 meeting. All Ayes
ITEM 5Chairman Majikes congratulated Jim Higgins, Athletic Director at Holy Redeemer and member of the District II Committee, on his selection as the PIAA Sectional Athletic Director of the Year for Northeastern Pennsylvania.
ITEM 6 Frank Victor presented the Treasurer’s Report as of July 24, 2007. The total fund balance for July 1, 2007 is $131,794.37 as opposed to a starting fund balance for July 1, 2006 of $124,815.02 – an increase of $6,979.35. District II has a total certificates of deposit of $68,179.13 and total savings and checking accounts of $63,615.24.
A motion was made by Mike Costanza, seconded by Joe Lalli, to accept the Treasurer’s Report as presented. All Ayes
ITEM 7 Eligibility Hearing: The Committee moved into an executive session to conduct an eligibility hearing regarding a request from Wyoming Valley West High School on behalf of Robert De Los Santos.
At the close of the hearing the Committee moved back into open session and a motion was made by Mike Ognosky, seconded by Tom Jenkins, to deny a waiver of eligibility for Robert De Los Santos for the 2007-08 year in accordance with Article VIII, Section 1 -6 of the PIAA by-laws. All Ayes (Ray Lowery abstain)
ITEM 8 Eligibility Hearing: The Committee moved into an executive session to conduct an eligibility hearing regarding a request from Wilkes-Barre GAR High School on behalf of Jah-Zi Gibson.
At the close of the hearing, the Committee moved back into open session and a motion was made by Mike Ognosky, seconded by Don Kanavy, to deny a waiver of eligibility for Jah-Zi Gibson for the 2007-08 year in accordance with Article III, Section 3 of the PIAA by-laws. All Ayes (Frank Majikes, Dino Galella abstain)
ITEM 9 The Committee moved into executive session to conduct a hearing regarding the current probationary status of Wilkes-Barre GAR High School due to incidents in a February, 2007 boys’ basketball game.
At the close of the hearing, the Committee moved back into open session and a motion was made by Tom Finan, seconded by Bill King, that the Committee delay action regarding the probationary status of Wilkes-Barre GAR until the August, 2007 meeting. All Ayes (Frank Majikes, Dino Galella abstain)
ITEM 10Football Chairperson, Tom Jenkins, explained the various options that the PIAA State Board of Directors will consider this weekend in regard to the football classifications and playoff schedule for 2008-09 and 2009-10. Those four options include four classifications and a 16 week season, four classifications and a 15 week season, five classifications and a 15 week season and 6 classifications and a 15 week season. Tom carefully reviewed all of the playoff brackets and the ramifications of each proposal on the winter sports’ calendar. The committee debated each of the options and Chairman Majikes brought the discussion to a close asking for a straw vote of the committee members present to assist our three voting State Board of Directors members (Frank Majikes, Joe Lalli, Mike Costanza) in casting their vote this weekend. The straw vote showed that the majority of committee members would preview a continuation of the present number of classifications (4) and 16 week season.
ITEM 11 Chairman Majikes updated the committee on the status of the transfer rule revision proposal which will be the subject of a vote on a third reading this weekend at the State Board of Directors meeting. There have been some revisions in the original proposal including the following:
o Allow a student from a traditional junior high school to also have the option of staying at a high school in the public school district in which he attended junior high school. This would likely primarily cover students paying tuition to that public school district.
o A student attending a Charter School which sponsors a sport is not eligible to participate at the student’s home school in that sport.
o A student now need only show a bona fide change in residence and a transfer to a public school in the new school district of residence is allowable.
o The period allowed for transfer following the death of a parent is increased to one year.
o Role of the principal will remain an integral part of the transfer process.
The District II Committee continues to be in favor of the proposed transfer rules as revised.
ITEM 12 A motion was made by Ray Lowery, seconded by Tom Finan, to approve eligibility for the following students in accordance with Article VI, Transfers and Residence, of the PIAA By-Laws:
a.) Christopher Bohinski From GAR To Holy Redeemer
b.) Laura Casey From Wyoming Sem To Holy Redeemer
c.) Anthony Snyder From West Scranton To Holy Cross
d.) Elizabeth Ames From Dunmore To Holy Cross
All Ayes
ITEM 13 The Committee reviewed the current game manager’s fees and all will now be $100 per event for two games and $75 per event for one game, with the exception of football which will be $100 for the game manager and $75 for the assistant game manager.
A motion was made by Mike Costanza, seconded by Frank Galicki, that the Tennis game manager fee be set at $100 per day and the assistant game manager fee be set at $75 per day. All Ayes
ITEM 14 Chairman Majikes offered a clarification to the committee in regard to a request made by Western Wayne regarding the eligibility of a student in a partial hospitalization program. Any student who is enrolled in a full day special education program in one district and resides in another district may participate in either athletic program – but, must select that participation in all sports. They cannot participate in selected sports in one school and selected sports in the other.
ITEM 15 A motion was made by Frank Galicki, seconded by Don Kanavy, to accept the resignation of Tony Rusnak as a member of the District II Committee. All Ayes
The position will be posted on the District II web site immediately and interested High School Principals in the Lackawanna League are asked to send a brief resume to Frank Majikes no later than September 15, 2007.
ITEM 16 A motion was made by Bill King, seconded by Ray Lowery, to purchase required software for both the Wrestling and Swimming Committees in the operation of their district tournaments. All Ayes
ITEM 17 Chairman Majikes informed the committee of the upcoming State
Officials Convention in Hershey and that District II will once again fund
the attendance of two officials selected by the Officials’ Representatives to attend the conference.
ITEM 18 Chairman Majikes distributed information to committee members regarding potential legislation at the state level regarding drug testing (including steroids) for athletes.
ITEM 19 Chairman Majikes distributed information to committee members regarding potential legislation at the state level regarding a 10 % fee on sporting event tickets.
ITEM 20 Chairman Majikes reviewed the results of the various summer steering committee meetings and resultant recommendations to the PIAA State Board of Directors for consideration.
ITEM 21 Chairman Majikes asked each committee member to review their directory information and provide an update on any changes as quickly as possible.
ITEM 22 The meeting dates for 2007-2008 have been set on the third Wednesday of the month with the exception of November and March. Chairman Majikes will provide a meeting schedule at the August meeting.
ITEM 23 A motion was made by Dino Galella, seconded by Rich Walton, to adjourn the meeting. All Ayes
Meeting was adjourned at 5:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Mike Ognosky
Mike Ognosky
District II Secretary