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, Don Kanavy, Bill King, Vito Quaglia and James Marcks
Advisors Present: Ray Lowery
ITEM 2 Chairman Majikes welcomed the two newest members to the District II Committee, Bill Schoen (Male Officials’ Representative) and Rich Orlowski (PSBA Representative).
ITEM 3 A motion was made by Jim Higgins, seconded by Frank Galicki, to retain the current officers of the District II Committee for the 2009-2010 year: Frank Majikes (Chairman), Tom Jenkins (Vice Chairman), Mike Ognosky (Secretary), and Frank Victor (Treasurer). All Ayes
ITEM 4 A motion was made by Tom Jenkins, seconded by Jay Starnes, to approve the minutes of the May 19, 2009 meeting. All Ayes
ITEM 5Frank Victor presented a brief summation of the current activity in the Treasurer’s Report. With the end of the fiscal year on June 30, 2009, Frank is completing all of the various reports required by the State Office and will have a complete report for the Committee to review at the upcoming August meeting. He did comment that all of the reports from the recently completed Spring Championship playoffs have been completed and all bills have been processed. A motion was made by Mike Ognosky, seconded by Tom Jenkins, to approve the Treasurer’s Report as presented. All Ayes
ITEM 6 The Committee discussed the Junior High vacancy currently on the board and posted on the website. The position was presently held by Frank Victor and will now be filled by a principal from a member school from the Lackawanna Interscholastic Athletic Association. To be eligible, a principal must be a Middle School, Junior High, or Junior-Senior High School Principal. Deadline for applications to Chairman Majikes must be submitted by Friday, July 17th.
ITEM 7 Chairman Majikes reviewed the Sports Chairperson positions for the
2009-2010 school year:
Fall: Cross Country Bill King
Field Hockey Jeff Gregory
Football Tom Jenkins
Golf TBA
Soccer Vito Quaglia
Tennis Mike Ognosky
Volleyball Maureen Williams
Winter: Basketball Frank Victor
Swimming Jim Higgins
Wrestling Jay Starnes
Spring: Baseball Frank Majikes
Lacrosse Frank Galicki
Soccer Vito Quaglia
Softball Dino Galella
Tennis Mike Ognosky
Track and Field Danielle Adams
Other: Athletic Directors Jim Higgins
Eligibility Mike Ognosky
Girls Athletics Danielle Adams
Junior High TBA
Officials Maureen Williams (Females)
Bill Schoen (Males)
Private Schools Jim Marcks
PSBA Rich Orlowski
Sportsmanship Frank Galicki
ITEM 8 Maureen Williams reported that at the recently conducted State Officials’
Representatives’ Meeting it was announced that the use of flags and the
3 color ball are now optional in Boys’ and Girls’ Volleyball. She also
reported that there was a lively discussion in regard to the background
check procedures for officials that will be put in place in 2009-2010. Chairman Majikes reported that the pitching mound in softball will be moved to 43 feet for the 2010-2011 year.
ITEM 9 Officials’ representative Bill Schoen reported that he had met with Chairman Majikes to discuss a number of potential changes in the role of the district wide interpreters that are now in place in a number of PIAA sports. On July 15th Bill Schoen, Maureen Williams and Frank Majikes will meet with the 6 district wide interpreters to discuss the current role that they play in their respective sports. The aim is to possibly have more joint meetings between the various chapters in a specific sport with the goal of providing a more consistent interpretation and administration of the rules. Bill will report back to the Committee in August regarding the events of the July 15th meeting.
ITEM 10Chairman Majikes reported to the committee regarding the ongoing discussions between TriBoro Christian Academy and Old Forge High School in regard to a potential cooperative sponsorship agreement between the two schools. A number of the details have yet to be completed as the Board of TriBoro has approved the agreement, but the Board of Old Forge has not acted as of yet. If both should approve the cooperative agreement it will come before the committee for approval.
ITEM 11 Chairman Majikes also reported that Marian Catholic (District XI) and
Hazleton Area (District II) are discussing the potential for a cooperative sponsorship in Tennis. There is the potential for those discussions to be completed and acted upon by the various boards prior to the next committee meeting. Chairman Majikes asked that the Committee allow him to approve the cooperative sponsorship prior to the next board meeting should that happen. A motion was made by Mike Ognosky, seconded by Maureen Williams, to provide Chairman Majikes permission to approve that cooperative sponsorship given all the appropriate paperwork is in place. All Ayes
ITEM 12 Chairman Majikes reviewed a number of rules changes announced recently by the National Federation:
Track and Field: Beginning next track season, officials no longer will need to interpret the intent of hurdlers who knock over a hurdle by foot during the race. The competitor must attempt to clear the hurdle, but will not be faulted for knocking over the hurdle with his or her foot.
Softball: Effective with the 2010-11 school year, the pitching distance for high school varsity softball players will increase from 40 feet to 43 feet. Although it is mandatory for the 2010-11 school year, National Federation member state high school associations may adopt the 43 foot distance in 2009-10, if desired.
Baseball: A change in Rule 1-3-2 regarding bat specifications was made in the hope it will clarify bat compliance. The rule, which will be effective January 1, 2012, specifies that the bat should be a “smooth cylinder implement from the top of the cap to the top of the knob”.
ITEM 13 Chairman Majikes reviewed the most recent addition of the PIAA Quarterly which offers a concise explanation of the background check procedures that will be put in place for PIAA licensed sports’ officials in the 2009-2010 school year. You can review the information by going to the PIAA website, www.piaa.org, and locating the latest issue of the PIAA Quarterly on line under publications.
ITEM 14 Chairman Majikes asked all current committee members to review the information on the District II website, www.piaad2.org, and let Mike Ognosky know if any of the information is incorrect.
ITEM 15 Chairman Majikes informed the committee that the District II Basketball Committee will be meeting in the near future in order to discuss the structure of the current District II Basketball Championships. Following that meeting, Frank Victor, District II Basketball Chairperson, will provide a report to the entire committee.
ITEM 16 Chairman Majikes reviewed the schedule of District II Committee meetings for the 2009-2010 school year. The tentative dates are as follows:
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010 (Annual Business Meeting) Tentative Date
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
ITEM 17 Chairman Majikes previewed the potential agenda for August 13, 2009 with the committee and explained that the Old Forge Administration will be present to provide a follow up report and review actions taken by the school in February, 2009 per the direction of the District II Committee. There is also the potential for two eligibility hearings if those cases are not settled by the schools prior to the August 13, 2009 meeting.
ITEM 18 Chairman Majikes distributed copies of Senate Bill 624 to the Committee regarding the potential eligibility of private school students who reside in a public school district. The bill states that “the board shall provide for the inclusion in any of these activities any student who lives within the school district, attends a private or nonpublic school and elects to participate in such public school activities that are not offered by the private or nonpubl