DISTRICT 9

COMMITTEE MEETING

FEBRUARY 15, 2010

            The District 9 Committee held the February 15, 2010 meeting at Aiello’s Café in Ridgway, PA.  The meeting was called to order by Chairman Jim Manners. The following members were present:  Ed Babcock, Randy Cathcart, Roger Collins, Kevin Doverspike, Tony Flint, Jeff Kepler, Jerry Linsenbigler, Jim Manners, Carla Smith,  Aaron Straub, Bob Tonkin, Cindy Wagner, Tom Wagner, Tim Walter, and Bob Wicker.

                        A motion was made by Roger Collins and seconded by Tom Wagner to accept the minutes of the November 2009 meeting.  The motion carried.

FINANCE:

            A motion was made by Bob Wicker and seconded by Ed Babcock to accept the treasurer’s reports.  The motion carried.

            Accounts payable were reviewed.

            A report on fall and winter merchandise sales was given by Jerry Linsenbigler. 

            Mr. Brad Cashman and a representative of the PIAA auditing firm visited District 9 to review the financial records and the accounting procedures used by the District 9 Committee.  Three suggestions were made as a result of the district audit.  Most of the suggestions have been implemented.

COMMUNICATIONS:

            A motion was made by Tom Wagner and seconded by Jerry Linsenbigler to grant the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference and the Allegany Mountain League the right to play championship basketball games.  These games are in excess to the regularly scheduled 22 games.  The motion passed.

Letters were received from various District 9 schools to upgrade their classifications in tennis.  Thus, District 9 will retain the District 9 championship tournaments.

A letter was received form Karns City High School notifying the district committee of a violation of the Out-of-Season Rules and Regulations.  Karns City High School and members of the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Bowling League started competition before the first legal play date.  A motion was made by Ed Babcock and seconded by Tim Walter to accept the Karns City High School’s explanation of the violation and the steps taken to prevent future violations.  The motion carried with one abstention.

            Letters were received from North Clarion High School and East Forest High School requesting to modify the co-operative sports agreement by terminating the                co-operative sponsorship of baseball.  A motion was made by Ed Babcock and seconded by Tim Walter to grant the request.  The motion carried.

            A letter was received from West Shamokin High School requesting District 9 permit West Shamokin High School to participate in the District 9 football playoffs.  A motion was made by Tim Walter and seconded by Tony Flint to table the request until West Shamokin High School request a release from District 7.  The motion carried with one negative vote.

            A letter was received from A C Valley High School concerning the desire of Cranberry Area High School to dissolve the cooperative sports agreement with A C Valley High School in football.  A motion was made by Aaron Straub and seconded by Tony Flint to deny dissolving the cooperative agreement between the two schools based on the PIAA By-Laws.  The motion carried unanimously.

            A motion was made by Ed Babcock and seconded by Kevin Doverspike to permit a cooperative sports agreement between Venango Catholic High School and Oil City Area High School in football pending the completion of the proper paperwork.  The motion carried.

            A letter was received form Port Allegany High School concerning forfeiting a number of wrestling matches because of violations of Article V-Health of the PIAA Constitution.  Port Allegany High School has developed a procedure to prevent  

violations from occurring in the future.  A motion was made by Roger Collins and seconded by Jeff Kepler to accept the explanation from Port Allegany High School.

The motion passed.

CHAIRMAN’S UPDATE:

            The chairman’s update of the January Board of Directors’ Meeting has been e-mailed to all District 9 schools.

ADMINISTRATIVE:

            School districts are permitted to use the Intermediate Units to obtain officials’ clearances.

            A motion was made by Tom Wagner and seconded by Roger Collins to deny the transfer of a student from Mt. Bethel High School to Cranberry Area High School until more paperwork is submitted.  The motion carried.

            A motion was made by Ed Babcock and seconded by Carla Smith to grant athletic eligibility to an Otto-Eldred High school student who transferred from Olean High School.  The motion carried.

            A motion was made by Tom Wagner and seconded by Randy Cathcart for the District 9 Committee to pay the rental fees for three schools that moved soccer matches to playable sites.  The motion carried.

ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE:

ELECTION:

            Guidelines for running for a position on the District 9 Committee are found in the District 9 Handbook.

CORPORATE SPONSORS:

            There are a number of sponsors who have contributed to the basketball program.

AUDIT:

            The audit committee will meet prior to the next District 9 meeting.

SPORTS SPECIFIC COMMITTEES:

GOLF:

            Representatives for the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference will attend the next meeting to discuss the format for the District 9 Golf Tournament.

FOOTBALL:

            The football committee will meet following the adjournment of today’s meeting.

The committee will begin looking at the format for the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 district football tournament.

BASKETBALL AND WRESTLING:

            Information for the district tournaments has been sent to member schools.

SWIMMING:

            The Districts 6/9 Swimming and Diving Championships will be on March 5^th and 6^th at Penn State University.

TRACK AND FIELD:

            The qualifying standards for the District 9 “AA” Meet will be e-mailed to coaches within the next three weeks.

            The next District 9 Committee Meeting will be on Thurday, April 22, 2010 at Aiello' Cafe, starting time TBA.

            A motion was made by Ed Babcock and seconded by Tony Flint to adjourn.  The motion carried.  The meeting adjourned at 1:30 PM.

Respectfully submitted, 

Robert J. Tonkin,

District 9 Secretary