RIDGWAY, PA

The September 25, 2002 District 9 Committee meeting was held at Aiello’s Café in Ridgway, PA.

The following members were present: D.J. Bevevino, Roger Collins, Gary Elder, Tony Flint, Terry Hoover, Jeff Jovenitti, Jerry Linsenbigler, Jim Manners, Larry Stiner, Aaron Straub, Susan Valentine, Tom Wagner, and Bob Wicker.

Chairman Hoover called the meeting to order at 9:30 AM.

A motion was made by Roger Collins and seconded by Jim Manners to accept the minutes of the August 14, 2002 meeting. The motion carried.

A motion was made by D.J. Bevevino and seconded by Jeff Jovenitti to accept the treasurer’s report. The motion carried.

A motion was made by Gary Elder and seconded by Bob Wicker to authorize the payment of bills. The motion carried.

Discussion was held concerning a surcharge to the district committee for payment to the P.I.A.A. for the officials’ convention. The district was required to pay one dollar for each registered official in District 9. The majority of District 9 members opposed the surcharge.

COMMUNICATIONS:

A motion was made by Gary Elder and seconded by Susan Valentine to grant athletic eligibility to the following foreign exchange students:

Thomas Fagel Ridgway Area High School

Taksatarn Sukpaladisal Brookville Area High School

Miriam Schirmbeck Bradford Area High School

Natan Rimer Brockway Area High School

Stefan Gotze Brockway Area High School

Jose Chrinos Redbank Valley High School

Francesca Vannucchi Clearfield Area High School

Anna Poroshyna Kane Area High School

Aidar Oruazbaev Kane Area High School

Andrea Perozo Central Catholic High School

Hye Kim Central Catholic High School

Jose Garcia Punxsutawney Area High School

Hannah Sinefeldt St. Mary Area High School

Nhat Hong Le Elk County Catholic High School

The motion carried.

A motion was made by Gary Elder and seconded by Susan Valentine to grant athletic eligibility to Natalia Viana, a Clarion-Limestone High School student, pending the proper paper work. The motion carried.

A motion was made by D.J. Bevevino and seconded by Gary Elder to grant athletic eligibility to Daren Ramon Redmond, a student transferring from Johnsonburg Area High School to Elk County Catholic High School, under Article VI, Section 3C. The motion carried.

Letters were received from Rick Woodring, track and field coach at Smethport Area High School, Dave Eley, track and field coach at Otto-Eldred High School, Fran Reilly, track and Field coach at Port Allegany High School, and Brian McCorkle, track and field coach at Northern Potter High School, requesting the district committee consider providing a rain date for the district track and field championship meet and to consider alternating the meet between a site in the northern and southern geographic area of the District 9. The track and field committee will consider the requests.

Schools are reminded that the proper procedure to have items placed on the agenda is through the high school principal.

The district committee was informed by the P.I.A.A. that A.C. Valley High School (football) and Brookville Area High School (boys’ soccer) did not have their head coach attend the mandatory rules meeting.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

BOYS GOLF:

Bob Tonkin will serve as the interim boys’ golf chairman.

FOOTBALL:

Larry Stiner will serve as the interim football chairman.

CHEERLEADING:

A letter has been sent to the P.I.A.A. to reconsider recognizing cheerleading as a sport.

OLD BUSINESS:

A reminder to schools participating in District 9 events: Schools are to have an official school representative at the event.

Two copies of the District 9 Policy Manual will be mailed to all District 9 schools.

A letter has been sent to Clarion University requesting various date to hold District 9 events at the university.

NOTE: A violation of a signed contract between two P.I.A.A. member schools does not occur until a team does not participate in the contracted event. This concerns a hearing between Punxsutawney Area High School and Greensburg-Salem High School.

NEW BUSINESS:

Discussion was held concerning the use of out of state officials who are not licensed by the P.I.A.A. to officiate contests in Pennsylvania. P.I.A.A. member schools must use P.I.A.A. certified officials. This is a concern of some District 9 schools that border New York and have used New York officials in the past.

Principals are asked to nominate a female parent to represent District 9 on the P.I.A.A. Parents Steering Committee. Nominations can be sent to Terry Hoover or Bob Tonkin.

Tony Flint was appointed as a “liaison” between the District 9 Officials and the District 9 Committee in the absence of Mr. Frank Palaggo.

At the October District 9 meeting, consideration will be given for the election of a female officials’ representative to serve on the district committee.

A motion was made by D.J. Bevevino and seconded by Jerry Linsenbiger to adjourn. The motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 12:35 PM.

THE NEXT DISTRICT 9 MEETING WILL BE ON OCTOBER 23, 2002 - AT 9:30 AM - AT AIELLO’S CAFÉ IN RIDGWAY, PA.

Respectfully submitted,

Robert J. Tonkin,

District 9 Secretary