DISTRICT 9 COMMITTEE MEETING
RIDGWAY, PA
On September 22, 2004, the District 9 Committee met at Aiello’s Café in Ridgway, PA.
The following members were present: Randy Cathcart, Roger Collins, Gary Elder, Tony Flint, Jeff Jovenitti, Jerry Linsenbigler, Jim Manners, Carla Smith, Aaron Straub, Bob Tonkin, Susan Valentine, Cindy Wagner, Tom Wagner, and Bob Wicker.
A motion was made by Roger Collins and seconded by Jeff Jovenitti to accept the minutes of the August 11, 2004 and August 24, 2004 meetings. The motion carried.
FINANCE:
A motion was made by Susan Valentine and seconded by Tom Wagner, to accept the treasurer’s report. The motion carried.
A motion was made by Roger Collins and seconded by Gary Elder to authorize the payment of bills. The motion carried.
The amount schools must pay to enter District 9 tournaments was reviewed.
COMMUNICATIONS:
District 9 “Quick Facts” will be mailed at the beginning of next week.
CHAIRMAN’S UPDATE:
The next Board of Directors meeting will be on October 22, 2004.
Chairman Manners reviewed the number of disqualifications for unsportsmanlike conduct by District 9 athletes and coaches.
ADMINISTRATIVE:
A letter was received from Mr. Harry Divido, Athletic Director at Cornell Abraxas, requesting that the District 9 Committee consider accepting his school as a member in District 9. Mr. Joseph Collins, the Education Director, and Mr. Divido addressed the committee. After the District 10 Committee releases Cornell Abraxas, the District 9 Committee will consider their request for membership.
A motion was made by Tony Flint and seconded by Susan Valentine to grant athletic eligibility to Kevin McIntyre (transfer from Oil City Area High School to Venango Catholic High School). The motion carried with one abstention.
A motion was made by Gary Elder and seconded by Bob Wicker to table a request for athletic eligibility for a DuBois Area High School student based on the incomplete application for transfer. The motion carried.
A motion was made by Jeff Jovenitt and seconded by Aaron Straub to grant athletic eligibility to Jill Hepburn (transfer from a Texas high school to DuBois Area High School). The motion carried.
A motion was made by Gary Elder and seconded by Bob Wicker to deny a request for athletic eligibility for a Punxsutawney Area High School student based on Article VI, Section 6D. The motion carried. The request was for granting additional semesters of eligibility.
A motion was made by Jeff Jovenitt and seconded by Jerry Linsenbigler to grant athletic eligibility to Chelsie Abrahamson (transfer from Central Catholic High School to Brockway Area High School) pending the competition of the proper paperwork.. The motion carried.
A motion was made by Jeff Jovenitti and seconded by Roger Collins to grant athletic eligibility to Joe Kreydt (transfer from DuBois Area High School to Central Catholic High School). The motion carried.
A motion was made by Roger Collins and seconded by Gary Elder to grant athletic eligibility to the following exchange students.. The motion carried.
Maria Belen Castillo Sheffield Area High School
Franziska Sudowe West Forest High School
Anastasiya Krachkovska St Marys Area High School
Kharym Zapata Bradford Area High School
Arpine Yesayan St Marys Area High School
Anton Gnusarlov Johnsonburg Area High School
A request was made to have the policy committee draft language dealing with anonymous letters when received by members of the district committee.
A motion was made by Bob Wicker and seconded by Susan Valentine that the power rating system and the procedure for seeding may not be changed after the start of a sports season. The motion passed unanimously.
The district committee will use the current website server for the 2004-2005 school year.
A motion was made by Gary Elder and seconded by Roger Collins that championship awards be presented in public and only in emergencies would the awards not be presented in public. The motion carried unanimously.
Five candidates sought the vacant position on the District 9 Committee. A special election was held. Mr. Michel Brown, Athletic Director at Redbank Valley High School, won the election.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE:
ATHLETIC DIRECTORS (Chairman – TBA)
A motion was made by Gary Elder and seconded by Roger Collins to accept Chairman Manner’s appointment of Tom Wagner as the Chairman of the Steering Committee for Athletic Directors. The motion carried unanimously.
CHEERLEADING (Jeff Jovenitti, Chairman)
A survey was sent to 37 District 9 schools to determine the interest in competitive cheerleading. A copy of the survey can be obtained from Mr. Jovenitti.
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL/MIDDLE SCHOOL (Bob Tonkin, Chairman)
A reminder to schools: students attending non PIAA schools can not participate on teams of a PIAA member school. This includes teams that participate at the junior high school level.
SPORTS COMMITTEES:
CROSS COUNTRY (Gary Elder, Chairman)
Information for the 2004-2005 district meet has been sent to schools. A concern was raised by Mr. Wagner and Mr. Cathcart about the meet being run on Saturday rather than Thursday as has been the practice in past years. The date of the meet will be reviewed for next year.
FOOTBALL (Bob Tonkin, Chairman)
Information has been mailed to member schools. The PIAA football committee will meet on October 22, 2004.
GOLF (Tony Flint, Chairman)
District information has been mailed to member schools. At the District 9 championship meets, carts may be used by a golfer if the school contacts the golf chairman and a medical document is presented to the district golf chairman prior to the meet.
SWIMMING AND DIVING (Gary Elder Chairman)
Tonight a meeting will be held with the District 6 Chairperson to discuss the District 6/9 Swimming and Diving meets. A report will be given at the October meeting.
TRACK AND FIELD (Bob Tonkin, Chairman)
A request was received form Mr. Jeff Kepler, Principal of Kane Area High School, for his school to be considered a host for the district track and field meets. There will be a meeting of the track and field committee prior to the October committee meeting.
VOLLEYBALL (Aaron Straub, Chairman)
Mr. Straub outlined the format for the 2004-2005 tournaments.
TENNIS (Aaron Straub, Chairman)
A motion was made by Gary Elder and seconded by Jeff Jovenitti to hold the 2004-2005 girls’ tennis tournament in St. Marys. The motion carried.
THE NEXT DISTRICT 9 COMMITTEE MEETING WILL BE ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2004 AT 1:00 AT AIELLO’S CAFÉ IN RIDGWAY, PA.
THIS WILL BE THE LAST MAILING OF DISTRICT 9 MINUTES AND REPORTS.. MATERIALS WILL BE E-MAILED TO SUPERINTENDENTS, PRINCIPALS, AND ATHLETIC DIRECTOR OF DISTRICT 9 SCHOOLS.
A motion was made by Gary Elder and seconded by Roger Collins to adjourn. The motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 4:15 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert J. Tonkin,
District 9 Secretary