RIDGWAY, PA

The District 9 Committee held the October 24, 2001 meeting at Aiello`s Café in Ridgway, PA.

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

Chairman Hoover called the meeting to order at 9:45.

Chairman Hoover welcomed the two newly elected members to the committee, Gary Elder and Bob Wicker.

A motion was made by Susan Valentine and seconded by Jim Manners to accept the minutes of the September 26, 2001 meeting. The motion carried.

A motion was made by Tony Flint and seconded by Roger Collins to accept the treasurers` report. The motion carried.

A motion was made by Roger Collins and seconded by Tony Flint to authorize the payment of bills. The motion carried.

COMMUNICATIONS:

A motion was made by Tony Flint and seconded by Larry Stiner to grant athletic eligibility to Luca Musghi, a foreign exchange student from DuBois Area High School. The motion carried.

A motion was made by Tony Flint and seconded by Larry Stiner to grant athletic eligibility to Randy Willis Gardner, a student at DuBois Area high School, under Article III, Section 1. The motion carried.

A letter was received from the P.I.A.A. notifying the committee that Kane Area High School did not attend the mandatory rules meeting for boys` and girls` soccer. The District 9 soccer chairman will investigate the matter.

STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS:

BOYS` GOLF (FRANK PALAGGO, CHAIRMAN)

A request has been made to increase the number of holes played at the district championship matches. Changing the format of the tournament was discussed. The chairmen of the boys` and girls` tournaments will construct a letter surveying the principals regarding the format for future tournaments. The results of the survey will be discussed at the November district meeting.

GIRLS` GOLF (TONY FLINT, CHAIRMAN)

Due to weather conditions the past few years, consideration is being made to hold the girls` district tournament at an earlier date.

FOOTBALL (FRANK PALAGGO)

Seeding and announcing the sites of the playoff games will be done Monday morning, October 29, 2001. The P.I.A.A. will provide game footballs for all of the district and inter-district games.

CROSS COUNTRY (D.J. BEVEVINO, CHAIRMAN)

The use of E-Mail was a very efficient method for schools to enter their athletes in the cross-country meet.

THERE WILL BE AN INCREASE IN THE USE OF E-MAIL BY THE DISTRICT 9 COMMITTEE FOR SCHOOLS TO ENTER TEAMS AND INDIVIDUAL ATHLETES FOR DISTRICT COMPETITION.

SOCCER (TOM WAGNER, CHAIRMAN)

At a future committee meeting, there will be discussion concerning the method for seeding schools that do not compete entirely against P.I.A.A. schools.

VOLLEYBALL (AARON STRAUB, CHAIRMAN)

The dates for the tournament are outlined on the District 9 Championship calendar. There are a few changes in the format of the tournament. The changes are found in the entry packet.

GIRLS` TENNIS (LARRY STINER, CHAIRMAN)

A report on the girls` championship tournament was presented.

OLD BUSINESS:

A motion was made by Aaron Straub and seconded by D.J. Bevevino to remove the one-year probation on the St. Marys Area High School. The motion passed.

The district committee discussed District 9 participating in the P.I.A.A. money market account program. Since the District 9 certificate of deposit is renewed in April 2002, no changes will be made until the committee reviews the financial markets next year.

The District 9 Policy Manual will be distributed to schools within the next few weeks.

NEW BUSINESS:

Roy Curley was appointed the wrestling rules interpreter.

The P.I.A.A. is considering sponsoring cheerleading.

The Board of Directors is discussing a limited extension to the executive staffs` contract.

The executive staff is standing firm on the position that their personnel files are confidential and should not be made available to the Oversight Committee.

There is consideration to provide a mercy rule in basketball. If a team is forty points ahead the game clock will continue to run. There was no support for the mercy rule among the committee.

The P.I.A.A. will not challenge the ruling of the judge in the Ridley Township School District’s case to permit a student, older than the age rule permits, to participate in athletics.

A motion was made by Tony Flint and seconded by Gary Elder to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried.

The meeting adjourned at 12:15.

Respectfully submitted,

Robert J. Tonkin,

District 9 Secretary