DISTRICT 9 COMMITTEE MEETING
RIDGWAY, PA
On December 10, 2003, the District 9 Committee held a special meeting at Aiello’s Café in Ridgway, PA. Chairman Hoover called the meeting to order.
The following members were present: D.J. Bevevino, Roger Collins, Gary Elder, Tony Flint, Denny Geitner, Terry Hoover, Jeff Jovenitti, Jerry Linsenbigler, Jim Manners, Dave Stanley, Larry Stiner, Aaron Straub, Susan Valentine, Cindy Wagner, Tom Wagner, and Bob Wicker.
A motion was made by Susan Valentine and seconded by Tony Flint to accept the minutes of the November 12, 2003 meeting. The motion carried.
A motion was made by Roger Collins and seconded by Jim Manners to accept the treasurer’s report. The motion carried.
A motion was made by D.J. Bevevino and seconded by Bob Wicker to authorize the payment of bills. The motion carried.
Chairman Hoover welcomed Mr. David Stanley, the new school boards’ representative, to the committee.
ELIGIBILITY:
A motion was made by Tony Flint and seconded by Gary Elder to grant athletic eligibility to Atalan Ariturk a foreign exchange student enrolled at Bradford Area High School. The motion carried unanimously.
A motion was made by Gary Elder and seconded by Denny Geitner to grant athletic eligibility to Tony Palumbo, a student at Otto-Eldred High School, under Article 3, Section 8. The motion passed unanimously.
COMMUNICATIONS:
The committee was made aware of a possible recruiting violation by a District 9 school. A private citizen has filed the report. The school has been notified and will respond to the statement.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
CHEERLEADING (Jeff Jovenitti, Chairman)
Recognizing cheerleading as a sport will be reintroduced at the Board of Directors meeting.
FINANCE COMMITTEE (Susan Valentine, Chairperson)
The finance committee recommended the adoption of an entry fee to be paid by District 9 schools to participate in District 9 championship tournaments.
The committee discussed the fee structure.
A motion was made by D.J. Bevevino and seconded by Gary Elder that beginning in the 2004 – 2005 school year, schools will pay a $50.00 team entry fee and a $5.00 individual entry fee to participate in District 9 championship events except for participation in basketball, football, wrestling, and volleyball. The motion failed by a 3 to 10 vote.
A motion was made by Bob Wicker and seconded by Aaron Straub that beginning in the 2004 – 2005 school year, schools will pay a $50.00 team entry fee and a $5.00 individual entry fee to participate in District 9 championship events. The District 9 Committee will not pay the entry fee for individuals or teams that participate in championship tournaments in other P.I.A.A. district competition. The motion carried by a 12 to 1 vote.
FOOTBALL (Larry Stiner, Chairman)
The committee reviewed the expenses of holding a playoff game at various sites. The need for evaluators for football playoff games was discussed. Denny Geitner, District 9 Officials’ Representative, informed the committee that the P.I.A.A. requires any official that works a state playoff game be evaluated at the district semi-final or final game.
In order to reduce the transportation distance for Bradford Area High School, two inter-district playoff games were held at District 10 sites.
Who should be responsible for providing athletic trainers at District 9 events was discussed.
GOLF (Tony Flint, Chairman)
Holding a team golf championship tournament was passed at the steering committee level. There are a limited number of girls’ golf teams in P.I.A.A.
OLD BUSINESS:
There is a parking fee charged at the cross-country and swimming and diving championship events.
The 2004 through 2006 classification will be made public in the near future. The district committee must review the effect of the new classification on the District 9 playoff structure.
HEARINGS:
Two hearings were held dealing with a request from Clarion Area High School for the District 9 Committee to declare two students eligible to participate in athletics at Clarion Area High School. Both students transferred from Union High School. Individuals representing both schools provided testimony. Deliberation followed the hearings.
The result of the first hearing: A motion was made by Tony Flint and seconded by Susan Valentine to deny athletic eligibility to the Clarion Area High School student based on Article 6, Sections 7 and 8. The motion carried by a 13 to 0 vote.
The result of the second hearings: A motion was made by Tony Flint and seconded by Denny Geitner to deny athletic eligibility to the Clarion Area High School student based on Article 6, Section 8-A. The motion carried by an 11 to 0 vote.
THE NEXT DISTRICT 9 COMMITTEE MEETING WILL BE HELD ON JANUARY 21, 2004 AT 11:00 AM AT AIELLO’S CAFÉ IN RIDGWAY, PA.
The meeting adjourned at 5:00 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert J. Tonkin,
District 9 Secretary