DISTRICT 9 COMMITTEE MEETING
RIDGWAY, PA
The April 2, 2003 meeting of the District 9 Committee was held 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, Larry Stiner, Aaron Straub, Susan Valentine, Tom Wagner, and Bob Wicker.
A motion was made by Gary Elder and seconded by Tony Flint to accept the minutes of the March 12, 2003 meeting. The motion carried.
A motion was made by D.J. Bevenino and seconded by Susan Valentine to accept the treasurer’s report. The motion carried.
A motion was made by D.J. Bevevino and by Susan Valentine to authorize the payment of bills. The motion carried.
COMMUNICATIONS:
The District 9 Committee was informed by the PIAA that Cameron County High School did not have a coach present at the mandatory track and field rules meeting. The matter was turned over to the track and field chairman.
A motion was made by Tom Wagner and seconded by Bob Wicker to approve a cooperative sports agreement in girls’ soccer between Clarion Area High School and Clarion-Limestone High School.
A motion was made by Gary Elder and seconded by Roger Collins to grant athletic eligibility to Mary Linn Knepp, a Bradford Area High School student, under Article III, Section 8. The motion carried.
A motion was made by Gary Elder and seconded by Jim Manners to acknowledge a letter received from A.C. Valley School District dealing with a modification in the wording of the co-operative sports agreement between A.C. Valley School District and Cranberry Area School District. The motion carried.
The P.I.A.A. notified the District 9 Committee that Central Catholic High School would appeal the District 9 decision denying athletic eligibility to a Central Catholic High School student.
Baseball, softball, and track and field chairmen were notified to inform the P.I.A.A. of their recommendations for officials to officiate in the state tournaments or meets. There is to be a cooperative effort between the sports chairmen, the officials’ representative, the rules interpreter, and the district chairman to select officials worthy to officiate at the state level.
The winter sports steering committees will meet on April 5, 2003. This includes basketball, wrestling, and swimming and diving.
The district committee has been notified that Jeff Jovenitti has been chosen to serve as the school boards’ representative on the District 9 Committee for another term. Congratulations Jeff!
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
AUDIT: (SUSAN VALENTINE, CHAIRPERSON)
The audit committee will meet in the beginning of July. Rick Moore, Principal of Otto-Eldred High School, and Carl Salser, Principal of Union High School, will be asked to serve on the committee.
MERCHANDISE: (JERRY LINSENBIGLER, CHAIRMAN)
The profit from “t” shirts sold at district wrestling was $230.00. Merchandise not sold from previous tournaments will be sold at a discount at the 2003 track and field meets.
SPORTSMANSHIP: (TONY FLINT, CHAIRMAN)
The sportsmanship chairman will call a meeting of his committee.
OFFICIALS’ REPRESENTATIVE: (DENNY GEITNER, REPRESENTATIVE)
A basketball officials’ evaluator was present at most of the District 9 and inter-district games.
Presently evaluations are done for basketball and football. The evaluation process will be expanded to include other sports.
The committee was informed about an official that did not attend the required number of chapter meetings. The process to determine how officials are selected to officiate district and inter-district games, meets, and matches was discussed. There will be criteria established to help determine who will officiate at the district and state level.
There is a concern on the impact of officials who have officiated in Philadelphia establishing PIAA officials’ chapters. They may be linked with chapters in District 1 until chapters can be established in Philadelphia.
Also, Mr. Geitner will attempt to meet with all of the official’s chapters once a year.
AWARDS (AARON STRAUB, CHAIRMAN)
Awards for additional place winners in track and field will be white.
PRIVATE SCHOOLS (AARON STRAUB, CHAIRMAN)
A questionnaire has been circulated to schools throughout Pennsylvania to consider the private vs. public school issues. Private schools were brought into the PIAA by the Pennsylvania Legislature and were given equal status with public schools. A possible avenue to bring attention to the private vs. public school issues is through the Oversight Committee.
GOLF (TONY FLINT, CHAIRMAN)
Dates for district golf: Boys – September 29, 2003 at Bavarian Hills C.C.
October 4, 2003 at Bavarian Hills C.C.
Girls - October 6, 2003 at Emporium C .C.
There is a possibility of the PIAA establishing a team golf championship in 2004. The District 9 Golf Committee will investigate changing the format of the District 9 team championship tournaments.
OLD BUSINESS:
A job description for the officials’ representative was discussed. A copy of the PIAA Duties and Responsibilities for officials’ representatives is attached to the minutes.
District 9 officials will elect a female officials’ representative during the next election cycle.
Selection of officials for district and inter-district events should include the officials’ representative, the sports chairmen, chapter rules interpreters, and the district committee chairman. The responsibility to notify the PIAA who will officiate at inter-district events is the sports chairman.
The committee discussed who should be considered for the position of the chairman of the various sports committees and steering committees. The consensus was the district chairman should make the appointments with the approval of the entire district committee.
Also discussed were how many people should serve on a committee, who selects the committee, how much authority the sports chairmen should have, and how much authority the sport committee chairman should have.
Each sport should have a committee. The district chairman will select the committee chairpersons for approval at the June meeting.
The committee discussed the starting time for district committee meetings. On a trial basis, the next meeting will begin at 12:30. The mornings of district committee meetings can be spent for sport specific committee meetings.
In order for a rule modification to take place in a sport, the entire district must adopt the rule modification. Example: The Laurel Volleyball League wanted to experiment with rally scoring. If all matches in District 9 adopted rally scoring, the modification could occur with approval by the Board of Directors.
Jeff Jovenitti reported on his presentation to the PIAA Board of Directors. His presentation concerned recognizing cheerleading as a sport by the PIAA. It was well received by the Board of Directors and has been referred to committee.
NEW BUSINESS:
The format for District 9 football playoff games will be discussed at the June meeting. The committee will look closely at the “A” and “AA” playoff format.
District 9 will be responsible for paying a fee to help support the PIAA officials’ convention.
Philadelphia will add 38 schools to the membership of the PIAA.
A motion was made by D.J. Bevevino and seconded by Larry Stiner to adjourn. The motion carried and the meeting adjourned at 2:05.
PRINCIPALS’ MEETING:
Representing the PIAA at the principals’ meeting were Mr. Brad Cashman, Executive Director, and Mrs. Melissa Mertz, Assistant Executive Director.
COMMTTEE ELECTIONS:
All of the present members of the district committee sought re-election. A motion was made by Smethport Area High School and seconded by Union High School to nominate Mr. Ernie Kuratomi, Principal of Coudersport Area High School, for a position on the district committee. A motion was made by Union High School and seconded by Keystone High School to nominate Mr. Carl Salser, Principal of Union High School, to the district committee.
The following were elected to serve on the district committee for 2003 - 2004: D.J. Bevevino, Roger Collins, Gary Elder, Tony Flint, Jerry Linsenbigler, Jim Manners, Larry Stiner, Aaron Straub, Susan Valentine, Tom Wagner, and Bob Wicker.
DISCUSSION ITEMS:
Mr. Cashman explained the constitutional amendments and answered questions dealing with the amendments. Ballots were cast for the amendments. After all the PIAA districts vote on the amendments, the results will be published. Mr. Cashman was questioned on the private vs. public schools issues. Mr. Cashman offered a number of possible solutions to the issues.
Also discussed was the impact of the Philadelphia schools on the PIAA and the need, if any, for re-classification.
RE-ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING:
The district committee re-elected Terry Hoover, Chairman, and Larry Stiner, Assistant Chairman.
BANQUET:
The Annual District 9 Banquet followed the re-organization meeting.
THE FOLLOWING SCHOOLS RECEIVED THE DISTRICT 9 / PIAA SPORTSMANSHIP BANNERS AND AWARDS:
ALLEGHENY CLARION VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL
PORT ALLEGANY HIGH SCHOOL
Respectfully submitted,
Robert J. Tonkin,
District 9 Secretary