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PENNSYLVANIA INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

DISTRICT II

 

Frank Majikes, Chairman    Tom Jenkins, Vice Chairman       Mike Ognosky, Secretary          Frank Victor, Treasurer

Wilkes Barre AVTS          Wayne Highlands SD               Montrose Area School Dist        Hazleton Area SD

P. O. Box 1699           474 Grove Street                 80 High School Road              1515 West 23^rd Street

Wilkes Barre, Pa.  18705   Honesdale, Pa.  18431            Montrose, Pa.  18801             Hazleton, Pa.  18201

 

MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 16, 2005 MEETING

@ WILKES-BARRE VOCATIONAL-TECHNICAL SCHOOL

 

Meeting was convened at 4:15 p.m. by Chairman Majikes

 

ITEM 1           Chairman Majikes called the meeting to order at 4:15 p.m. 

 

                        Absent but accounted for: Dan Donovan, Jim Higgins, Don Kanavy, Joe Lalli, Ray Lowery, Jim Sabatini, Phil Cappellini

                        Advisor Present:  Phil Latinski

 

ITEM 2           A motion was made by Mike Costanza, seconded by Frank Galicki, to approve the minutes of the January 20, 2005 meeting.  All Ayes

 

ITEM 3           Frank Victor noted that there would be no treasurer’s report for the month of January as there was no activity in the account and the status remains as reported last meeting.

 

ITEM 4           The committee received an appeal from Coughlin High School regarding the District II Dual Wrestling Championships.  Pittston Area utilized an ineligible player in the District Dual Semifinal match due to a clerical error in the reporting of a weight class.  Chairman Majikes has contacted the state office and Coughlin is to be awarded a 1-0 forfeit victory, by rule.  After a lengthy discussion by the committee regarding the final placement of teams a motion was made by Tom Jenkins, seconded by Mike Ognosky, that per the PIAA Constitution and By-Laws, Coughlin is awarded a 1-0 forfeit victory over Pittston Area in the District II AAA Dual Semifinals, but Pittston Area shall remain as the runner up in AAA Duals in District II thus not vacating the 2^nd place medals position.  All Ayes (Majikes and Okrasinski abstain).           

 

ITEM 5           Chairman Majikes shared with the committee correspondence from

Michael Solomon, PIAA Director of Legal Affairs, to Jess M. Stairs, State Representative, regarding the exclusion of chiropractors from the list of medical examiners authorized to perform the pre-participation physical evaluation required by Article V, Health, Section 1, Pre-Participation Physical Evaluation Necessary Before Student Begins Practice, of the PIAA By-Laws.  The letter conveys the opinion that the statutory limitation upon the scope of the practice of chiropractic in Pennsylvania prevents chiropractors from performing the type of examination contemplated by Article V of the PIAA By-Laws.

 

ITEM 6           The committee reviewed a complaint brought to the attention of Chairman Majikes from a citizen from the Nanticoke Area School District, Joseph Naperkowski, regarding the residence of a member of the girls’ basketball team at Nanticoke Area, Lauren Dembowski.  Mr. Majikes also brought to the committee’s attention the response from the Nanticoke Area High School Principal, Thomas Kubasek, detailing the results of the investigation by the Nanticoke administration regarding the claim.  

 

                        Following a lengthy discussion, a motion was made by Ross Scarantino, seconded by Tony Rusnak, to accept the report as submitted by Principal Kubasek which substantiates the primary residency of Lauren Dembowski within the Nanticoke Area School District boundaries.  All Ayes (Majikes abstain)

 

ITEM 7           A motion was made by Tony Rusnak, seconded by Bill King, to approve the eligibility of David Svab, from Bishop Hoban to Coughlin, in accordance with Article VI, Section 8, Transfers and Residence, of the PIAA By-Laws.   All Aye

 

ITEM 8           Chairman Majikes reviewed a news release from the National Federation that sites a rule change in soccer eliminating the “soft” disqualification for taunting an opponent.  All taunting disqualifications in soccer will now be a normal disqualification which means that player can’t be replaced on the field, forcing the team to play down one player.    

 

ITEM 9           Chairman Majikes shared with the committee a letter from Bob Latorra, Athletic Director of Northwest Area High School, thanking the committee for their selection to receive the PIAA District II Sportsmanship Award for this year.

 

ITEM 10         SPORTS REPORTS

 

                        a.)  Basketball (Frank Victor):  Chairman Victor provided the members

with an updated version of the basketball brackets for this year’s championship playoffs.

        b.)  Golf (Tony Rusnak):  Chairman Rusnak explained that he has been contacted by other local courses that have expressed an interest in conducting the district golf championships.  He will bring that information to the committee with a recommendation at a later date.

                       

ITEM 11         Chairman Majikes updated the committee on informational items from the last PIAA State Board of Directors meeting: 

                       

                        a.)  Asked that all member schools who are currently involved in a cooperative sports’ agreement with another member school to relay that information to the District Chairperson immediately;

                        b.)  Informed the District Committee that the 2^nd reading regarding the beginning of the fall sports’ season on the 2^nd Monday in August moved through the Board of Directors with a 17-9 vote in favor regarding Football only, and a 18-8 vote in favor regarding all sports.  In order for the 2^nd Monday date to be enacted it must pass a third reading with at least 20 affirmative votes.

                        c.)  Effective immediately, if a school receives a forfeit from an opponent, the school receiving the forfeit may schedule another Regular Season contest in lieu of the forfeited contest even if that additional contest causes the school to exceed the maximum number of Regular Season Contests permitted in that sport.

                        d.)  Chairman Majikes presented the increased dues recommendation proposed at the latest meeting.  A call to increase dues at the Junior High (by $50), for 4A schools (by $250), by 3A schools (by $200), by 2A schools (by $150) and by A schools (by $100) was presented.  Following a discussion, a motion was made by Bill King, seconded by Maureen Williams, to direct Chairman Majikes to vote ‘no’ at the next State PIAA Board of Directors meeting regarding this proposed increase.  All Ayes

                            e.)  Chairman Majikes discussed a change in the Cyber Charter School Attendance By-Law, Article III, Section 6, amending the By-Law to conform with current Cyber School law and allow students enrolled to participate in interscholastic sports in their district of residence provided that the cyber or charter school does not offer that sport.

                        f.)  Discussed the first reading of a change in Article XII, Penalties, adding the word ‘recklessly’ in describing intent to harm.

 

ITEM 12         A motion was made by Tom Jenkins, seconded by Tom Finan, to accept the Track and Field Steering Committee’s recommendation to approve   Scranton Memorial Stadium as the site for the 2005 Varsity Boys and Girls District Track and Field Championships.  All Ayes

 

ITEM 13         As a point of clarification for all game managers for District Championship events, Chairman Majikes has received clarification from Geisinger stating that ‘athletic trainers’ are considered to be individual contractors for PIAA Championship events and have the option to take the rate offered by District II in working those events.

 

ITEM 14         A motion was made by Bob Okrasinski, seconded by Mike Costanza, to adjourn the meeting.  All Ayes

 

Meeting was adjourned at 5:55 p.m.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Mike Ognosky

 

 

Mike Ognosky

District II Secretary

 

 

NEXT MEETING WILL BE AT THE WILKES-BARRE AREA VOCATIONAL-TECHNICAL SCHOOL ON THURSDAY, MARCH 10^TH AT 4:15 P.M.