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description of the meeting, who was there, action items and
the next meeting date.
Note: all minutes are marked “Draft” until official
approved by the next committee meeting.
ACTIVITY STANDARDS COMMITTEE
Friday, November 5, 2004
10 am VPA Office
Members
Present: Kathi Bierwirth, Frank Pecora, Dan Marlow, D.G.
Weaver, Bob Gray, Jack Pennypacker, Patrick Burke, Bill Lawson,
Sarah DeFelice, Erik Wicklund Staff: Ray Pellegrini, Bob Johnson
Guests
Present: David Strojny, Kim Cheney, David Driscoll, Sue Duprat,
Linda Hazzard, Tony Cirelli
Minutes
- Frank
P. introduces new student members of the ASC (Sarah and Erik).
- Motion
by Bill L., second by Dan M. to accept minutes of 9/8/04 and
8/10&11/04. Vote – approved unanimously.
- Correspondence
- discussion on IAABO memo regarding mouth guards. Basketball
Committee voted to require them when the players come on the
court for warm-ups. Is this the same requirement for all sports?
Discussion. Refer back to individual sports committees for
consideration. Make sure that the safety aspect of this issue
is stressed. No formal action.
- discussion
on e-mail concerning championships on SAT testing date. Bob
explained steps that we take. This will continue to be a problem
as SAT, ACT’s and PSAT’s are all given during October/November.
Discussed suggestion to play games “under the lights in soccer”.
This will be explored, but there are few sites with lights
that could also conduct a championship event. Also, few schools
volunteer to host.
- discussed
correspondence on Sunday competitions. VPA does have a
policy on tournament games. Policy is based on mandatory day
of rest and not religious reasons. Bob and Ray reported that
there is nothing within the VPA By-Laws that would prohibit
playing on Sunday. However, Kathi Bierwirth did point out
the by-law language that dealt with number of games per week,
which seems to push towards games not being on Sundays. Ray
and Bob will investigate further and report at the next meeting.
The main issue here is usually with local policies that prohibit
play on Sunday.
- Linda
Hazzard, David Strojny and Kim Cheney present to address ASC
in
regard to Harwood Track issue. Stated that they are confused
about what
is happening. Kim Cheney stated that the injunction was based
on Harwood’s failure to follow their own procedures and that
there was a violation of due process. He stated that they
did not think the VPA wanted to be on record supporting a
member school that violated its own procedures. Stressed that
the results of the race are legal. He also stated that if
we were to “lift rock” we would find out that other students
were involved and that we should be concerned about the duplicity
of Harwood School Board members. They are not inclined to
say what they will do if the VPA vacates the title. This incident
was deeply involved in arbitrary behavior. Students went to
the meet and won the award. If we talk about taking personal
responsibility, then why didn’t the school board take responsibility.
After Kim Cheney, David and Linda had a chance to present
their views about how a decision to take the championship
away would affect David and other team members. Ray Pellegrini
stated that he wanted to be clear that the Activities Standards
Committee was not here to discuss the results of the individuals
– those will stand as determined the day of the race. However,
the committee will consider what to do about the return of
the trophy. As stated in a letter to the Principal, there
are three options in his mind. They are: vacating the championship:
leaving it as is, but noting that it was rejected by Harwood
or moving the second place team to first place. He further
stated that since we weren’t going to discuss individual results,
the third option would not be recommended. Kim Cheney stated
that he was still confused about why the VPA would consider
these actions. Ray gave an example of a school being concerned
about the lack of sportsmanship during a championship and
wanted to make a statement by declining the championship.
The VPA Activities Standards Committee would consider that
request, just like they were considering this issue today.
Ray will inform them of the decision of the committee.
- David
Driscoll (Harwood Principal) and Sue Duprat (Harwood AD) present
to address the committee. David D. – Harwood does not wish
to accept the trophy. They no longer consider themselves the
Division II Boys Champion. Ray asked if Harwood was requesting
to vacate the championship. David responded. “Yes.” Harwood
does not wish to accept the trophy and they are no longer
the Division II Champions in Boys Track. David D. also stated
that D. Strojny was an eligible athlete. Sue D also informed
the committee that three additional students were suspended
from competition in this incident. Motion by Bill Lawson,
second by Jack Pennypacker to “support the recommendation
of the Executive Director to vacate the Spring 04 Boys Division
II Track Championship per Harwood’s request.” Vote – 6 Yes,
0 No, 1 Abstention Motion approved.
- Tony
Cerreli presented a proposal on behalf of the VPA Baseball
Committee that would increase the number of pitchers and catchers
eligible to start practice a week early from 4 pitchers, 2
catchers to 6 pitchers, 3 catchers. Discussion on all pitchers/catchers
versus limited numbers. Bill Lawson moved to accept 6/3 proposal,
second by Jack Pennypacker. Discussion. Bob Gray proposed
an amendment to initial motion so that all pitchers and catchers
could participate (1 year trial). Second by Patrick Burke.
Discussion. Vote on amendment – Yes – 3, N0 – 5 amendment
defeated. Vote on original motion – Yes – 10, No – 1. Motion
approved.
- Bob
J. presented new school enrollment numbers for divisional
alignment
consideration. Discussion on how alignments should be done.
Bill Lawson Moved to “continue to use enrollment to determine
divisional alignments in core sports (soccer, basketball,
baseball and softball).” Second by D.G. Weaver. Discussion.
ASC will have an open, thoughtful discussion when Appeals
are presented in the January meeting. Vote –approved unanimously.
Proposed
numbers for divisional alignments for 05/07 are the same as
03/05.
Discussion as to how this would affect alignment (numbers
for each division
were reviewed). Bob Gray moved to “accept numbers used in
03/05 as the
numbers for 05/07.” Second by Dan Marlow. Vote – approved
unanimously.
(Preliminary #s Girls – DI 17, DII 15, DIII 18, DIV 30 Boys
– DI 17, DII 15, DIII 20, DIV 34) Motion by Dan Marlow to
“accept preliminary recommendations of non-core sports committees
for 05/07 divisional alignments.” Second
by Bill Lawson. Discussion. Schools can appeal these decisions
at the January meeting also. Vote – approved unanimously.
- Update
on tournaments and championships. Bob J. discussed Cheerleading
issue ASC request as an agenda item in January to discuss
tournaments and
developing a uniform process through which ASC has some control
over committee decisions. Bob J. will also send an e-mail
to ASC members to see if there are other issues ASC would
like to discuss in January.
- Bob
G. requested that during a tournament, if a school is scheduled
to play both a boys and Girl’s game on the same day, the VPA
reschedule the
dates so there is no conflict. This is an important issue
at the small school level and the community gets very involved.
Bob J. will look at how often this can occur and will report
back to ASC.
- Updates
on Chess (committee will be formed soon) and Dance (first
meeting 11/16/04). No action taken.
- Ray
updated ASC on the Music Festival no longer being a VPA
sponsored activity. No action taken. Bob G. also mentioned
that in
the future, Rochester has an excellent facility for drama.
This information
will be passed on to the Drama Committee.
- Next
meeting – January 20 and 21, 2005 at Golden Eagle Resort in
Stowe.
- Adjourned
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