Pickerington Panthers Athletic Boosters Meeting Minutes
April 7, 2003

Panthers Officers, Committee Chairs and Sport Club Officers and Representatives Present:
Mark Uher, President
Geno Persichetti, Co-chair PABC
Dick Schultz, Co-chair PABC (softball)
Patti Williams, treasurer
Hope Boren, secretary
Bob McFadyen (football)
Greg Boone (baseball)
Robin Nichols (cross country, swimming, wrestling, track)
Jim Marn, Jim Langenderfer, and Brenda Flask (cross country)
Rick Favret and Kathi Combs (cross country and track)
Greg Vaughn (track)
Mike Mahoney (boys volleyball)
Joel Melin (wrestling)

At 7:30pm Mark Uher convened the meeting.

We have a vacant vice president position we need to fill. Geno and Dick are now co-chairs of PABC Executive Board.

NOTICE: April 27th from 4pm to 5pm track parents to meet at Performing Arts Center to view financial presentation from district regarding need for money for May 6th operating levy (tentative). Mark will notify everyone when meeting is confirmed.

Overview of where extracurriculars stand:
Feb. 3rd 2004 budget was approved without supplemental contracts for coaches. $110,000 was kept in the budget for cancellation fees. Feb. 10th a request was made to initiate pay to participate fees, which was tabled by the board. March 24th board approved statement that all extracurricular activities will be restored if May 6th levy passes. (School Bell contains inaccurate information.) $689,760 is proposed budget for both high schools’ extracurricular fees, which would include the participation of over 1,000 students. Overall cost can be reduced by sharing coaching contracts, etc. $218,000 is extracurricular cost for junior high schools. A plan is being worked on with the treasurer to provide a plan, with pay to participate, in case the levy fails. (Negotiating cap per family versus cap per student.) 2.5 million dollars from bond fund has been moved to general fund, so it is available, if absolutely needed. 53% of our funding comes from the state, we have already lost $400,000 from the state this year, next year remains a big question mark. 
In the event the levy passes, there still will be a fee to participate. If this is the case, may discuss booster club administering collection of fees, to try and encourage membership fees to be paid at the same time. Website needs to be corrected to indicate membership fees being paid currently by spring sports teams, are for 2002-03 school year.

*$60,000 in capital improvements fund will stay at Central
*$70,000-$100,000 (estimated ending balance) in general fund will be split between the 2 school’s athletic boosters clubs
*$10,000 in start up money should be forwarded to us soon

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
- On hold right now, pending participation fees

CONCESSIONS COMMITTEE (Geno Persichetti)
- Mitch Wilson is working with Mark Uher on scheduling of concessions
- Geno is working on equipping concessions; quote on designing layout, buying and installing equipment, as well as code compliance (still deciding on what type of equipment)
- School district is planning on 2 sinks (1 three section and 1 for hand washing), need at least one more for mops, etc.
- Band boosters are in charge of one side of the building- contacted them regarding their plans and had them talk to contractors to try and get bigger discount; they are not organized yet to start working on this
- Band booster’s concession will serve visitor’s side, athletic booster’s side will serve home team; there is no way to cross over with stadium layout
- Discussion of why money was set aside for landscaping instead of expanding stands to host tournament game to bring in more money
- Discussed that if more money is spent, it really needs to go to improve Tiger Stadium; track is a mess, lighting is poor, bathrooms are in bad shape
- Asked district about funds from cell tower: 1.2 million dollars over 30 years is amount due; to date only $65,000 has been received by district

PROGRAMS COMMITTEE (Hope Boren and Tammy Corriveau)
- Still need at least 2 volunteers from Central
- Letter to go out soon thanking present contributors and asking them to keep us in mind when the status of extracurricular activities is clarified
- Think about how to cut costs- middle insert very costly; different program for homecoming expensive, as well. Also, have over ordered almost every game.
- Still discussing individual pictures- should it be seniors of every fall (winter sport)? Should it be seniors and returning letter winners?
- Will it be too much to ask families to voluntarily put in a personal ad with new participation fees being instated?

LEGACY/SPIRIT COMMITTEE (Jim Marn)
- Recommendations for legacy have been forwarded and set to be discussed by executive board
- Spirit meeting Monday April 21st

OTHER DISCUSSIONS
- How are we going to fund everything, especially if district puts more responsibility on booster clubs for providing financial support? Momentum has been lost with recent board decisions.
- Choice should be community’s, not the board’s, as to the status of extracurricular activities; need to work together to convince the community that it is in everyone’s best interest to pass levy.
- Will community be more or less supportive with threat of losing extra-curriculars? Some say threats will turn community against levy, and put people’s efforts into going to other schools. Others say if we take a stand to make athletics self-supporting, people will say “no” to levy, because athletics can find their own money.
- We definitely need to go out and support the levy. Try and get across to the community, especially the new, younger families, how this defeat will impact them- the desirability of the community, property values, etc.
- How do we help support the levy campaign? May be trying to organize a big rally on April 26th. How can we advertise the successes and accomplishments (academically) of our students? Maybe have realtors, Chamber of Commerce representatives, etc. speak to get important quality of living points across