SECTION VI BULLETIN BOARD

updated May 8, 2008

HEALTH UPDATE

News from the STATE office

Teams needed, Seminars & Training, Coaching Clinics

Positions open, 

Fingerprinting (Pay-Online) & Photo ID's, ($94.25)

Directions to the Section VI office

HEALTH UPDATE - MRSA

Message from Johanna Duncan-Poitier, Senior Deputy Commissioner of Education - P-16
New York State Education Department, 89 Washington Avenue, Second Floor, West Mezzanine, Albany, NY 12234

Based on the recent heightened concern regarding reports of occurrences of MRSA, or methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus, I wanted to share with you the some resources that are available to help you ensure the health and safety of students and staff in your schools . Please share this information with appropriate school personnel.

The New York Statewide School Health Services Center website contains valuable information on MRSA. Look in the "A - Z Index" under "M:" for MRSA.
http://www.schoolhealthservicesny.com/a-zindex.cfm?subpage=33

Some other valuable resources are:
New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH):
http://www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/communicable/staphylococcus_aureus/methicillin_resistant/community_associated/fact_sheet.htm

Center for Disease Control (CDC):
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/ar_mrsa_ca_public.html 
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/ar_mrsa_ca_posters.html 

The NYS Education Department (NYSED) is collaborating with the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) to provide additional guidance, which will be forwarded to you as soon as it is available

If you have questions, please contact the Statewide School Health Services Center at (585) 349-7630.

For a Health Update from Anthony Billittier, Erie County Commissioner of Health, click here

Additional Information provided by the NYSPHSAA on MRSA

 

TEAMS  NEEDED

Cross Country
(4/22/08) Buffalo Academy of Science Charter School needs to schedule Cross Country meets for fall. They will have an independent schedule next year. Contact
Anthony J Venditti II, Athletic Director/PE Instructor
Buffalo Academy of Science Charter School, 190 Franklin Street, Buffalo, NY 14202
Phone: (716)854-2490   Venditti@bascs.org

Soccer

Volleyball
(4/22/08) Pioneer's Girls  JV/ V Volleyball Team is looking for a home and away match ( 1 team )for the upcoming Season. Please contact Jennifer Tatko at jtatko@pion.wnyric.org  or 716-492-9061.

Basketball

 

SEMINARS & TRAINING

►Athletic Liabilities and Responsibilities- Workshop was conducted March 2, 2007 Click here for pertinent handouts

►MANDATORY WORKSHOP FOR ATHLETIC DIRECTORS!  MONDAY APRIL 28, 2008 at Erie1 BOCES, West Seneca

►Officials Training: click here----> http://www.section6.wnyric.org/officials/training.htm

►Coaching Certification 2008-09: 

Erie I BOCES,  Erie II BOCES,  Catt/Allegany BOCES

 First Aid/ CPR Courses: Orchard Park (Feb 08), Athleticare (Feb 08)

►NEW!!   The NYSPHSAA has signed an agreement with SUNY Cortland to support a web-based coaching certification program.  The Cortland Center for Educational Exchange will host the course on its website, providing the technical support, instructional services and administrative support. The Association will provide administrative support  in the form of payroll service and dissemination of recommended textbooks.  The Association and Cortland will collaborate in the appointment of instructors, curriculum development and annual curriculum review. For registration, go to  http://www.cortland.edu/physed/CEECoachingCert.htm

 ►Coaching Clinics

Clinics completed:

POSITIONS OPEN:

Nominations from league or sport committees are being accepted for the following Section VI positions:

a)       Section 6 President-Elect:   Term effective 9/1/08 - 8/31/10

b)       Principals Rep to the Central Committee:      Term effective 9/1/08 - 8/31/12.

c)       All Winter Sportchairs: Term effective 7/1/08 - 6/30/11.

d)    Girls Golf Chairperson: Term effective 7/1/08 - 6/30/10

e)     Section VI Program Chairperson

Pease submit nominations to Section VI, 355 Harlem Rd West Seneca, NY 14224 prior to May 16. Positions will be appointed at the May 21 Athletic Council meeting.

FINGERPRINTING and PHOTO ID INFORMATION FOR SPORTS OFFICIALS- (PRICE CHANGE from $99 to $94.25)

REQUIREMENT FOR ALL SPORTS OFFICIALS:

The superintendents of Section VI Member schools in April 2003 unanimously approved the following resolution:

"ALL SPORTS OFFICIALS must be fingerprinted and cleared before working any sports contests in Section VI, effective Sept. 1, 2003"

The Section VI Executive Committee approved a change to the resolution to allow officials to work Section VI contests provided they have submitted their fingerprints to OSPRA and are listed as "clearance pending" on the Section VI website (click here). Athletic Directors and Assignors will refer to this list for eligible officials. Only officials who have been fingerprinted will be eligible to officiate Section VI contests.

Section VI has been advised by their attorneys, Hodgson Russ LLP, that the foregoing is fully in compliance with Project SAVE legislation, applicable to Western New York schools. In addition, written affirmation of the legality of this resolution has been received from Howard Goldsmith and Deborah Marriott, attorneys for OSPRA, Office of School Personnel Review and Accountability, at the State Education Department (518-473-2998)

If you have already been fingerprinted to work in a school district under SAVE legislation click here

OSPRA has informed us (April 2006), that the clearance process takes approximately 16-18 weeks. Section VI strongly recommends that every official and official-in-training, do this ASAP at your local police/sheriff's dept. The required paperwork can be picked up at locations below. Please read further for information on how to get fingerprints and pictures taken. 

The official should mail his/her completed fingerprint packet to the Section VI office. Upon receipt of the packet, that official's name will be listed on the Section VI website as Clearance Pending and be allowed to officiate. (from the Main Page click on Officials, then Clearance Status). When full clearance is received from SED, the status will be updated to Cleared. If more than 6 weeks have passed since submitting fingerprints and your status remains as clearance pending, you are advised to investigate the progress of your background check at OSPRA, by calling 518-473-2998 Mon, Wed or Friday or emailing ospra@mail.nysed.gov. All clearances are issued by the Office of School Personnel Review and Accountability (OSPRA) at SED.

IMPORTANT NOTE

Prior to officiating a Section VI sport contest, an official must present to the school representative:

a) A valid Section VI sports official photo ID

OR

b) Drivers license and a copy of his/her clearance from OSPRA

OR

c) Drivers license and be listed as "clearance pending" on the Section VI website

Please note that districts may hold pay vouchers until a valid ID card is presented.

 

 

The required Fingerprint Packets are available at:

Places to Get Fingerprinted Click Here

ALL COMPLETED FINGERPRINT PACKETS MUST BE MAILED TO THE SECTION VI OFFICE, 355 Harlem Rd., West Seneca, NY 14224. WHEN THE COMPLETED PACKET IS RECEIVED, THE OFFICIAL'S NAME WILL BE POSTED ON THE SECTION VI WEBSITE AS CLEARANCE PENDING.

PHOTO ID

Each cleared sports official will be issued a Section VI Sports Official Photo ID from the Section VI office. A school representative will examine the official’s photo ID prior to his/her officiating a contest in their district and record that official’s assigned identification number. This Photo ID will provide appropriate confirmation that the official has been properly fingerprinted and cleared.
An official must be cleared to receive the ID.

Section VI will take photos for the required Photo ID at the Section VI office in the
NEW  Erie 1 BOCES Building "C", 355 Harlem Rd. West Seneca (directions below*):

Most Wednesdays between 9:30 am and 3:30 pm EXCEPT during school holidays. SEE NOTE BELOW!!

ALSO: ON THE FOLLOWING WEDNESDAYS UNTIL 6:00 PM BY APPOINTMENT ONLY (call 821-7299)  

  To be announced

If you are traveling a significant distance, please ALWAYS call first (821-7299) to verify that the office is open and the equipment is operational that day.

You will be required to show your driver's license for the photo. Please bring $10.00 to cover postage and handling if you wish to have your card mailed directly to you. 

LOST ID CARDS: If you have lost your ID card, send a check for $10 payable to Section VI, 355 Harlem Rd., West Seneca, NY 14224 with a written request for replacement with your name, address and phone number AND a stamped self-addressed envelope. The ID cards are printed by Erie 1 BOCES. You must take your clearance from SED and your drivers license to all contests that you officiate until you receive your new card.

GETTING FINGERPRINTED:

1) Picture ID (i.e.: driver's license)

2) Money Order or Bank Check (NO PERSONAL CHECKS ACCEPTED) for
     (PRICE CHANGE from $99 to $94.25) payable to:
              New York State Education Department to cover the cost of the background check.

3) Black pen or pencil

 

**  ON-LINE PAYMENT **

You may Pay NYSED $94.25     On-Line click here

 Read information completely, then click on Fingerprinting to continue. You will be starting an application with Teach on-line.   READ ALL DIRECTIONS

Must include receipt from web site to mail in, with fingerprint cards and paperwork to Section 6 office.

 

Directions to Erie 1 BOCES and the Section VI office:   Click here to view Directions & Map (use Back arrow to return)

                                                                                                           Click here to see Campus Map (use Back arrow to return)

                                                                                                          

Take the NYS Thruway I-90 to exit 54 (400 Expwy). Take the first exit Seneca St. Turn right onto Seneca. Go to the first signal Harlem Rd. (Route 240) Turn right onto Harlem Rd. The Erie 1 BOCES Education Campus is on the right a half-mile down.

The Section VI office is located in Building C the NEW 2-story building on the left (as you face the complex). You will be required to get a visitors pass at the front desk. The receptionist will direct you to the Section VI office (room 228).  Look for the large red "C" on the glass door as you enter.            Click here to view a picture of the front of Building C   (use Back arrow to return)

The Section VI Athletic Council meetings are scheduled in Building B the 1-story building. Look for the large red "B" on the glass door as you enter

Return to Section VI Home Page