TASO-Austin

Message From Marcus Gravenberg

Thank you for all of your hard work and devotion this past football season. Several of you have voiced concerns about some of the chapter’s policies and practices. Whereas, during our regular meetings an open forum to discuss all concerns of the membership was not facilitated, we are scheduling a meeting to address those concerns in the off-season. On March 26, 2008, 6 PM to 8 PM we will hold a town hall meeting for the Austin Football Chapter, TASO. The meeting location is the Tony Burger center.

Meeting Rules
• Participants will have the floor to speak once the meeting facilitator acknowledges them.
• Once a question/issue is raised, the board member addressing the question must have ample time without interruption to address the issue.
• At the conclusion of the meeting if a member feels he/she did not receive an adequate answer, he/she may request to come before the board as an individual.
• To attend the meeting you must retain a status of “member in good standing”.
• His / her division representative will remove anyone exhibiting unruly behavior.

No one will receive repercussions for bringing up issues in this forum.

Wednesday March 26, 2008 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Please click to RSVP if you plan on attending.

Message From Ray Parker - Secretary

TASO Background Check Update

To all Members. Here is the latest update from TASO concerning the background checks and fingerprinting that the teachers are currently undergoing.

January 30, 2008

To: TASO Chapter Presidents and Secretaries
TASO Division Board Members

From: Steven Ellinger

Re: Senate Bill 9 – Criminal History Background Checks


In recent weeks the state office has fielded numerous phone calls, e-mails, and inquiries from members, local chapter officers, coaches, athletic directors, and school administrators concerning the applicability of Senate Bill (S.B.) 9 to high school sports officials.

S.B. 9 requires criminal history background information reviews of all certified public school employees and provides for a national criminal history clearinghouse. Current non-certified employees are required to submit to a statewide review, while certified employees hired on or after September 1, 2007 are required to submit to a national criminal history background information review. Individuals who have been convicted or received deferred adjudication for a Title 5 felony offense or a sex offense when the victim of the crime was a child are prohibited from employment with a public school district.

I have had direct communication and ongoing discussions with the University Interscholastic League, the Texas Association of School Boards, and the Texas Department of Public Safety regarding this issue and the applicability of S.B. 9 to TASO members.

At this time no state agency has determined that TASO chapters are school district contractors within the meaning of S.B. 9, and furthermore, whether TASO members are employees of contractors as provided for in S.B. 9. Under common definition and practice, TASO members are not employees of their local chapter and are independent contractors with respect to the officiating services they provide to schools.

In the event it is determined that TASO members are governed by S.B. 9, the liability for the cost in administering the fingerprinting and criminal history checks as well as the actual administration of a statewide program will be addressed. For the time being, no action by local chapters is necessary with regard to S.B. 9 and its applicability to TASO members. Updated information will be disseminated when it becomes available.

Notes from the January 15, 2008 Board Meeting
a. UIL realignment – chapter will contact potential new schools
b. Local coaching changes – Lake Travis, Bastrop, Lanier, Rouse (Leander)
c. June Clinic – looking at Saturday, 21 June 08 at Burger Center
d. Coaches Clinic - Chapter will host a coaches clinic in May after realignment
e. Six-man All Star Game - Austin has two slots for the game in Lubbock, will send Marcus Gravenberg and Mike Jackson to work the game.
f. 2008 Regular Chapter Meeting Dates – tentatively at Camp Mabry
A. Monday, 4 August – first chapter meeting
B. Monday, 11 August– 2nd meeting – scrimmages start 16 August
C. Monday, 18 August- 3rd chapter meeting
D. Monday, 25 August – 4th chapter meeting, games start 28 August
E. Monday, 8 September – 5th chapter meeting
F. Monday, 22 September – 6th chapter meeting
G. Monday, 6 October – 7th chapter meeting, Dues collected
H. Monday, 20 October – 8th chapter meeting – Nominations meeting
I. Monday, 3 November – 9th chapter meeting – Elections
J. Monday, 10 November – Chapter BBQ
g. New Member Training – committee meeting to outline schedule
A. Year End Reports - Several officials have not yet turned in their 2007 Season Year End Reports – get to Ray ASAP.
B. TASO making strong push to not count points that are not turned in at the end of the previous season – want to get away from claiming past (lost) points.
h. AISD 9th and JV games - AISD has agreed to move all 9th and JV games from Thursday and Friday to Wednesday to ease the pressure on Thursday and Friday games – only for when AISD is home school.
i. Evaluators – committee meeting prior to season to make evaluations more uniform.
j. UIL is looking at reforming the pay structure for all sports officials.

We had a GREAT 2007 season! Thank you all for your hard work. Stay healthy, stay safe, as we look forward to the 2008 season.