Section VI reached an agreement with officials Monday evening that will allow high school sports to start on time this week. P-J file photo by Matt Spielman

WEST SENECA — High school sports will be starting this week as planned.

And officials will be present.

Section VI and the group that represents officials in all sports reached an agreement Monday evening.

“At approximately 5:30 p.m. today, Section VI agreed to an agreement with the WNY Sports Officials. All involved are pleased to be moving forward with Fall Sports on behalf of our member schools and most importantly our student-athletes. We are appreciative of the assistance from Dr. Robert Zayas and Todd Nelson from NYSPHSAA,” Section VI said in a prepared statement.

The statement was signed jointly by Maureen Donahue, Southwestern Central School superintendent and the president-elect of Section VI’s Executive Committee; Chris Hope of the WNY Sports Officials; and Dr. Robert Zayas, the New York State Public High School Athletic Association’s executive director.

“Section VI continues to value the work of our Sports Officials on behalf of our student-athletes. We look forward to a momentous year of Sports in Western New York,” the statement concluded.

Later Monday, Zayas tweeted that the sides agreed in principle on a five-year contract.

As late as Friday, the officials put out a press release saying “the sticking point lies with Section VI, who is unwilling to increase referees’ pay in times of inflation.”

Early Friday afternoon, Zayas tweeted “As a result of ongoing contract negotiations between Section VI and officials, I have requested a meeting on Monday in Buffalo. Both groups want resolution for the betterment of students. I look forward to the meeting. Students can’t afford to be negatively impacted by this situation.”

Apparently cooler heads prevailed during Monday’s meeting and the sides came to a resolution.

Three girls soccer games were listed on the Section VI schedule for Monday. Cheektowaga was supposed to host Olmsted and Lewiston-Porter was scheduled to host Wilson in the Buffalo area.

Falconer/Cassadaga Valley played at Hornell in a game that would have been officiated by Section V referees.

Boys soccer is set to get underway today with Kenmore East at Williamsville East and St. Francis at Orchard Park. In girls soccer, Silver Creek/Forestville is scheduled to travel to Lake Shore while Fredonia visits Cassadaga Valley in volleyball.

The Section VI football schedule gets underway Thursday when Starpoint hosts Amherst and Lake Shore hosts Dunkirk.