IHSA Announcements

December 18, 2001

IHSA Schools Approve 10 of 11 Proposals on Annual Ballot

Ten of 11 proposals on the ballot in the annual Illinois High School Association (IHSA) member school referendum were approved in voting by the membership. The mail ballots were counted in the IHSA Office Tuesday (Dec. 18).

By a vote of 152 in favor and 260 against, a proposal to prohibit boys basketball teams from playing regular season games on Friday during the week of the girls basketball regionals and sectionals did not pass.

Several of the proposals on the ballot were housekeeping in nature. Member schools did approve the following:

They adopted a boys bowling season in the winter (341-47). They adopted a sport season in the spring in the sport of lacrosse for boys boys and girls (290-75). They clarified the coach and player limits, and provided for flexibility in the limits for athletes in national governing body competition, in the 25 contact day rule (387-30). They expanded coverage in the by-law prohibiting competition against college, junior college or university athletic teams (399-16).

The member schools also approved by-law changes to grant more flexibility in the residence by-laws. One proposal provides for eligibility to students who live in the district with only one birth or adoptive parent and who have not had a change in their guardianship (395-19). Another expands the coverage to attend the high school for their entire career to students whose parents, custodial parent or court appointed guardian move from the district following completion of the student’s junior year. That proposal passed 399-17.

The IHSA Legislative process is an annual one. Each November, the Legislative Commission receives proposals from any member school official representative to change sections in the IHSA Constitution and/or the By-laws. Following the second of two commission meetings, and after a series of 19 statewide Town Meetings, each submitted proposal is either approved or not approved to be on the ballot. The ballots are sent from the IHSA Office to each member school. Each school has one vote to cast on each proposal. A majority of votes on a given proposal carries or rejects it. There currently are 755 member schools.

Following is a complete recap of the results in the 2001 annual referendum:

Proposal No. 1

Submitted by Dennis Garber, Principal, Hoffman Estates (H.S.), on behalf of the IHSA Board of Directors

Revise Article 1.460 to read:

1.460 RULINGS AND APPEALS

The Executive Director shall have the authority and responsibility to investigate and decide all matters concerning eligibility, protests, by-laws or rules. The Executive Director may modify the effect of or penalty for violation of or non-compliance with any by-law or rule if the circumstances causing the student or school to be ineligible or otherwise in violation of or non-compliance with the by-law or rule are determined:

1. to have been completely beyond the control of all of the following:

1. the student
2. the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s)
3. the school

2. or where the violation or non-compliance has been caused exclusively by a clerical or administrative error.

A student, parent/guardian, school or individual, in whose favor or against whom a decision of the Executive Director made pursuant to this Section applies, may appeal that decision by submitting a written request for a hearing to the Board of Directors. In response to such a written request, the Board of Directors or, in its discretion, a hearing officer appointed by the Board, shall conduct a hearing to review the action of the Executive Director.

At a hearing, the party appealing the action and all other interested parties, including but not limited to representatives of the member school, may appear and present information for consideration. If a hearing officer has been appointed by the Board, such hearing officer shall submit a written report of findings to the Board, including a written summary of the testimony heard and/or evidence presented at the hearing. After a hearing before the Board, or upon receipt and review of the hearing officer’s report, the Board may, within the authority of this Constitution and By-laws, sustain, modify or overturn the Executive Director’s decision, or sustain, increase, decrease or otherwise modify any penalty for violation of any by-law or rule or take such other action as it finds appropriate. If a hearing has been conducted by a hearing officer appointed by the Board, the student, parent/guardian, school or individual in whose favor or against whom a decision has been sustained or modified, may request, in writing through the principal of the involved member school, a further hearing to be held before the Board of Directors in accordance with the provisions of this Section, at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board or at a special meeting of the Board convened by the president of the Board. The decision or action of the Board of Directors, pursuant to any hearing held before it, shall in all instances be final.

Revise By-law 3.045 to read:

3.045 In the case of a student who transfers attendance from one high school to another in conjunction with the adoption of the student after the student has entered high school for the first time, or a change in guardianship of the student by order of a court of proper jurisdiction, the student shall be ineligible pending a ruling by the Executive Director. In such cases, the Executive Director may grant eligibility only if it is determined, after investigation, that the circumstances giving rise to the change of guardianship or adoption and the transfer were completely beyond the control of all of the following:

1. the student
2. the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s)
3. the schools to and from which the student transferred.

Any action, inaction, or voluntary or self-initiated decision of the student, parent/guardian or the school to or from which the student transfers, or any one or more of them, which results in, affects, causes or pertains to the transfer shall not be considered to be "circumstances completely beyond the control." The student may practice, but shall not participate in an interscholastic athletic contest until a ruling on the student’s eligibility has been made by the Executive Director.

Revise By-law 3.046 to read:

3.046 In all other circumstances involving a transfer, the student shall be ineligible pending a ruling by the Executive Director. In such cases, the Executive Director may grant eligibility if it is determined after investigation that the circumstances giving rise to the transfer were completely beyond the control of all of the following:

1. the student
2. the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s)
3. the schools to and from which the student transferred.

Any action, inaction, or decision of the student, parent/guardian or the school to or from which the student transfers, or any one or more of them, which results in, affects, causes or pertains to the transfer shall not be considered to be "circumstances completely beyond the control." The student may practice, but shall not participate in an interscholastic athletic contest until a ruling on the student’s eligibility has been made by the Executive Director.

Rationale of Submitter: Clarifies the authority and responsibility of the Executive Director in making rulings and establishes consistency in the ruling process for transfer cases.

1. More effectively communicates the parameters for considering special circumstances in cases where students/schools either violate or are in non-compliance with the rules.

Arguments Opposed to the Proposal

None

The Membership passed the Proposal by a vote of 407-9

Proposal No. 2

Submitted by Dennis Garber, Principal, Hoffman Estates (H.S.), on behalf of the IHSA Board of Directors

Revise Article 1.620 of the Constitution to read:

1.620 DUES

The Board of Directors shall have authority to assess an annual membership fee to be paid by all schools belonging to the Association.

Rationale of Submitter: Provides clarity and consistency with actual practice.

Arguments in Favor of the Proposal

1. See rationale of submitter.

Arguments Opposed to the Proposal

None

The Membership passed the Proposal by a vote of 410-6

Proposal No. 3

Submitted by Dennis Garber, Principal, Hoffman Estates (H.S.), on behalf of the IHSA Board of Directors

Revise Article 1.640 of the Constitution to read:

1.640 DATE OF PAYMENT OF DUES

The annual school membership dues, if assessed, shall be for the fiscal year of the Association, shall be payable on or after April 1 of each year and must be paid on or before June 30 of each year.

Rationale of Submitter: Provides clarity and consistency with actual practice.

Arguments in Favor of the Proposal

1. See rationale of submitter.

Arguments Opposed to the Proposal

None

Proposal No. 4

Submitted by Dennis Garber, Principal, Hoffman Estates (H.S.), on behalf of the IHSA Board of Directors

Revise By-law 2.010 to read:

2.010 COMPLIANCE WITH RULES

(a) Members of this Association must comply with the rules as stipulated in the Constitution and By-laws of the Association in all matters pertaining to athletic and activity programs, competitions and other events, with or against any other school, whether it is a member or non-member of the Association.

(b) All interscholastic athletic games, meets and contests participated in by IHSA member schools shall be governed only by the rules written or officially adopted for those respective sports by the National Federation of State High School Association and modified by the IHSA.

Rationale of Submitter: More clearly states member schools’ responsibility to comply with rules of the Association and eliminates a contradictory provision regarding waiver of the rules.

Arguments in Favor of the Proposal

1. See rationale of submitter.

Arguments Opposed to the Proposal

None

The Membership passed the Proposal by a vote of 407-9

Proposal No. 7

Submitted by Dennis Garber, Principal, Hoffman Estates (H.S.), on behalf of the IHSA Board of Directors

Add a New By-law 3.031.3 to read:

3.031.3 They reside full time with one birth or adoptive parent without assignment of custody or legal guardianship by the court, provided:

(1) their residence is in the district in which the member school they attend is located; and

(2) they attended that member school the previous school term.

3.031.4 In all other cases, students shall not participate until a ruling on their eligibility is made by the Executive Director.

Rationale of Submitter: Provides a means for eligibility in regard to residence for students who live with only one parent and where the courts have not intervened to establish custody or guardianship.

Arguments in Favor of the Proposal

1. See rationale of submitter.

Arguments Opposed to the Proposal

None

The Membership passed the Proposal by a vote of 395-19

Proposal No. 8

Submitted by Dennis Garber, Principal, Hoffman Estates (H.S.), on behalf of the IHSA Board of Directors

Revise By-law 3.034.2 to read:

3.034.2 Students who have attended one school for their entire high school career and whose parents, custodial parent or court appointed guardian moves from the district or community traditionally served by that school following the student’s completion of the eleventh (11th) grade, may remain in that member school and retain eligibility regarding residence for the twelfth (12th) grade, provided:

1. The student, if not yet eighteen (18) years of age, resides full time with the parents, a custodial parent, a non-custodial birth parent or a court appointed legal guardian; or the student, if eighteen (18) years of age, continues to reside with parents, custodial parent, a non-custodial birth parent or a court appointed legal guardian, or is accepted for enrollment by the school as a student having reached the age of majority under the laws of the State of Illinois; and,

3. There is no evidence of undue influence, including but not limited to inducement, remuneration, pressure, promise or provision of special benefits or any other form of encouragement or persuasion, on the part of any person(s) directly or indirectly connected to the school, to retain the student’s attendance.

Rationale of Submitter: Creates an opportunity for a student who has reached the age of majority and remains in a school after the student’s parents or guardians move from the district to have eligibility regarding residence.

Arguments in Favor of the Proposal

1. See rationale of submitter.

Arguments Opposed to the Proposal

None

The Membership passed the Proposal by a vote of 399-17

Proposal No. 10

Submitted by Dennis Garber, Principal, Hoffman Estates (H.S.), on behalf of the IHSA Board of Directors

Revise By-law 3.105 to read:

3.105 Students or teams at member schools shall not be permitted to participate on, practice with or compete against any college, junior college or university athletic team. This restriction shall apply in all situations, regardless of the competitive structure or sponsor of the competing entities for such events.

Rationale of Submitter: Strengthens and eliminates loopholes in the by-law pertaining to interaction between member schools, their students and college teams.

Arguments in Favor of the Proposal

1. See rationale of submitter.

Arguments Opposed to the Proposal

None

The Membership passed the Proposal by a vote of 399-16

Submitted by Dennis Garber, Principal, Hoffman Estates (H.S.), on behalf of the IHSA Board of Directors

Revise By-law 3.153 to read:

Persons who coach a sport at a member school may have a maximum of 25 days of contact in that sport with students from that school during the period between the last day of classes in the spring each year and Saturday of Week 4 in the IHSA Standardized Calendar. Students may have a maximum of 25 days of contact per sport with persons who coach that sport at the school they attend during the same time period. A day of contact is defined as any date on which any coaching or instruction in the skills and techniques of any sport takes place. These limitations apply to all sports except Baseball and Softball. An exception may be made by the Executive Director under the guidelines adopted by the Board of Directors for competitions sponsored and conducted directly by the National Governing Body for the sport.

Rationale of Submitter: Creates an opportunity for a coach to accompany a student to competitions held by the National Governing Body for the sport during a period when contact days are routinely prohibited.

Arguments in Favor of the Proposal

1. Grants the Executive Director and the Board of Directors discretion to permit coaches and students to have contact after Saturday of Week No. 4 in a specific circumstance.
2. Utilizes the same exception to the rules as currently exists in By-law 3.111 regarding students competing at school and outside of school in the same sport at the same time.

None

The Membership passed the Proposal by a vote of 387-30

Submitted by Paul Koscielski, Principal, Quincy (Sr.)

Revise By-law 5.042 to read:

a. No Boys Basketball team representing a member school shall, in any one season, participate in more than:

(1) twenty-one (21) games and no (0) tournaments exclusive of the IHSA series; or

(2) nineteen (19) games and one (1) tournament exclusive of the IHSA series; or

(3) eighteen (18) games and two (2) tournaments exclusive of the IHSA series; or

(4) sixteen (16) games and three (3) tournaments exclusive of the IHSA series.

b. No Boys Basketball team representing a member school shall participate in any interscholastic tournament during the week (Monday through Friday) of the Class A Boys Regional Basketball Tournament.

c. No Boys Basketball team, representing a member school, shall play in more than five (5) different games during any given interscholastic basketball tournament.

d. No Class A Boys Basketball team representing a member school shall participate in any interscholastic contest on Friday of the Girls Class A Regional and Friday of the Girls Class A Sectional.

Rationale of Submitter: Protects the Class A and Class AA Girls Regional and Sectional Championship dates and allows them to play their championships during prime time without interference. This recommendation is a result of the IHSA’s Equity Committee’s finding on prime time scheduling for girls basketball. While host schools can schedule their girls regional or sectional on a Friday, they rarely do because boys basketball regular season games are on the same Friday. This proposal protects two Fridays for Class A games and two Fridays for Class AA games.

1. Emanates from the Equity Committee.
2. Would assure prime dates for girls basketball regional and sectional championship games.

1. Could interfere with traditional playing schedule sequences.

Submitted by Jerry Fisher, Principal, Machesney Park (Harlem)

Add By-law 5.550 to read:

Rationale of Submitter: The IHSA Board policy for adding a sport states that it will entertain a proposal to add a new state series when 10% of the member schools engage in regularly scheduled competition in the sport or activity. An early survey conducted by the IHSA indicates that there are over 100 boys interscholastic bowling teams thus meeting that guideline. The development of the boys bowling season compliments the national season, is placed during the time of least conflicts with non-school programs, and provides for the boys and girls teams to mirror the cross country concept by sharing transportation, coaches, practices and competition. In addition, the season sets up a unique opportunity for boys and girls programs to compete at the same site during the regular season.

1. Meets objectives of the IHSA Strategic Plan by implementing a season for a new sport.
2. Establishes a season for a sport that will likely serve a group of students not involved in other sports.

1. Would establish a season for one more boys’ sport than we currently have seasons for girls’ sports.

Submitted by Jim Bloch, Official Representative, Winnetka (New Trier)

Add By-law 5.650 to read:

Rationale of Submitter: Establishes season and participation limits for boys and girls lacrosse to accommodate growth and development of the sport in member schools.

1. Meets objectives of the IHSA Strategic Plan by implementing a season for a new sport.

None.