The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Board of Directors met for its regularly scheduled meeting at the IHSA office in Bloomington on Wednesday, October 11, 2023. During the meeting, the Board approved two actions items, including electing the Board Officers for the 2023-24 school year.
Dan Tully (left), the principal at Notre Dame College Prep in Niles, was elected Board President. Tully becomes the 39th individual in the Association’s Board history, which dates back to 1903, to hold the position of President and the first from a non-boundaried high school to serve in the role. He was elected to the Board in 2017 and has served as the Board Secretary since 2021.
Carterville High School principal Todd Rogers (middle) was selected as the Board Vice-President, while Olympia Athletic Director Mike Castleman (right) was elected Secretary. Castleman is the first athletic administrator to serve as an Officer on the IHSA Board, as prior to 2020, only high school principals were eligible to be Board members.
“It is an honor and a privilege to be elected President of the IHSA Board of Directors,” said Tully. “Advocating for the Illinois high school students who participate in IHSA activities and sports is a tremendous responsibility that I will continue to approach thoughtfully. I look forward to working alongside my fellow Board members on behalf of the entire IHSA membership.”
2023-24 IHSA BOARD OFFICERS
President: Dan Tully, Niles Notre Dame
Vice-President: Todd Rogers, Carterville
Secretary: Mike Castleman, Olympia
ACTION ITEMS
1. The Board approved a recommendation to appoint members to the Legislative Commission in the following divisions that had no nominees:
At-Large Division 5 – April Hicklin, Heyworth - Expires 2025 (Two-Year)
At-Large Division 6 - Deidre Ripka, Morton – Term Expires 2026 (Three-Year)
2. The Board approved a recommendation to update the IHSA Personnel Policies for the 2023-24 school year.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
Minutes from all Advisory Committees can be viewed by clicking here.
1. The Board approved the consent items from the Advisory Committees in the following sports & activities: Baseball, Badminton, Softball, Lacrosse, Track & Field, Water Polo, Bass Fishing, Esports, Officials, Sports Medicine, Student Advisory.
Consent items are recommendations that received approval from the sport/activity advisory committee, the Athletic Administrators Advisory Committee and the IHSA staff. Consent items can be viewed by clicking here.
Non-consent items are recommendations from sport or activity committees that did not receive a majority vote from the Athletic Advisory Committee or IHSA staff.
No Non-consent items were approved.
Some consent items of note include:
Do What’s Right Sportsmanship
1. DWR! Registration will be moved to the School Center in order to help streamline the process.
Baseball
1. State Final game schedule changed to 10 AM, 1 PM, 4 PM and 7 PM.
APPEALS & ELIGIBILITY RULINGS
1. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Mascoutah High School. The student was ruled ineligible for non-compliance with IHSA By-law 3.030.
2. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Mascoutah High School. The student was ruled ineligible for non-compliance with IHSA By-law 3.030.
3. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Christian Life High School in Rockford. The student was ruled ineligible for non-compliance with IHSA By-law 3.040 and its sub-sections.
4. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from St. Patrick High School in Chicago. The student was granted limited eligibility and was seeking full eligibility.
5. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Butler College Prep in Chicago. The student was granted limited eligibility and was seeking full eligibility.
6. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on Carmel Catholic High School's participation in the IHSA Boys Soccer State Series.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
At each meeting of the Board of Directors, there are certain items the Board discusses, but upon which no action was taken or action may not be required. The following is a report of those items from the October 11, 2023, agenda:
1. The Board held a discussion on the current policy in IHSA Soccer that limits State Series participation based upon cards accrued throughout the season.
2. The Board heard a report on the IHSA New Administrators Workshop held at the IHSA Office in September.
3. The Board heard a report on IHSA staff attending the IASA Conference, as well as staff attendance at the upcoming Illinois Principals Association Conference and Illinois Association of Schools Boards Conference.
4. The Board heard a report on the new by-laws and changes to existing by-laws that have been submitted by member schools for the upcoming legislative process beginning in November.
5. The Board heard the schedule of the upcoming IADA Division Meetings, which will be attended by IHSA staff:
Division 1-October 19-10:00 a.m. at De La Salle High School
Division 2-October 19-9:00 a.m. at Forest View Educational Center
Division 3-October 19-1:00 p.m. at Plainfield North High School
Division 4-October 24-9:00 a.m. at Sterling High School
Division 5-October 18-1:30 p.m. at Mahomet-Seymour High School
Division 6-October 19-10:00 a.m. at Williamsville High School
Division 7-October 23-10:00 a.m. at Roland Barkau Memorial Golf Course
6. The Board heard a report from the Executive Director on the InsideOut Coaching initiative and support opportunities from the Chicago Bears to provide the program to IHSA coaches.
7. The Board welcomed Hamilton High School Principal Brad Gooding, who attended his first meeting since being elected to the IHSA Board of Directors.
8. The Board recognized Rockridge High School Principal Katy Hasson for her leadership in serving as the Board President from 2020 to 2023.