The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Board of Directors met for its regularly scheduled meeting at the IHSA office in Bloomington on Wednesday, October 16, 2024. During the meeting, the Board approved four actions items, including electing the Board Officers for the 2024-25 school year.
The Board Officers from the 2023-24 school year will all return in the same roles in 2024-25.
Dan Tully (left), the principal at Notre Dame College Prep in Niles, was reelected Board President. Tully is the 39th individual in the Association’s Board history, which dates back to 1903, to hold the position of President and became the first from a non-boundaried high school to serve in the role a year ago. He was elected to the Board in 2017 and served as the Board Secretary in 2021 and 2022.
Carterville High School principal Todd Rogers (middle) was reelected as the Board Vice-President, while Olympia Official Representative Mike Castleman (right) was reelected Secretary. Castleman became the first athletic administrator to serve as an Officer on the IHSA Board a year ago, as prior to 2020, only high school principals were eligible to be Board members.
“IHSA Board members dedicate their time and talents to guide the mission of the IHSA, and we cannot thank them enough for volunteering for what can sometimes be a thankless role,” said IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson. “We especially appreciate the leadership and guidance that Dan Tully, Todd Rogers, and Mike Castleman have and will continue to provide as Officers of the Board. They each offer their own unique insights and experiences, while also highlighting the diversity of our membership in terms of school size, geography, and make-up. I look forward to working closely with each in 2024-25 and beyond on behalf of the IHSA membership.”
2024-25 IHSA BOARD OFFICERS
President: Dan Tully, Niles Notre Dame
Vice-President: Todd Rogers, Carterville
Secretary: Mike Castleman, Olympia
ACTION
1. The Board approved a motion to provide uniformity to the ticketing prices and procedures for Regional rounds of the IHSA State Series when the host school provides GoFan as a ticket option.
2. The Board approved a recommendation to appoint members to the Legislative Commission in the following divisions that had no nominees:
Legislative District 17: Josh Sorrells, Principal, Beardstown High School
At-Large Division 6: Danley Killam, Principal, Carlinville High School
At-Large Division 7: Stephanie Allen, Athletic Director, Herrin High School
3. The Board approved a recommendation to revise Illustration 262 in the IHSA Handbook to read as follows:
Q. May a coed school conduct a gender specific open gym?
A. Yes. Schools should provide equal availability of open gym opportunities for both
genders. (Article 1.420).
4. The Board approved a recommendation to update the IHSA Personnel Policies for the 2024-25 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:
BOYS & GIRLS LACROSSE
1. The boys and girls semifinals will be conducted on Thursday with the finals remaining on Saturday.
BOYS & GIRLS WATER POLO
1. Sectional schedule format returning to the schedule that was used prior to 2020.
BASS FISHING
1. A coach may assist in removing the lure if an angler catches a muskie, northern pike, walleye, gar, bowfin, or catfish.
APPEALS & ELIGIBILITY RULINGS
1. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Brother Rice High School in Chicago. The student was granted limited eligibility in accordance with the provisions of IHSA By-law 3.043.3 and was seeking full eligibility.
2. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from St. Rita High School in Chicago. The student was granted limited eligibility in accordance with the provisions of IHSA By-law 3.043.3 and was seeking full eligibility.
3. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from St. Laurence High School in Burbank. The student was ruled ineligible for non-compliance with IHSA By-law 3.045.
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 16, 2024, agenda:
1. 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.
2. The Board heard a report from Scott Marquardt from Marquardt & Humes, Inc.
3. The Board heard a report on the IHSA New Administrators Workshop that was held at the IHSA Office in September.
4. The Board heard a report on IHSA staff attendance at the Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA) Conference and NFHS Performing Arts Conference, as well as plans to have a presence at the upcoming Illinois Athletic Director Association (IADA) division meetings, the Illinois Principals Association (IPA) Conference, and the Illinois Association of Schools Board (IASB) Conference.
5. The Board discussed allowance variances in member school enrollments and set a time at a future meeting to further discuss Board Policy related to enrollments, seeding, and classifications.
6. The Executive Director presented the Board with preliminary information provided to the IHSA by advocates of a Trap Shooting State Series.
7. The Board discussed proposals to change the IHSA Baseball and Softball State Final schedules to single-weekend formats with all four classes being contested in 2026. The Board asked the IHSA staff to gather further information to review at a future board meeting.
8. The Board welcomed its newest member, Whitney Young Principal Rickey Harris, as well as new liaisons Mickey Pruitt (CPS Sports Administration Interim Director) and Scott Battas (Mascoutah High School representing IADA).
9. The Board heard a report on the five individuals who will be recognized with the IHSA Distinguished Media Service Award during the 2024-25 school year.