August 14, 2000
BLOOMINGTON - Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Executive Director Dave Fry informed the Board of Directors at its regular August board meeting in the IHSA Office Monday that he will retire June 30, 2002.
Fry assumed the position of Executive Director of the Illinois High School Association on July 1, 1991, after serving as a member of the IHSA administrative staff for twenty-four years. As Executive Director, Fry is responsible for providing leadership and direction to the interscholastic activities of the IHSA's 758 member public and private high schools and their 538,300 students.
He is the fifth person to serve the Association as chief executive officer, following Charles W. Whitten (1922-42), Albert Willis (1942-68), Harry Fitzhugh (1968-78) and Lavere L. Astroth (1978-91).
Fry is a native of Montana where, as a high school student, he was an active participant in interscholastic athletics and activities and student government. He holds a diploma in Christian education from Moody Bible Institute, Chicago; a bachelor's degree in English and speech from the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, Colorado; and a master's degree in speech education from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois. Prior to joining the IHSA staff in 1967, Fry taught high school English and speech and coached track, speech and debate for four years in North Chicago and Skokie, Illinois.
Fry served IHSA as assistant executive secretary from 1967-1978 and as associate executive secretary from 1978-1991. During his tenure with the Association he has administered boys cross country, boys golf, boys gymnastics, boys and girls soccer, boys swimming, boys tennis and the music and speech competition programs. He has been active nationally, as well, representing the National Federation of State High School Associations for several years on the Committee on Contests and Activities of the National Association of Secondary School Principals and serving as chairman of the Federation's National Speech Activities Committee. He has served the National Federation as a member of its Board of Directors and also served as its President in 1995-96. While on the Board, he chaired the committee charged with revising the NF Constitution and By-laws.
In 1984, as representative of the National Federation, Fry was a member of the founding Board of Directors of the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET) an organization established to set standards, evaluate and monitor international youth travel and exchange programs. He wrote the first standards adopted by the Council, chaired the Evaluation Committee for its first four years of operation, and chaired the Council's Board of Directors from 1988-1991.
Other Action
1) Received communication from Illinois State University that it would not host the 2000 Football Playoff Championship Games, and approved the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as the site for this year's six title games. They will be played Friday-Saturday Nov. 24-25 at Memorial Stadium in Champaign. Previously, the Board approved the proposal from Illinois to host the title games for five years beginning with the games of 2001. In addition, the Board previously approved expanding the playoffs from six to eight classes beginning with the 2001 series.
2) Reviewed preliminary proposal specifications and authorized the staff to seek five-year proposals for hosting the state final tournaments in Class A and Class AA Boys Baseball, in Class A and Class AA Girls Softball, in Class A and Class AA Boys Soccer and in Class A and Class AA Girls Soccer. Sites selected would begin hosting the state finals in the 2000-01 (current) school term. The communities and/or organizations seeking to host the baseball and softball state final events will have until Nov. 13, 2000 to submit their proposals, and the Board will act on them at its Dec. 4, 2000 meeting. The boys soccer proposals are due Jan. 17, 2001 with action by the Board scheduled Feb.26, 2001. The girls soccer proposals are due April 4, 2001 with action by the Board scheduled for May 1, 2001. The number of schools entering teams in girls soccer is growing on an annual basis. Proposals for hosting two classes of girls soccer are being sought in the event the number of schools entering the state series reaches the minimum to allow for two-class competition. If the minimum is met as of March 1, 2001, the Soccer Advisory Committee will recommend expansion of girls soccer into two classes. The minimum number of schools needed for possible expansion from the single-class format to two classes is 300. The number of schools which entered the 1999-2000 (last school term) state series was 299.
3) Authorized addition of Worldwide International Student Exchange to the list of approved Foreign Exchange programs.
4) Approved use of Bloomington Country Club as site of the 2000 Girls State Final golf Tournament Oct. 13-14. The club's leadership approved its use on a one-time basis because the Illinois State University Course is undergoing major repair.
Terms and Conditions
Speech Drama/Group Interpretation
1) Approved a recommendation to provide individual medallions to members of the first, second and third place casts in each event at the state final.
2) Did not approve a recommendation to award medals to each of the finalists in each individual event at the regionals and sectionals.
Discussion Items
At each meeting of the Board of Directors, there are certain agenda items the Board discusses but upon which it takes no action. Following is a report of those on the August 2000, agenda:
Fall Elections: The Board heard a report
of the elections to be held for positions on the
Board of Directors and the Legislative Commission
this fall. A memo outlining the positions
available, including information regarding the new
minority and female at-large spots, was sent to
the principal/official representative of each
member school August 11, 2000. Nomination ballots
will be mailed from the IHSA Office on August 18.
They are due back in the IHSA Office Sept. 15.
Final election ballots will be mailed from the
IHSA member schools on Sept. 19. They are due back
at the IHSA Office Oct. 2.
Television Proposals: The Board heard a status report regarding the process for securing television proposals for the IHSA events. Deadline for submission is August 15, 2000.
Scholarship Status: The Board heard a progress report regarding development of sponsorships for the Association's scholarship/recognition programs.
Pass It On Celebration: The Board heard a status report of plans being worked on to conduct a Pass It On Celebration in conjunction with the Girls State Volleyball Tournament in November. The Bloomington-Normal Area Convention and Visitor's Bureau is sponsoring the activities in conjunction with IHSA.
Sectional Complex Format: The Board discussed the concept and provided the staff with ideas to consider as it conducts a complete review of the system in the various state series.
Staff Maternity Leave: The Board heard a report of the birth of John Gerald (Jack) Sauser at 7:52 p.m. on 8/11. Jack weighed 8 lbs. 11 oz, and stands 21.5 inches tall. He is the son of Mike and Beth Sauser. Mrs. Sauser is in her second year as Assistant Executive Director. She is currently on maternity leave. Mrs. Sauser will maintain unscheduled office hours during the leave.