IHSA Announcements

January 13, 2003

Board Acts on New At-Large Member, Other Items and Appeals

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Board of Directors named a replacement for retired at- large board member Linda Layne, approved modifying the Classification Policy, tied up a number of loose ends, and heard a series of eligibility appeals at its regular meeting in the IHSA Office Monday (Jan. 13).

The Board took the following action Monday:

New Board Member: The Board appointed Dr. Diane Dyer-Dawson, principal of Chicago (Collins), to replace Linda Layne, retired principal of Chicago (Brooks College Prep). The spot on the Board is an at-large position for minority representation. Dr. Dyer-Dawson will serve until next fall when an election for the at-large seat will take place.

School Classification: The Board modified the Classification Policy to set parameters for classifying schools for the 2003-04 school term. The smallest 61 percent of the member schools will be in Class A. The largest 39 percent of the member schools will be in Class AA. This applies in state series where the traditional two-class system is used. This year, the traditional system cutoff is 752, and schools with enrollments of 752 or less are Class A while schools with enrollments of 753 or more are Class AA. If the 61/39 system had been used this year, the cutoff would have been 741. The change in percentage of schools is being made to absorb the entry of schools in the Chicago Public League (CPL) into the respective two classes. Prior to the 2002-03 school term, Chicago Public League schools were all Class AA and the percentage used for the breakdown of schools into classes applied to schools outside the CPL.

Ticket Prices: The Board approved several changes in ticket prices for the 2003-04 school term. Super-Sectional tickets prices in boys and girls basketball will be increased one dollar to $6.00. Football Playoff first and second round ticket prices will be increased one dollar to $4.00. Single-session ticket prices for the state finals in boys and girls basketball, boys and girls volleyball and boys and girls track and field will be raised $1.00 each. Ticket prices for the individual wrestling state final will be raised $2.00 per session.

Track and Field Terms and Conditions: The Board approved a change in the entry procedures for boys and girls track and field. The online Entry Form has been discontinued. The Work Sheet for entries at the sectional seeding meeting becomes an online form that must be completed and submitted electronically to the IHSA Office in advance of the sectional seeding meeting.

Emerging Sport Policy: The Board voted to remove the travel limitations section of the policy effective immediately.

Girls Badminton State Final Site: The Board approved Downers Grove (North) High School as site for the 2003 State Final Tournament May 16-17.

Cooperative Team Request: The Board did not allow a request for an exception to the Cooperative Team Policy from LaHarpe and Sciota (Northwestern). The schools asked for a one-year extension to their current coop agreement for baseball, softball and boys/girls track and field for the spring of 2003. The policy requires such agreements must be for two years. The Board did stipulate that if consolidation of one of the cooperative schools takes place, it should take precedence.

Annual Audit: The Board accepted the final annual audit for the 2002-03 fiscal year.

Future Board Meeting Dates: The Board adopted the following schedule for its regular meetings for the 2003-04 school term: July 13-15 (Sunday-Tuesday), August 11 (Monday), Sept. 8 (Monday), Oct. 14 (Tuesday), Dec. 1 (Monday), Jan. 12 (Monday), Feb. 17 (Tuesday), March 20 (Sat.), April 27 (Tuesday), June 14 (Monday).

Interpretation Involving By-laws 3.011, 3.051 and 3.053: Students are allowed to participate in no more than eight semesters and not more than four years of competition representing an IHSA member school. If a student participates for a member school before entering the ninth grade, the limit of eight semesters and four seasons apply accordingly.

Eligibility Decisions

1. Sustained the Executive Director's decision that a student is ineligible to participate in basketball at Momence this school term and ineligible in all other sports until Jan. 2, 2003, for noncompliance with transfer by-law 3.042. He is a transfer from Lawrenceville, GA, and participated in basketball this year prior to his transfer.
   
2. Sustained the Executive Director's ruling that Brussels player Cody Eberlin be suspended for two games for noncompliance with the sportsmanship by-law (2.041).
   
3. Based on new information, the Board modified the Executive Director's ruling and declared a student eligible at Hillside (Proviso West). He first was ruled ineligible for noncompliance with participation limitations By-law 3.051. The student is a ninth semester senior at the school.
   
4. Modified the Executive Director's rulings regarding Quincy (Sr.) High School and its basketball program as follows:
   
   a) The Board determined that there was a recruiting violation but that it was not undue influence. (By-law 3.070)
   b) Quincy (Sr.) head basketball Coach Loren Wallace remains suspended from coaching at Quincy (Sr.).
   c) Brooks Allen, a transfer student from Pittsfield has been ruled eligible immediately to participate in interscholastic activities at Quincy (Sr.) High School.
   d) Quincy (Sr.) High School remains on probation for one calendar year commencing Dec. 3, 2002.
   e) Quincy (Sr.) High School is required to submit a plan of action detailing the steps it will take to address concerns outlined by the IHSA Board of Directors.
   
5. Sustained the Executive Director's rulings regarding Frank Hood of Rockford (Christian Life) High School. Coach Frank Hood was suspended from coaching at any IHSA member school for a period of one year, commencing Nov. 5, 2002, for exercising undue influence. (By-laws 3.071, 3.073 and 6.010) At the regular December Board meeting (Dec. 2), Hood met with the Board. The Board tabled action on his appeal until today's (Jan. 13) meeting, at which time the Board considered additional information presented by Hood.

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 January, 2003, agenda:

Water Polo: The Board heard a status report of entries into the 2002-03 Water Polo state series. As of Monday's board meeting, 58 boys teams and 53 girls team entries had been received in the IHSA Office. Entry deadline is Feb. 1.

Eligibility Rulings: The Board heard a report that as of Jan. 6, 2003, a total of 857 eligibility rulings had been made with 538 being eligible and 319 ineligible.

Town Meeting Attendance: The Board reviewed reports of attendance at the 2002 Town Meetings. A total of 600 different individuals attended the 21 meetings held statewide. That is an increase of 92 from the previous year. Next year, By-law 2.130 will be in place, requiring attendance by each member school principal or designate at an annual rules meeting/town meeting. It was reported to the Board that these meetings will be held between the first and second meetings of the Legislative Commission in November and that the number of them to be conducted will be increased from 21. The goal is to conduct two meetings in each Legislative Commission District.

By-law Interpretations: The Board discussed the new by-laws approved by the membership in the annual referendum process this fall and where it may need to develop interpretations. These interpretations will need to be completed prior to the publication of the IHSA Handbook with Illustrations for 2003-04 School Term.