IHSA Announcements

June 24, 2003

Proviso West Penalties Modified

Penalties against Hillside (Proviso West) High School and its boys basketball coaching staff, for violation of Illinois High School Association (IHSA) sport season and open gym by-laws were modified today (June 24, 2003) by Executive Director Dr. Martin L. Hickman. The school has been informed on the penalty modifications.

Since the original penalties were imposed May 21, 2003, the Board of Education of Proviso Township High School District No. 209 has informed Executive Director Hickman of actions it has taken and will take to insure compliance with IHSA rules and regulations with regard to its boys basketball program. Proviso West was required to submit its plan of action by June 15.

"It is important that I comment on the decisive manner in which the Proviso Township Board of Education and school administration have responded to this situation," Hickman said. "I have met with them and I am convinced they are focused 100 per cent on making sure their school's boys basketball program, and every other activity program the school sponsors, will operate within the framework of IHSA rules."

Modifications to the original penalties are:

1. The school will be allowed to use 15 contact days that are provided for in By-law 3.153. The by-law allows for 25 contact days during the summer. The original penalty was a prohibition on any contact days this summer.
   
2. Proviso West may provide transportation to approved boys basketball summer activities. The original penalty prohibited the school from providing any transportation this summer for students involved in boys basketball activities.
   
3. Members of the Proviso West boys basketball coaching staff that have been approved by the Proviso Township High School District No. 209 Board of Education will be allowed to participate in basketball related activities during the 15 contact days. The original penalty prohibited any boys basketball coaching staff member from utilizing the permissible 25 contact days this summer.

In making the modifications and in communication informing the school of the reduction in the boys basketball penalties, the Executive Director clearly indicated to the Proviso Township Board of Education that any sport specific practice or conditioning may only occur during the specific sport season as outlined in Section 5.000 of the IHSA Official Handbook, or during a contact day period outlined in By-law 3.153. And, he added that the school may only be involved in out of season events that occur during the contact day period outlined in By-law 3.153.

Proviso West High School remains on probation through the end of the 2003-04 (next) school term.