IHSA Announcements

September 8, 2003

Board Suspends Hales Franciscan From Boys Basketball Series

Chicago (Hales Franciscan) was suspended from participating in the 2003-04 school term boys state basketball tournament series in action taken by the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Board of Directors at its regular September meeting Monday (Sept. 8).

The Board is requiring Hales Franciscan to provide in writing a plan to educate its staff regarding IHSA by-laws and policies. The school also must provide the Board a fuller explanation in writing of what occurred during the past summer regarding its boys basketball team in light of the restrictions placed upon it by the Association that were announced May 15. Finally, the school's principal and athletic director are both required to attend one of the 2003-04 Town Meetings/Principals Rules Meetings scheduled between Nov. 6-25, 2003. Upon completion of these requirements, and acceptance of the documentation of compliance submitted to the Board, the school's suspension from the boys state basketball tournament series may be reviewed by the Board.

On May 15, a series of penalties were issued regarding the school, including a requirement that the school was prohibited from sponsoring summer programs related to boys basketball during the summer of 2003, nor were any of its basketball coaches allowed to utilize the 25 contact days outlined in by-law 3.153. In addition, Head Coach Gary London was suspended from coaching at any IHSA school until Dec. 14, 2003, for his involvement in organizing the Hales Franciscan basketball team outside the IHSA season limitations (B-laws 2.090 and 5.040) and for violation of IHSA recruiting rules (By-laws 3.071 and 3.073).

London appealed his penalties at the August 11 Board of Directors meeting. The Board sustained the penalties. During the appeal, questions arose regarding Hales Franciscan's compliance with the restrictions on the boys basketball team during this past summer. The Board mandated that Hales Franciscan's principal, athletic director and head boys basketball coach appear at today's meeting. Athletic Director Sean Stallings and Head Coach London complied. The school's principal did not attend Monday's meeting.

Action Items

The Board took the following action Monday:

1) Approved by-law proposals to submit to the Legislative Commission for consideration in the annual IHSA legislative process. The proposals address:

2) Did not approve a request from Carbondale High School to allow students who attend a private school to participate on a public school team.

3) Approved Decatur (Lutheran) as a member school for the 2003-04 school term. Decatur (Lutheran) has completed requirements by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to be recognized and thus eligible to become a member beginning this school term, but has not been recognized because ISBE has stopped the process as part of its budget cutting.

4) Approved member school principals as tellers for the annual fall election process.

Eligibility Rulings

  1. Sustained the Executive Director's penalties against Kewanee (Wethersfield) for noncompliance with the amateurism by-law (3.084). Representatives of the school appealed the penalties Monday asking the Board to rescind the requirement that the school forfeit games it won in football last fall (2002) and return the semifinalist plaque it received. Wethersfield won the Class 1A state football championship in 2001. Members of the championship team used $80 each from the school's booster club toward the purchase of championship rings, causing them to violate the amateurism rule. The by-law allows students to receive rewards that have a fair market value of no more than $20. The Executive Director required Wethersfield to forfeit games it won last fall (2002) because players on the team who were on the 2001 team and received rings participated in the victories. Students on this year's (2003) team who had the rings were required to make restitution of the $80 in order to regain their eligibility for this season. The school was required to return its 2002 semifinal plaque and also was placed on probation for one year.
     
  2. Sustained the Executive Director's ruling that Alejandro Samia is not eligible at Coal City for noncompliance with residence by-law 3.034.3. Samia is a junior foreign exchange student who was a direct placement with a family who resides in the Coal City district.
     
  3. Modified the Executive Director's ruling that a student is ineligible for the first semester of the 2003-04 school term at Chicago (Brother Rice) for noncompliance with academic standing by-law 3.022 and participation limitation by-law 3.051. The Board granted him eligibility for the 2003-04 school term. The student is a seventh semester senior. He attended two semesters of high school in Germany during the 2002-03 school term.

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 September 2003, agenda:

Marketing Plan -- The Board heard a status report of the marketing plan being developed by Ross Creative + Strategy for the Association.

New Principals Workshop -- The Board heard a report that 46 principals have registered for the annual New Principals Workshop scheduled for Sept. 11.

Sportsmanship Video -- The Board heard a status report from Asst. Executive Director Beth Sauser regarding a sportsmanship video being prepared by staff in the Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Communications Department in conjunction with IHSA.

IHSA/IESA Breakfast at IPA -- The Board heard plans for the joint breakfast hosted by IHSA and the Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) during the 32ndannual Illinois Principals Associaiton (IPA). It will be Tuesday, Oct. 21, beginning at 7:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn City Centre in Peoria. Glen Ward, a professional humorist who has been a featured speaker at the National Federation of State High School Associations Summer Meeting, will be the 2003 guest speaker.