October 14, 2003
Summit (Argo) High School Principal Dr. Frank Stout was elected president of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Board of Directors at its regular October meeting Tuesday (Oct. 14) at the IHSA Office.
Stout, who graduated from Argo in 1968, has been principal at his alma mater since 1992. He becomes the 31st person in the 103-year history of the Association to be its president. Stout has been a member of the Board since 2001. He represents Division No. 3.
Elected vice president was Hoffman Estates (Conant) Principal Joe Schlender, representing Division No. 2. Schlender was appointed to the Board in May of 2002 to fill an unexpired term and was elected to a three-year term in October 2002. Dr. Katherine Flanagan, principal at Chicago (Manley), was elected secretary. Flanagan represents Division 1 and has been a member of the Board since 1996. She served as secretary from 2001-2002.
Election of officers came after the canvass of ballots in this year's Board elections. Membership of the Board of Directors was expanded from seven to nine members with the election of 2000, and from nine to ten with the election of 2003.
Todd Prusator, principal at Rochelle, was elected from Division 4 to a 2-year term. Ron Conner, principal at Clinton, was elected to a 3-year term from Division 5. Elected to a 3-year term from Division 7 was Jim Woodward, principal of Anna (A.-Jonesboro). Dr. Diane Dyer-Dawson, principal of Chicago (Collins), was elected at-large to a 3-year term representing minorities. Dr. Jim Quaid, principal at Oak Park (Fenwick), was elected at-large to a 2-year term representing private schools.
Others on the Board are Catherine Finch, principal at Stockton and an at-large member, and Knoxville principal Ron McGraw, representing Division 6.
Mt. Zion Principal Greg Bradley was reappointed to a three-year term as treasurer.
Action Items
Challenge Yourself Campaign: The Board approved launching the new values education campaign entitled "Challenge Yourself" during National High School Activities Week (Oct. 19-25). The campaign kicks off with Monday's Board meeting and will continue throughout the remainder of the 2003-04 (current) school term. During the campaign, the values taught by coaches and educators and the values learned by participants and spectators through interscholastic athletic and non-athletic activities will be promoted. Member schools will receive a series of posters challenging their students and coaches to think about their roles in the interscholastic mix. (See story here.)
Awards Policy: The Board approved a change in the Awards Policy regarding team medallions given to the top three placing teams in the individual sports. Medallions will be provided in a quantity equal to the number of roster members stipulated in the respective sport Terms and Conditions, plus an additional two medallions. Each school will determine the distribution of the additional medallions. It is recommended that one be given to the head coach of the team.
Chicago Prep Bowl: Approved a modification in the interpretation of By-law 5.063 to include River Grove (Holy Cross) among the schools eligible from the Chicago Catholic League to participate in the Chicago Prep Bowl series in football.
United Center Boys Basketball Tickets: The Board approved a price of $8.00 per ticket for the Class AA boys basketball double-header super-sectional held at the United Center in Chicago. The super-sectional will be played Tuesday, March 16.
Legislative Commission Appointments: The Board authorized appointment of five people to the Legislative Commission. The appointments were necessary either because there were no candidates on the ballot this year, or because the person was on the ballot for both the Board and Legislative Commission and was elected to the Board of Directors. Those authorized for appointment are:
Foreign Exchange Program Removal: The Board removed Ventures International Association (VIA) Foreign Exchange Program from the listing of Approved Foreign Exchange Programs effective immediately.
Board Acts on Terms and Conditions Recommendations
The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Board of Directors acted on recommendations for Terms and Conditions and administrative procedures from eight advisory committees at its regular October meeting Tuesday in the IHSA Office.
"Our advisory committees meet on an annual basis, usually soon after the completion of the state series in that sport or activity," noted IHSA Executive Director Dr. Martin L. Hickman. "Each advisory committee assesses the terms and conditions for its state tournament series, and all other facets of the sport or activity which may apply to the site of its state final event, and which may apply during the regular season."
Following is a recap of the Board action Tuesday:
Athletic Administrators
1. Received the report of its meeting and approved several recommendations the committee made regarding proposals from the sport/activity advisory committees. The recommendations are reflected in Board action regarding the sports/activity advisory committees.
Girls Badminton
1. Approved a recommendation to award eight medallions to the placing teams at the state final as part of an overall awards policy modification.
2. Approved changes in the Code of Conduct that clarifies continuous play and addresses severe breach of conduct and ethics.
3. Approved a change that clarifies how timeout(s) will be handled for players who have asthma and must administer a treatment during a match.
4. Approved a recommendation that will allow coaches a chance to coach up to 90 seconds between games. In addition, a maximum of five minutes rest will be allowed between games 2 and 3, and only coaches may have communication or contact with their competitors during the splits.
4. Approved an administrative recommendation to conduct a series of four badminton rules interpretation meetings in February.
Boys Baseball
1. Did not approve a recommendation to conduct the seeding meetings later in the season.
2. Approved Hitting Derby recommendations that:
a) Score the preliminaries and finals at the state final separately with no cumulative score.
b) Conduct the sectional hitting derby following the conclusion of the championship game whenever possible
c) Allow only coaches or players in school uniform to pitch to their team's contestants.
Girls Softball
1. Did not approve a recommendation to conduct the seeding meetings later in the season.
2. Did not approve a recommendation to require that the top four seeds be placed in the quadrants and that they be matched up according to seed with teams 5-8.
3. Approved a recommendation in the playing schedule to provide that the sectional semifinal games will be played as a double-header on Thursday, and if a double-header is not played Thursday, single games be played Wednesday and Thursday with the top bracket game played Wednesday and the bottom bracket game played Thursday.
4. Did not approve a recommendation to establish a reduced admission price for high school age students and under at state series sites that do not sell reserved seating.
5. Approved a recommendation to survey the coaches at the sectional seeding meetings to determine whether the Hitting Derby should continue in Girls Softball.
6. Approved a recommendation for the Hitting Derby that each batter will get 15 pitches to take 12 swings.
News Media
1. Approved a recommendation to revise the Broadcast Policy to allow radio originators to simulcast their game play-by-play broadcast on the Internet with no additional rights fee.
2. Approved a recommendation in the Broadcast Policy to establish an escalating rights fee charge for late or non-payment of rights fees as follows: At the state final, the proper rights fees shall be paid by the originator prior to the start of the origination at the state final. If the originator does not pay the proper rights fee prior to the start of the origination of the state final, the rights fee owed IHSA shall double. If the originator does not pay the doubled rights fee within thirty calendar days from the start of the state final, the originator shall become ineligible to originate any broadcast of an IHSA event until the total rights fee owed IHSA is paid to IHSA. Originators approved by IHSA under this section of the Broadcast Policy shall receive credentials and have access to the facility.
3. Approved a recommendation in the Television Policy to establish an escalating rights fee charge for late or non-payment of rights fees as follows: At all levels in the respective state series, the proper rights fees shall be paid by the originator prior to the start of the game/meet finals. If the originator does not pay the proper rights fee prior to the start of the game/meet finals, the rights fee owed to the local manager or IHSA Office, where applicable, shall double. If the originator does not pay the doubled rights fee within thirty calendar days from the start of the game/meet finals, the originator shall become ineligible to originate any telecast of an IHSA event until the total rights fee owed the local manager and/or IHSA Office is paid in full to the IHSA Office. Originators approved under this section of the Television Policy shall receive credentials and have access to the facility.
4. Approved a recommendation in the Television Policy to approve networking of cable telecasts as to negotiate a cumulative rights fee for such a network.
5. Approved development of a downloadable form from the Media Center on the IHSA Web site for use by the news media in evaluating facilities of member schools hosting state series events.
6. Did not approve a recommendation to establish a state series in Journalism beginning with the 2004-05 school term. The Board authorized the IHSA staff to survey the membership regarding the concept.
Track and Field
1. The Board approved the following changes in qualifying marks in the Girls state series: Class A - Pole Vault from 8-0 to 8-6; 4 x 100-meter relay from :52.2 MT and :52.44 FAT to :52.0 MT and :52.24 FAT; 100-meter dash from :12.6 MT and :12.84 FAT to :12.7 MT and :12.94 FAT; 1600-meter run from 5:39.0 MT and 5:39.24 FAT to 5:36.0 MT and 5:36.24 FAT. Class AA - Pole Vault from 9-6 to 10-3; 800-meter medley relay from 1:52.6 MT and 1:52.84 FAT to 1:52.0 MT and 1:52.24 FAT; 800-meter run from 2:21.5 MT and 2:21.74 FAT to 2:20.5 MT and 2:20.74 FAT; 400-meter dash from :59.8 MT and 1:00.04 FAT to :59.5 MT and :59.74 FAT; 200-meter dash from :25.9 MT and :26.14 FAT to :25.8 MT and :26.04 FAT.
2. The Board approved the following changes in qualifying marks in the Boys state series: Class A - 4 x 800-meter relay from 8:24.5 MT and 8:24.74 FAT to 8:22.0 MT and 8:22.24 FAT; 1600-meter run from 4:38.0 MT and 4:38.24 FAT to 4:37.0 MT and 4:37.24 FAT. Class AA - Pole Vault from 13-6 to 13-9; High Jump from 6-4 to 6-5; 400-meter dash from :49.9 MT and :50.14 FAT to :49.7 MT and :49.94 FAT.
3. The Board approved for Boys/Girls Officials: That the IHSA Office assigns the Meet Referee, Starter and Asst. Starter for the sectionals, and that it no longer be a requirement that the person starting the non-FAT timing device be a licensed official.
4. The Board approved for Boys/Girls Entry Process: That if a school does not complete the online sectional worksheet by the deadline it will not be eligible to have participants compete in the state series. In addition, the names of the (up to eight) relay runners submitted via the online sectional worksheet prior to the seeding meeting cannot be changed at any time thereafter. The only changes that can be made after a school submits the online sectional worksheet at the seeding meeting are in the individual event entries.
5. The Board approved for Girls/Boys Discus: That the judges use a tape measure and announce the distance after each throw in the preliminaries and finals in the sectionals and State Final.
6. The Board approved for Girls/Boys Sectional Entry Meeting: That the Sectional Manager is required to provide the coaches with a copy of the running event heat and field event flight assignments before they leave the meeting.
7. The Board approved a recommendation that the Hy-Tek or Sydex computer software programs are the recommended computer meet management programs for Sectional Managers, and that the IHSA Office will provide entry and other data in electronic format only for these two computer software programs.
Sportsmanship
1. The Board received the minutes of the Sportsmanship Advisory Committee meeting held Sept. 25.
Officials
1. The Board approved a recommendation that schools hosting rules meetings have someone available to assist the rules interpreter in setting up the meeting venue for a Power Point presentation. All rules meetings in all sports now utilize Power Point as a tool in conducting the meetings.
2. The Board approved a recommendation that officials recruitment/mentoring financial grants ranging from $250 to $500 be awarded to 11 officials associations.
3. The Board approved a recommendation that only the percentile ranking of the (official's) ratings and Top 15 List be posted on the official's personal site on the IHSA Web site.
Eligibility Decisions
1) Heard the appeal of the Executive Director's ruling that a student is ineligible at Peoria (H.S.) until April 22, 2004, for noncompliance with Transfer By-law 3.041 and 3.043 and its sub-sections. The Board directed the Executive Director to gather further documentation regarding non-concurrence by Peoria (Richwoods), the sending school, and Peoria (H.S.), the receiving school. Temporary custody of the student was given to his grandfather. The sending school questioned the residence of the grandfather and student. The Board directed the Executive Director to review his ruling in light of the additional information that will be submitted by Richwoods, Peoria (H.S.) and Peoria District 150.
2) Modified the Executive Director's ruling that a student is ineligible at Moweaqua (Central A&M) for the 2003-04 school term for noncompliance with Residence By-law 3.031.l. The Board declared her eligible Nov. 10 pending verification that tuition payments were up to date. Her family moved outside the boundaries of the district and is paying tuition for her to continue attending school there.
Discussion Items
At each meeting of the Board of Directors, there are certain agenda items that the Board discusses, but upon which it takes no action. Following is a report of those on the October 2003, agenda:
Electronic Balloting: The Board heard a report regarding participation of member schools in the electronic nominating process of candidates for the Board of Directors and Legislative Commission. A year ago, 132 (17 percent of the membership) participated in the nominating process. This year, 167 (22 percent) participated. During the regular election this year, member schools cast 1,200 votes compared to 816 a year ago. Member schools cast ballots for candidates for multiple offices when the cycle evolves elections. A total of 398 different member schools participated in the balloting this year.
NFHS Hall of Fame: The Board heard a report that nominations to the National High School Hall of Fame for the class of 2004 close Nov. 15. Anyone can nominate a person for the National High School Hall of Fame. The categories are as follows: High School Male Coach, High School Female Coach, High School Contest Officials, Former High School Athlete, State Association Executive Director, State Association Governing Board Member, State Association Information Director/Assistant Director, Media Representative, National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) Representative, National School Boards Association (NSBA) Representative, High School Activities Administrator and High School Fine Arts Coach/Administrator. There is no limit to the number of nominations that can come from a state. There is a limit of one inductee per state per year.
Amendment Proposals: The Board received an update on the 14 proposals submitted to the IHSA Office for consideration by the Legislative Commission during the annual referendum process. The deadline for submission of proposals was Oct. 7. The Legislative Commission will meet twice to consider each proposal. The first meeting is Nov. 3 and the commission members will hear the pros and cons regarding each proposal. The second meeting is Dec. 1 and the Legislative Commission will vote whether to place each respective proposal on the electronic ballot for consideration by all member schools. Between the first and second meetings of the Legislative Commission, the IHSA will conduct 42 Town Meetings/Principals Rules Meetings throughout the state. The principal of each member school (or designee) is required to attend one of these meetings. During the Town Meeting portion of the combined meetings, each proposal before the Legislative Commission will be reviewed and the pros and cons of each proposal will be discussed. If the Legislative Commission votes to place a proposal on the ballot, each member school will have the opportunity to vote for or against the proposal via electronic ballot. Deadline for voting is Dec. 22. A simple majority of votes cast on each ballot proposal will approve of defeat it.
Redistricting: The Board heard a report of the distribution of member schools in the different Board of Directors Divisions and Legislative Commission districts. The IHSA Constitution in Section 1.330 "Divisions Defined" establishes seven Board divisions and their correlated Legislative Commission districts. Currently, there are three districts correlated to a respective division. The number of schools currently assigned to the 21 legislative districts range in numbers from 29-45. The number of schools from the district assigned to the board divisions range from 97-124.
Internet Broadcasts: The Board heard a report of the Internet Broadcast experiment that will be conducted at the 2003 Football Championship Games. If the experiment proves successful, Internet broadcasts will be expanded this school term to include boys and girls basketball, girls softball and boys baseball. (See story on www.ihsa.org)
High School Activities Week: The Board heard a report of plans at the NFHS level and within IHSA for National High School Activities Week (Oct. 19-25). Each day during this period is a designated day. Those days are: