January 12, 2004
The Illinois High School Association Board of Directors began the process to review several major areas of the Association's operation at its regular monthly meeting in the IHSA Office Monday (Jan. 12).
The Board examined data and discussed at length: 1) redistricting of the Board of Directors divisions and Legislative Commission districts; 2) Classification for the 2004-05 school term and the Criteria for Increasing the Number of Classes in IHSA Sports and Activities; 3) policies and procedures for seeking bids on state final sites; 4) the potential for the addition of a state series in Journalism.
The IHSA Constitution requires a periodic review of the allocations of schools to the seven geographic Board divisions and the 21 geographic Legislative districts. The last major redistricting of schools was July 3, 1978. Seven of the 10 Board members are elected by the schools in their division and three are elected statewide at large. The Legislative Commission is composed of 35 members with 21 elected by the schools in their district and 14 elected from larger geographic areas. Currently, the number of schools in the Board Divisions varies from 97 in Division 3 (the south and west suburbs) to 124 in Division 7 (Southern Illinois). The number of schools in the current Legislative Commission districts ranges from 29 to 45. The Board will consider redistricting at a later meeting.
Earlier this year the Board approved a plan to obtain member school enrollments online and to classify schools in the two-class series based upon the enrollment figures supplied by IHSA member schools to the IHSA Office. Once all the enrollments are received in the IHSA office, the splits for the state soccer series and the complete two-class series breakdown in the other sports can be finalized. As of Jan. 6, 2004, a total of 685 member schools had submitted their enrollment. Currently, there are 761 member schools. The IHSA Office has received the enrollments of all schools close to the cutoff and has tentatively determined the cutoff for the traditional two-class competition for 2004-05 will be 748. Schools with enrollments of 748 and less will be in Class A. Schools with enrollments of 749 and above will be in Class AA. The enrollment cutoff will be finalized once IHSA receives confirming data from the Illinois State Board of Education. That data is expected to be available in March or April, 2004.
Executive Director Dr. Martin L. Hickman led the Board in a discussion of the existing policy regarding the criteria for increasing classes.
Several of the contracts for hosting state final events are nearing the end of their five-year terms. The Board discussed and started development of a new "Policies and Procedures for Contracting State Final Tournament Sites" in all sports and activities. The Board is expected to approve the new document at its February meeting.
The Board met with representatives of Harrisburg High School and the Illinois Journalism Educators Association (IJEA). They requested the Board establish a state series in Journalism. The Board took no action regarding the request. Previously, the Board did not approve a recommendation from the News Media Advisory Committee to establish a statewide series for the 2004-05 school term.
Action Items
Boys Gymnastics State Final Meet Site -- The Board approved Barrington High School as the site of the annual Boys Gymnastics State Final Meet for this school term (May 14-15, 2004), and the succeeding two school terms (2004-05 and 2005-06) if both parties agree to continue at the site following this year's meet. In addition, the IHSA staff and Barrington staff will review the starting time for competition on Friday to accommodate the Barrington school schedule. Necessary adjustments will be made.
Annual Report -- The Board authorized the IHSA staff to again publish an Annual Report beginning with the current (2003-04) school term.
Annual Audit -- The Board accepted the annual audit of IHSA financial records for the 2002-03 school term by the Clifton, Gunderson firm.
Future Board Meeting Dates -- The Board approved the following for the 2004-05 school term: Sunday-Tuesday, July 11-13 (annual three-day meeting); Monday, Aug., 9; Monday, Sept. 13; Tuesday, Oct. 12; (none in November); Monday, Dec. 6; Monday, Jan. 10; Monday, Feb. 14; Saturday, March 19 (at Peoria); Tuesday, April 26; (none in May); Monday, June 13.
Future Music Organization Dates -- The Board approved dates for future statewide Music Organization Contests. Each year, there are a total of 21 sites statewide that host the competition. Dates approved are: 2005: April 15-16 (Easter is March 27); 2006: April 1-2 (Easter is April 16); 2007: April 19-20 (Easter is April 8); 2008: April 11-12 (Easter is March 23); 2009: April 24-25 (Easter is April 12).
Boys Basketball Ticket Policy -- The Board approved revisions in the IHSA Ticket Policy for Boys Basketball. Schools that advance their teams to the State Final Tournament will receive an allotment of 1,033 tickets each for the session(s) in which their team participates. Beginning with the 2005 State Tournaments, a postage and handling fee will be charged for season and single-session mail orders.
Eligibility Decisions
1) The Board reviewed documents provided by Chicago (Hales Franciscan) and information gathered by IHSA staff. Following the review, the Board took no action regarding its ruling that Hales Franciscan is ineligible to participate in the 2003-04 boys basketball state tournament series as a result of its noncompliance with sanctions issued for violation of several by-laws. The Board determined Monday that requirements it made of Hales Franciscan at the Sept. 8, 2003, meeting have not been fulfilled.
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 other discussion items on the January 2004, agenda:
By-law Interpretations: The Board heard a report of the voting in the annual referendum process. All nine of the proposals on the ballot were approved by the membership and are effective July 1, 2004. Several of the new by-laws will need interpretations. The Board had preliminary discussions regarding potential interpretations.
Wrestling Telecast: The Board heard a progress report regarding inquiry into a tape delayed telecast of the championship bouts of the Individual Wrestling State Final Tournament.
NFHS Minority Women Coaching Program: The Board heard a report of a new program being offered by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) entitled "NFHS Minority Women Coaching Program. The IHSA is one of a handful of state associations participating in the program, and is currently working with the Chicago Public League Office to identify candidates for the program.
Volleyball Rules: The Board heard a report that the National Federation Volleyball Rules Committee has recommended by state association adoption that 2 out of 3 game format rally scoring be allowed for the 2004-05 school term. Subsequent to the rule change by NFHS, 2 of 3 game format rally scoring will be adopted in Illinois in 2004-05.