IHSA Announcements

September 11, 2006  

October 15-21 Set as Activities Week

The Illinois High School Association’s Board of Directors announced at its regularly scheduled meeting that Activities Week will be October 15-21.  Activities Week annually highlights the importance of participation in school interscholastic programs and recognizes individuals for their efforts in helping young people learn the requisite skills to become productive citizens.  Each day of the week highlights a different group or topic.  The breakdown for this year’s celebration follows:

“Activities Week is always a special time for schools to recognize the important aspects and contributors to their interscholastic programs,” said IHSA Executive Director Marty Hickman.  “The scope and reach of interscholastic programs extend far beyond wins and losses, and this week affords schools the opportunity to say thanks to all those in their schools, communities, and elsewhere who help contribute in their own way to development of students in Illinois.”

Schools will be sent information regarding Activities Week and possible school-wide activities for each day later this week.  Individuals requesting additional information can contact Anthony Holman at the IHSA Office.

The Board also heard a presentation from representatives of the Southwestern Conference requesting the Board conduct a binding referendum on the expansion of classes in selected IHSA sports in 2007-08.  After discussing the request, the Board did not approve a recommendation to conduct the referendum.

Other Action

1. The Board approved a recommendation from the executive director to approve the 2006-07 operating budget for the association.
2. The Board approved a recommendation from the executive director to increase the fee paid the Diving Referee during the IHSA boys’ and girls’ state swimming series.  The increase will pay the Diving Referee the same amount as the Meet Referee.
3. The Board approved a recommendation from the executive director to adopt a new officials fee schedule for regional play.  The recommendation increased pay for officials working regionals to 45% of the base, an average increase of 5%.
4. The Board approved a recommendation from the executive director to sell only general admission tickets at the IHSA Girls’ Basketball State Final Tournaments.  This practice has been successfully implemented during the IHSA Girls’ Volleyball State Final Tournament.  The cost of all general admission tickets will be $10/session.

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 items on this month’s agenda:

1. The Board heard a report from the executive director reviewing hearings conducted by the Board from 1991-92 through the 2005-06 school terms.
2. The Board heard a report from the executive director reviewing the by-law amendment proposals submitted by member schools thus far.  The deadline for submitting proposals is October 17, 2006.
3. The Board heard a report from IHSA staff regarding the association’s partnership with the Girl Scouts.
4. The Board heard a report from IHSA staff regarding the development of a monthly electronic newsletter that will be sent to the membership beginning this week.  The first edition of The Interpreter will be sent to school administrators on Wednesday, September 13, 2006.  Schools are encouraged to update their email addresses to ensure receipt of this new publication aimed at reminding schools of important dates, reviewing rules, and providing insight on effective interscholastic program leadership.
5. The Board heard a report from IHSA Assistant Executive Director Anthony Holman concerning a wooden bat experiment during the spring baseball season in the of 2007.  The IHSA has received a grant from the NFHS to conduct the experiment, which will be used by various conferences and schools from around the state.  The experiment will collect data in three main areas:  bat breakage rates, offensive production, and batted ball injuries.  Interested individuals should contact the IHSA for more information.
6. The Board heard a report from the executive director regarding the status of the Ola Bundy scholarships.  Information will be sent to member schools in the September all-school mailing and will explain the process schools can follow in downloading the application and nominating up to two female students per school for the scholarships.  So far, over $21,000 has been collected.
7. The Board heard a report from the executive director that the Illinois Journalism Education Association has selected the IHSA to receive this year’s Friend of Illinois Journalism Award for its commitment to the highest quality for students involved in high school journalism.  The IJEA also recognized IHSA Assistant Executive Director Susie Knoblauch for her leadership in the development of the inaugural Journalism State Final.

Eligibility Hearings

1. The Board referred the eligibility ruling on a student of Shelbyville High School back to the executive director for consideration.  The student is a sophomore transfer student from Springfield (Southeast) High School who transferred to Shelbyville High School on January 17, 2006.  The student had been ruled ineligible in regard to his transfer to participate in interscholastic athletics at Shelbyville High School until January 17, 2007, for being in non-compliance with the IHSA By-law 3.045.  During and following the meeting, additional information was provided to the executive director, who then ruled the student eligible immediately.
2. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student of Aurora (Central Catholic) High School.  The student is a junior transfer student from St. Charles (North) High School who transferred to Aurora (Central Catholic) High School on January 19, 2006.  The student was ruled ineligible in regard to the student's transfer to participate in interscholastic athletics at Aurora (Central Catholic) High School until January 19, 2007.