IHSA Announcements

October 31, 2007

johnston city high school penalized for by-law violations

A series of sanctions involving Johnston City High School and a staff member were announced today (October 31) by IHSA Executive Director Martin L. Hickman.  The school and staff member were both found in violation of Illinois High School Association by-laws.  The school has been informed of the findings and penalties.

The IHSA initiated an investigation at Johnston City High School’s request after Carterville High School Principal Don Smith did not concur with the transfer of two students to Johnston City High School.

Johnston City High School was cited for its failure to enforce the requirements of IHSA By-law 2.070 (Qualification of Coaches).  During the 2006-07 school term Johnston City High School allowed individuals who were not properly certified to act as coaches in their girls softball program.

The high school and an assistant softball coach were ruled to have violated the Association’s recruiting rule by allowing a student who was not enrolled at Johnston City High School to participate in summer contact day programs for the softball team.  The summer participation is addressed in part by IHSA interpretation No. 151 in the IHSA Official Handbook with Illustrations.  It states:  “Q.  May incoming freshmen or transfer students participate in summer league programs?  A.  Yes, however, they must have registered at the school and paid applicable fees and/or deposits.  (By-law 3.073)”  Further illustrating the point that only students from member schools are to participate in contact days is IHSA By-law 3.153 which states in part:  “Persons who coach a sport at a member school may have a maximum of 25 days of contact in that sport with students from that school…”

Sanctions:

• Johnston City High School has been cited for its lack of institutional control.  The school is required to develop and implement a remediation plan that will include a comprehensive plan to educate coaches and other appropriate personnel regarding IHSA By-laws.  The school must further develop in-house procedures to ensure compliance with IHSA By-laws.
• The school has been placed on probation for the 2007-08 school term.  The probationary status does not deprive a school of any of its privileges as an IHSA member school.  Rather, it is a status of official warning that any further violation of IHSA By-laws or other rules of the Association could bring more serious consequences.
• The assistant softball coach has been suspended from coaching softball at Johnston City High School for the first two varsity games of the season.
• Under the provisions of IHSA By-law 3.041, one of the transfer students from Carterville has been ruled ineligible for the 2007-08 school term. 
• A ruling on the second student is anticipated in a few days.

Comments from Executive Director Dr. Martin L. Hickman:

"The violations uncovered during the course of this investigation are serious breaches of our rules. While some of the violations may have occurred due to a lack of understanding of the Association's by-laws, they are nonetheless violations.  IHSA member schools are obligated to know and comply with the Association’s rules and policies”

“This situation illustrates the importance of IHSA By-law 3.041 which gives member schools a voice in the approval of transfers from one school to another.”