IHSA Announcements
August 7, 1996
Task Force Moves Closer To Final Working Document
BLOOMINGTON — The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Task Force on Public/Private School Issues met for the seventh time Wednesday (August 7) and reviewed the rough draft of a working document which could be presented to the membership in the upcoming Principal's Rules Meetings beginning in mid-September.
The impact of potential changes in the residence by-laws regarding initial eligibility of students attending either public or private schools, and the impact of potential changes in the transfer by-laws after students have entered a member school were reviewed. The work document rough draft will be reviewed by the IHSA Board of Directors at its August 14 meeting. The Task Force is scheduled to meet again Sept. 11 at 10:00 a.m. to finalize the working document which will be presented to personnel from member schools at the series of 13 Principal's Rules Meeting.
"We are now tying the loose ends together," said Task Force Chair Gary Collins, principal of Monmouth (H.S.) and a member of the IHSA Board of Directors. "We spent the day polishing the concepts in the areas where the Task Force probably will make recommendations. In terms of initial eligibility, and transfer, the concept of students residing with their parent(s) or guardian has been addressed. In terms of initial eligibility at private schools, limiting factors like distance from a private school, family legacy in private school(s) by the student and/or parent(s) or guardian, and the geographic location of the family residence within the public school district have been addressed. In terms of transfers within a given sport season, the impact of limiting eligibility in the sport has been addressed."
Collins was more confident following today's meeting that the potential for some or all of any recommendations to change IHSA by-laws generated by the Task Force can be included in the IHSA's annual referendum process. The series of Principal's Rules Meetings will conclude Oct. 9, and the deadline for submission of proposals to change IHSA by-laws is Oct. 15. "If the Board of Directors chooses to submit by-law proposals, or have a principal of the Task Force submit by-law proposals, the timing allows for it to occur, Collins said.
In the IHSA's annual referendum process, proposals to change any by-law or Constitution article must be submitted by Oct. 15. Each proposal is reviewed by the IHSA's Legislative Commission at its first meeting (Nov. 4 in 1996) and proponents and opponents of each proposal may appear before the Legislative Commission to discuss the intent and present rationale for or against each proposal. Following that first meeting, a series of Town Meetings are held throughout the state. At these meetings personnel from member schools have an opportunity to hear the pros and cons of each proposal and communicate with their Legislative Commissioner regarding them. The Legislative Commission returns for its second meeting (Nov. 18 in 1996) and its members vote to place or not to place each submitted proposal on the annual referendum ballot. All proposals place on the ballot are then submitted in a mail polling to each member school. The official representative of each school casts the school's vote on all proposals on the ballot. A simple majority of those voting on a given proposal will carry or reject it. The mail ballots are sent to the member schools shortly after the second Legislative Commission meeting. Deadline for return of the completed ballot is Dec. 13 this year. Ballots are counted in the IHSA Office that day and the results are released to the membership immediately.
"The process sounds complicated, but in reality is quite simple and provides great opportunity for personnel at our member schools to have significant input in the process," Collins said. "The Task Force has worked diligently since its organizational meeting in January of 1996. I'm confident the work of its labor will bear fruit."