IHSA Announcements

December 1, 1997

Board Adopts Guidelines For Adding, Discontinuing Tournaments

BLOOMINGTON — Guidelines for adding and discontinuing state series programs were approved by the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Board of Directors at its regular December meeting Monday (Dec. 1) in the IHSA Office.

"There has been over the years growth in programs in our member schools," observed IHSA Executive Director Dave Fry. "IHSA is about to celebrate its centennial (in calendar year 2000) and we anticipate new programs that will merit a state series. There also may be a significant decline in school involvement in an existing state series program which would warrant discontinuation. The Board today established a vehicle for IHSA travel the road to state series competition in both directions."

The guidelines approved by the Board are:
  1. The Board will entertain proposals to add a new state series when ten percent of the member schools engage in regularly scheduled competition in the sport or activity.
  2. When the minimum required participation level is demonstrated and proposals to add a new state series are considered, the Board shall (a) consider the growth potential of the sport or activity, and (b) consider the equity criteria included in the classification policy in determining whether to add the proposed new series.
  3. The Board will entertain recommendations from staff to consider deletion of an existing state series when no more than five percent of the member schools participate in the series and/or engage in regularly scheduled competition in the sport or activity.

Other Business

  1. Music Plaques: The Board approved a change in the cost of Division 1 Rating plaques in the Music Organization Contest. Schools may purchase the plaques for $42.00 each, which includes the cost of shipping and handling.

  2. Board Meeting Dates: The following dates have been set for the 1998-99 school year board meetings:
    July 19-21, 1998 (Sunday-Tuesday)
    August 13 (Thursday)
    September 14 (Monday)
    October 13 (Tuesday)
    December 7 (Monday)
    January 25 (Monday)
    February 22 (Tuesday)
    March 22 (Monday)
    April 27 (Tuesday)
    June 9 (Wednesday)
  3. Strategic Planning: The Board authorized that action teams be put into place to pursue the following two strategies:
    1. Provide More Equitable Promotion and Recognition of Interscholastic Activities. (Board of Directors President Dennis Garber of Hoffman Estates (H.S.) will chair the team. Staff team members will be Susan Hinrichsen and Jim Flynn.)
    2. Increase and improve two-way communication between the IHSA Office and its member schools. (Board of Directors member Bill Wright of Savanna will chair the team. Staff team member will be Scott Johnson.)
    3. It was reported to the Board that the action team for non-school competition/coaching schools had met five times and that three future meetings have been scheduled. (Board of Directors member Craig Zeck of Downers Grove (South) chairs the team. Staff team member is Don Robinson.). Other members of the action team are:
    Don Beard, Divernon
    Charles Buescher, Peoria (H.S.)
    Washington Bush, Hoffman Estates (Conant)
    Donna Dulle, Mt. Pulaski
    Catherine Finch, Winnebago
    Lester Hampton, Normal (University)
    Noree Mares, Lombard (Glenbard East)
    Nancy Pedersen, Chicago (Mother McAuley)
    Don Pittman, Chicago (Marshall)
    J.W. Smith, Chicago Public League
    Rena Talbert, Fairfield
    Homer Thomas, Oak Lawn (Richards)
    Lenore Wilcox, Wheaton (W. Warrenville South)
    Carol Wilson, Taylorville
    Jim Woodward, Murphysboro
  4. Received the annual report of the investment of IHSA retirement funds from Ray Wicklander of Great Lakes Managers, Inc.

Eligibility Decisions

  1. Referred back to the Executive Director for reconsideration in light of new information presented at the hearing his ruling that a student is ineligible at Brussels for noncompliance with participation limit by-law 3.051. The executive director's initial ruling was that the student was a ninth-semester student.

Discussion Items

At each meeting of the Board of Directors, there are certain agenda items which the Board discusses but upon which it takes no action. Following is a report of those on the December, 1997, agenda:
  1. Current Referendum: The Board heard a report regarding this year's annual referendum process. The Legislative Commission this year voted to place five proposals on this year's ballot. Each member school is eligible to cast a vote for or against each proposal. Ballots are due in the IHSA Office on or before Dec. 16. A simple majority of votes on a given proposal will carry or defeat it. Proposals on this year's ballot would:
    1. require that any major official working a varsity contest be licensed by IHSA.
    2. establish a procedure for a school scheduled to play a football game against a school on strike to schedule another game.
    3. expand the flexibility in the residence rules for students living with relatives.
    4. prevent students from escaping ineligibility for violating local school policy at the present through transfer to a new school.
    5. establish both season and game limitations for the sport of water polo.

  2. Add A. Tude™ Update: The Board heard a report of the progress being made in the Add A. Tude sportsmanship campaign. Sales representatives from Kathryn Beich, the Bloomington-based candy company supporting the Add A. Tude campaign, are scheduled to visit IHSA and IESA member schools in the upcoming weeks with a set of materials created especially for the campaign. The Add A. Tude mascot made its IHSA debut at the Football Playoff championship games, and has made appearances at several grade school and high school assemblies. Booking of the mascot is being handled through the IHSA Office in conjunction with the Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) Office. Add A. Tude appliques, window clings, neckties, hair scrunches, scarves, T-shirts and sweatshirts have been created and are available for sale through the IHSA Web Site at www.ihsa.org or by phone (309) 663-6377. Major credit cards may be used for phone orders. Additional promotional items will become available throughout the school year. Specific Add A. Tude mascot artwork has been created by the Kathryn Beich staff for use in the different state series and other uses. The event specific Add A. Tude is printed on the left sleeve of all T-shirts produced for the different state series.