IHSA Announcements

July 20, 1999

Board Concludes Annual Review

The 1999 annual three-day summer review of Illinois High school Association (IHSA) operations was concluded by the Board of Directors Tuesday (July 20).

"This regular summer meeting allows our board and staff to discuss a wide range of subjects that impact all facets of the functions and operation IHSA," said Executive Director Dave Fry. "Again this year, there was a good exchange of ideas regarding the organization and operation of our state series, the direction of our strategic planning , the business aspect of IHSA including the impact of building expansion on the annual budget and office operations during the 1999-2000 school year, and a number of other subjects."

Board Action

The Board took the following action regarding the general business of the Association:
  1. Approved the 1999-2000 operating budget of $5.4 million. The budget includes a portion of the funds needed for expansion of the headquarters building, which is scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2000.
  2. Approved tellers to be appointed for the annual nomination and election of candidates for the Board of Directors and Legislative Commission, and for counting the annual amendment ballots in December.
  3. Approved IHSA participation in a national Internet web site project under the auspices of the National Federation of State High School Associations. The project will be in addition to the current IHSA presence on the Internet through its www.ihsa.org web site. The new IHSA site, www.highschoolillinois.com, will focus on state and local information, while a new National Federation site, www.ihigh.com, will focus on national issues and serve as an umbrella for the individual state sites. Illinois is one of up to 14 states across the country scheduled to become part of the project this fall.

Rulings

  1. Found Chicago (Flower Vocational), Chicago (Crane) and Chicago (Foreman) in breach of contract for entering the boys state volleyball tournament series and not appearing at their first round matches.

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 July, 1999, agenda:

State Final Proposal Specifications: The Board reviewed the first draft of recommendations for the specifications to be used by IHSA in the upcoming process to seek proposals to host the state finals in girls volleyball, girls basketball, boys basketball, boys individual wrestling and boys football.

Block Scheduling: The Board discussed a series of questions pertaining to the application of the IHSA academic eligibility by-laws in schools which utilize a block scheduling plan.

IHSA Office Expansion: The Board heard a report of the status of construction at the IHSA headquarters office. It was also reported to the Board that up-to-date pictorial reports of the work being done may be found on the "Construction Zone" page of the IHSA Web Site at www.ihsa.org.

Strategic Planning: The Board heard status reports regarding the action teams assigned to non-school competition/instruction, expansion of minority representation and future strategic planning.

Football Issues: The Board heard a status report of the ad hoc committee studying future football scheduling and playoff structure.

Basketball Classification: The Board heard a status report of the ad hoc committee studying basketball classification.