IHSA Board Acts on Altamont Coop Agreements, Hears from Cowden-Herrick's Schuler

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Board of Directors met for its regularly scheduled meeting, which included both virtual and in-person attendance, on Monday. During the meeting, the Board approved nine action items, including an extension of the IHSA Class 3A/4A Baseball State Finals at DuPage Medical Group Field in Joliet.

“We are excited for the IHSA Baseball State Finals to return to Joliet for another five years,” said IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson. “The entire Joliet community, including the local high schools and the Joliet Slammers staff, have been so supportive in hosting the state tournament. The area has an amazing high school baseball tradition as well, so it really is an easy decision to return. We can’t wait to come back in June.”

The extension with the City of Joliet, and co-hosts Joliet Central High School and Joliet West High School, runs for five years and will include the state tourney from 2022 through 2026.

Joliet began hosting all four classes of the IHSA Baseball State Finals at DuPage Medical Group Field in 2007. In 2011, the state weekend sites were split, with Joliet serving as a state final host every season since. While the 2020 state tourney was canceled by the pandemic, only the Class 4A state games were played in Joliet last June due to the state final schedule being altered by the pandemic. 

ACTION
1. The Board approved the Terms & Conditions for the IHSA activity esports. The IHSA will conduct its inaugural esports State Series in April. For esports Terms & Conditions, click here.

2. The Board approved new language to IHSA Board Policy 22 (Criteria for Selection Sites for IHSA Meets and Tournaments) covering the policies and procedures for digital ticketing for IHSA State Series events. See the updated policy here.

3. The Board approved a request from Northfield (Christian Heritage Academy) to pause its cooperative agreement with Arlington Heights (Christian Liberty Academy) in girls volleyball. Once both schools are in good standing with the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), the coop can be mutually reinstated with IHSA approval.

4. The Board approved a request from Oblong High School to pause its cooperative agreement with Hutsonville High School in boys golf and girls golf. Once both schools are in good standing with the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), the coop can be mutually reinstated with IHSA approval.

5. The Board approved a request from Altamont High School to pause all of its current cooperative agreements in all sports. Once all schools involved in the coops are in good standing with the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), each coop can be mutually reinstated with IHSA approval.

6. The Board approved a recommendation to allow an exemption to the NFHS Girls Volleyball rules governing logos on the waistbands of shorts.

7. The Board approved the IHSA budget for the 2021-22 school year.

8. The Board approved the IHSA Personnel Policies for the 2021-22 school year.

APPEALS & ELIGIBILITY RULINGS
1. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Yorkville (Y. Christian). The student was ruled ineligible for non-compliance with IHSA By-law 3.043.3.

2. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Concord (Triopia). The student was ruled ineligible for non-compliance with IHSA By-law 3.030 and its sub-sections.

3. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Argenta (A-Oreana). The student was ruled ineligible for non-compliance with IHSA By-law 3.030 and its sub-sections.

4. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Lanark (Eastland). The student was ruled ineligible for non-compliance with IHSA By-law 3.034.3.

5. The Board modified the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from St. Charles (North). The student was ruled ineligible for non-compliance with IHSA By-law 3.042. The student now has immediate eligibility. 

6. The Board tabled the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Crystal Lake (South). The student was ruled ineligible for non-compliance with IHSA By-law 3.030. The Board is seeking additional information before ruling.

7. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Chicago (University). The student was ruled ineligible for non-compliance with IHSA By-law 3.040 and its sub-sections.

8. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Chicago (C. Hope Academy). The school was seeking a 9th and 10th semester of eligibility for the student.

DISCUSSION ITEMS
At each meeting of the Board of Directors, there are certain items the Board discusses, but upon which no action was taken or action may not be required. The following is a report of those items from the September 13, 2021, agenda:

1. The Board recognized Whitney Young principal Dr. Joyce Kenner for her service to the IHSA Board of Directors. Monday marked Kenner’s final Board meeting after she reached the term limitation for board service. Kenner served on the IHSA Board from 2005-2010 and then returned for a second stint from 2018-21.

2. Lake View High School Principal Dr. Paul Karafiol presented to the Board on his forthcoming IHSA by-law submission related to ideas for providing greater support for transgender student-athletes.

3. Cowden-Herrick Superintendent Seth Schuler presented to the Board asking for them to consider other options related to IHSA participation while on ISBE probation.

4. The Board reviewed correspondence related to IHSA football and the ability to schedule an exhibition game when an opponent forfeits. The Board issued the following statement:
“The IHSA Board recognizes the dilemma that forfeits caused by COVID-19 have created for member schools this year, especially as it relates to the sport of football. We believe it is important to recognize that IHSA by-laws do not allow for exhibition games in any IHSA sport, and because of these rules, the current forfeit procedures have been in place for many years. These rules exist for the benefit of student-athletes, as they place reasonable limitations on contests from a physical safety perspective, while also helping maintain a sensible time balance from an educational perspective. We understand that these policies are now under greater scrutiny, given that the pandemic has created more forfeits, which in turn allows for more rescheduling opportunities. In a normal season, there are traditionally very few football forfeits, and even fewer opportunities to reschedule when they occur. The choice has always existed for a team to accept their forfeit victory or attempt to find a new opponent and accept the result of that new contest. The IHSA Football Playoffs remain unique because they are the only IHSA postseason that a team must qualify for, and the qualification process includes a strength of schedule component that is dependent on each team having one result per week. Despite the unique circumstances of this season, we believe that any exemption to these rules at this moment would have the potential to hinder the football playoff system, while also having far-reaching implications on other IHSA sports."

5. The Board held a discussion on IHSA Policy 17 and the implications of the multiplier and success factor with no or limited postseason data from the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years.

6. The Board heard a report from IHSA Assistant Executive Director Beth Sauser on the 2021-22 IHSA Student Section & Spirit Showdown. Learn more about entering the Student Section & Spirit Showdown by clicking here.

7. The Board heard a report from the Executive Director on the IHSA’s role in the upcoming Illinois Principals Association Conference, as well as the New Administrator Workshop the IHSA will host on September 29.

8. The Executive Director recognized the recent Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame enshrinement for IHSA Associate Executive Director Kurt Gibson and retired IHSA administrator Scott Johnson. The IHSA was also honored with the IBCA’s Organization of the Year. For more information, click here.

9. The Executive Director discussed the IHSA’s celebration of the 50th anniversary of Title IX throughout the 2021-22 school year, which will include several initiatives, including special content honoring Title IX pioneers. For more info, click here.

10. The Board heard a report from the Executive Director on the schools who, per IHSA Policy, have requested to play-up one classification. A list of all school playing up by sports during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 school years is provided below: