IHSA Board of Directors December 8 Meeting 

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The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Board of Directors met for its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, December 8, 2025, where the Board took action on several items.

ACTION
1. The Board approved a recommendation to accept the IHSA’s annual audit as it was presented by members of the accounting firm, Striegel Knobloch & Company, LLC. The audit can be reviewed by clicking here.

2. The Board approved a recommendation to dissolve a football cooperative agreement between Arcola High School, Cerro Gordo High School and Bement High School. All three schools anticipate fielding their own teams for the 2026 season.

3. The Board approved a recommendation to dissolve a girls basketball coop agreement between Midwest Central in Manito and Delavan High School for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 seasons, as Delavan does not currently have any players participating. The dissolution will reclassify Midwest Central from Class 2A to Class 1A for the 2025-26 State Series.

4. The Board ruled Champaign Central High School to be in breach of contract for its failure to participate in a girls basketball tournament it had agreed to. The Board will require Central to reimburse the host school for the cost of officials for its contests and other administrative costs.

APPEALS & ELIGIBILITY RULINGS
Appeals 1-4 were held with the IHSA Hearing Board, a subset of the IHSA Board of Directors, virtually on November 24, 2025. Appeals 5-6 were heard virtually by the full Board of Directors on December 8, 2025.

1. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from St. Rita High School in Chicago. The student was granted limited eligibility in accordance with the provisions of IHSA By-law 3.043.3 and was seeking full eligibility.

2. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from St. Rita High School in Chicago. The student was granted limited eligibility in accordance with the provisions of IHSA By-law 3.043.3 and was seeking full eligibility.

3. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Schlarman High School in Danville. The student was ruled ineligible for non-compliance with IHSA By-law 3.047.

4. The Board overturned the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from St. Viator High School in Arlington Heights. The student was initially granted limited eligibility in accordance with the provisions of IHSA By-law 3.043.3, but now has immediate varsity eligibility.

5. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Montini Catholic High School in Lombard who was seeking an exemption to IHSA by-law 3.121.

6. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Mt. Carmel High School in Chicago who was seeking an exemption to IHSA by-law 3.121.

DISCUSSION ITEMS
At each meeting of the Board of Directors, there are certain items the Board discusses, but upon which no action is taken. The following is a report of those items from the December 8, 2025, agenda:

1. Representatives from the Chicago Debate Community presented to the Board and held discussions on a potential debate state championship partnership with the IHSA. The Board took no action, but plans to follow-up with further discussion on this topic at a future meeting.

2. The Board heard a report on the 11 proposals forwarded by the IHSA Legislative Commission to the all-school ballot. A 12^th proposal will also appear on the ballot based on a petition signed by IHSA member schools. IHSA member schools can vote on the proposals through December 15.

3. The Board discussed a letter provided by District 230 regarding a current by-law proposal that is being voted on by member schools.

4. The Board discussed feedback that the IHSA has received thus far on the usage of the shot clock during basketball games.

5. The Board had a discussion on the interpretation of the phrase “involved in any respect”.
within IHSA By-law 3.107.

6. The Board heard a report on the IHSA’s involvement in the 2025 Illinois Association of Schools Boards (IASB) Conference that was held in Chicago in November.

7. The Board heard a report on the upcoming NFHS Winter Meeting.

8. The Board heard a report on the upcoming Let’s Connect Conference in Rosemont.