IHSA - Announcements

All seven proposals on the ballot in the annual Illinois High School Association (IHSA) member school referendum were approved in voting by the membership. The mail ballots were counted in the IHSA Office Tuesday (Dec. 17).

By a vote of 283 in favor and 207 against, a proposal to expand the size of the Board of Directors from nine to ten (10) by adding an at-large seat for a representative from a private/non-public school. There will now be three at-large seats on the Board elected by the full membership of the Association. The existing two at-large seats are reserved for a member of a racial minority and for a member of the underrepresented gender.

Beginning next school term, elections for members of the Board of Directors and IHSA Legislative Commission will be conducted electronically. A proposal to allow each member school to cast its vote for Board and Commission members via the Internet was approved 445-42.

A proposal to require each member school principal to attend an annual principals' rules meeting/town meeting was approved 303-190.

A change in the Physical Examination By-law to comply with Illinois State Statute will allow physician's assistants and nurse practitioners to give physical examinations required for participation in athletics. The proposal was approved by a 470-21 margin and becomes effective Jan. 16, 2003.

By a 405-88 margin, a proposal to modify the legacy provision of the Residence By-law governing private schools was approved. To qualify under the legacy provision, students will be able to attend a private school only if it was attended by one of their legal parents.

Teams from the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired in Jacksonville will be able to conduct cooperative practice with another team in the immediate area under a proposal approved by a 294-197 margin. Other member schools cannot hold practices with another member school.

A sport season for Competitive Cheerleading was approved by a vote of 355 in favor to 134 against. Schools cannot participate in interscholastic cheerleading contests prior to Wednesday of Week No. 18 (early November) in the IHSA Standardized Calendar and no later than Saturday of Week 39 (late March-early April). Competitive Cheerleading squads from IHSA member schools may participate in no more than five (5) meets exclusive of an IHSA state series in the sport, in any one season.

The IHSA Legislative process is an annual one. Each November, the Legislative Commission receives proposals from any member school official representative to change sections in the IHSA Constitution and/or the By-laws. Following the second of two commission meetings, and after a series of 19 statewide Town Meetings, each submitted proposal is either approved or not approved to be on the ballot. The ballots are sent from the IHSA Office to each member school. Each school has one vote to cast on each proposal. A majority of votes on a given proposal carries or rejects it. There currently are 766 member schools.

Section: Articles 1.310 and 1.320 of the Constitution (These two proposals are being consolidated)

Submitter: Emmett Aubry, Principal, Geneseo (Darnall), on behalf of the Public/Private Action Team

The administrative authority of this Association shall be vested in a Board of Directors of nine (9) members elected, each for a term of three years, as hereinafter provided.

For the purpose of electing the members of the Board of Directors and providing equal representation for all parts of the state, the state shall be divided into seven (7) Divisions. Each of these Divisions shall be formed by combining three of the twenty-one (21) Districts of the state established for the purpose of electing the members of the Legislative Commission, these Districts being defined in Section 1.330 of this Constitution. In addition, two (2) members shall be elected from the membership at-large. One at-large member must be a racial minority and one must be a member of the under represented gender. Both must be principals of member schools. At-large members elected to the Board of Directors may not be from the same Board Division.

Revise Article 1.310 to read:

The administrative authority of this Association shall be vested in a Board of Directors of ten (10) members elected, each for a term of three years, as hereinafter provided.

For the purpose of electing the members of the Board of Directors and providing equal representation for all parts of the state, the state shall be divided into seven (7) Divisions. Each of these Divisions shall be formed by combining three of the twenty-one (21) Districts of the state established for the purpose of electing the members of the Legislative Commission, these Districts being defined in Section 1.330 of this Constitution. In addition, three (3) members shall be elected from the membership at-large. One at-large member must be a racial minority, one must be a member of the under represented gender and one must be a member of a private/non-public school. All must be principals of member schools. At-large members elected to the Board of Directors may not be from the same Board Division.

Rationale: Approximately 16% of the Association's membership is comprised of private/non-public schools. There has never been a private school principal elected to the IHSA Board of Directors. While the Association has appointed a private/non-public liaison to the Board, the Action Team feels that private/non-public schools should be represented on the Board of Directors.

1. Gives private/non-public schools an official voice in deliberations of the Board.

3. Proposal is similar to earlier by-laws guaranteeing minority and under represented gender positions on the Board.

2. Private/non-public principals currently have the opportunity to be elected to the Board.

This proposal was adopted by a vote of 283-207.

Submitter: Pat Sullivan, Principal, Roxana, on behalf of the Board of Directors

No later than September 1 each year, the Board of Directors shall cause to be mailed to the principal of each member school in each division in which a member of the Board of Directors is to be elected, and to the membership in the event one or more at-large members of the Board of Directors is to be elected, a letter identifying the positions for which elections are to be held along with a primary ballot requesting nominations for the appropriate Board member positions.

Principals may nominate one principal from a member school in their Division as a candidate and/or one principal from any member school in the state as a candidate for an at-large position. These nominations must be in the office of the Association by September 15. The Board of Directors shall appoint a committee of tellers who shall count the votes. The two principals from each Division, or from the state at-large, as pertinent to the positions for which nominations are sought, receiving the highest number of nominating votes shall be declared the nominees and they shall be notified immediately of their nomination by mail. In case of a tie vote in any Division, the tellers shall determine the winner by lot.

Not later than September 20, the Board of Directors shall cause to be mailed to the principal of each member school in each Division or in the membership at-large in which an election is to be held, a ballot on which are the names of the two nominees. Principals shall mark their ballots in the regular manner, voting for only one of the nominees. Each ballot shall be returned to the office of the Association by October 1 in a special envelope provided for that purpose. The Board of Directors shall appoint a committee of tellers who shall meet not later than October 4, receive the envelopes unopened and count the ballots. They shall then certify to the Board of Directors the results of the balloting. Within thirty days after the election, the Board shall meet, canvass the vote and declare the candidate(s) in each Division receiving the higher number of votes for each position to have been elected. In case of a tie vote in any Division, the tellers shall determine the winner by lot.

Not later than September 1 each year, the Board of Directors shall cause to be mailed to the principal of each member school in each District/Division and athletic administrator of each member school in each Division in which a member of the Legislative Commission is to be elected, a letter giving the boundaries of the District/Division and a primary ballot requesting a nomination for a member of the Legislative Commission.

Principals may nominate one principal, not a member of the Board of Directors, from a member school in their District as a candidate. Athletic administrators may nominate one athletic administrator from a member school in their District as a candidate. In addition, principals may nominate one at-large Commission member from their Division. These nominations must be in the office of the Association by September 15. The Board of Directors shall appoint a committee of tellers who shall count the votes. The two principals from each District and the two athletic administrators from each Division receiving the highest number of nominating votes shall be declared the nominees and they shall be notified immediately of their nomination by mail. In case of a tie vote in any District/Division, the tellers shall determine the winner of the tie by lot.

An athletic administrator or activities director may not be considered for nomination if the principal at his/her school is a current member of the legislative commission and whose term has not expired. A principal may not be considered for nomination if the athletic administrator or activities director at his/her school is already a member of the legislative commission and whose term has not expired.

If a principal, athletic administrator or activities director from the same school are both nominated for the legislative commission, and the tellers determine they qualify as official nominees, the official representative of the principal's, athletic administrator's or activities director's school shall be contacted in order for the school to indicate which nomination will go forward on the ballot. The respective nominee with the next highest number of votes will replace the nominee not going forward.

Not later than September 20, the Board of Directors shall cause to be mailed to the principal of each member school in each District/Division and athletic administrator in each Division in which an election is to be held a ballot on which are the names of the two nominees. Principals and athletic administrators shall mark their ballots in regular manner, each principal voting for only one of the respective nominees. Each ballot shall be returned to the office of the Association by October 1 in a special envelope provided for that purpose. The Board of Directors shall appoint a committee of tellers who shall meet not later than October 4, receive the envelopes unopened and count the ballots. They shall then certify to the Legislative Commission the results of the balloting. At the next regular meeting of the Legislative Commission following the election, the Commission shall canvass the vote and declare the candidate(s) in each District/Division receiving the highest number of votes for each position to have been elected. In case of a tie in any District, the tellers shall determine the winner by lot.

No later than September 1 each year, the Board of Directors shall cause to be electronically mailed to the principal of each member school in each division in which a member of the Board of Directors is to be elected, and to the membership in the event one or more at-large members of the Board of Directors is to be elected, a letter identifying the positions for which elections are to be held along with a primary ballot requesting nominations for the appropriate Board member positions.

Principals may nominate one principal from a member school in their Division as a candidate and/or one principal from any member school in the state as a candidate for an at-large position. These nominations must be completed online by September 15. The Board of Directors shall appoint a teller to verify the vote count. The two principals from each Division, or from the state at-large, as pertinent to the positions for which nominations are sought, receiving the highest number of nominating votes shall be declared the nominees and they shall be notified immediately of their nomination by mail. In case of a tie vote in any Division, the teller shall determine the winner by lot.

Not later than September 20, the Board of Directors shall cause to be electronically mailed to the principal of each member school in each Division or in the membership at-large in which an election is to be held, a ballot on which are the names of the two nominees. Principals shall mark their electronic ballots in the regular manner, voting for only one of the nominees. Each electronic ballot shall be submitted electronically to the Association by October 1. The Board of Directors shall appoint a teller who shall meet not later than October 4, to verify the vote count. The teller shall then certify to the Board of Directors the results of the balloting. Within thirty days after the election, the Board shall meet, canvass the vote and declare the candidate(s) in each Division receiving the higher number of votes for each position to have been elected. In case of a tie vote in any Division, the tellers shall determine the winner by lot.

Not later than September 1 each year, the Board of Directors shall cause to be electronically mailed to the principal of each member school in each District/Division and athletic administrator of each member school in each Division in which a member of the Legislative Commission is to be elected, a letter giving the boundaries of the District/Division and a primary ballot requesting a nomination for a member of the Legislative Commission.

Principals may nominate one principal, not a member of the Board of Directors, from a member school in their District as a candidate electronically. Athletic administrators may nominate one athletic administrator from a member school in their District as a candidate electronically. In addition, principals may nominate one at-large Commission member from their Division electronically. These nominations must be submitted electronically to the Association by September 15. The Board of Directors shall appoint a teller to verify the vote count. The two principals from each District and the two athletic administrators from each Division receiving the highest number of nominating votes shall be declared the nominees and they shall be notified immediately of their nomination by mail. In case of a tie vote in any District/Division, the teller shall determine the winner of the tie by lot.

If a principal, athletic administrator or activities director from the same school are both nominated for the legislative commission, and the tellers determine they qualify as official nominees, the official representative of the principal's, athletic administrator's or activities director's school shall be contacted in order for the school to indicate which nomination will go forward on the electronic ballot. The respective nominee with the next highest number of votes will replace the nominee not going forward.

Not later than September 20, the Board of Directors shall cause to be electronically mailed to the principal of each member school in each District/Division and athletic administrator in each Division in which an election is to be held an electronic ballot on which are the names of the two nominees. Principals and athletic administrators shall mark their ballots in regular manner, each principal voting for only one of the respective nominees. Each ballot shall be electronically submitted to the office of the Association by October 1. The Board of Directors shall appoint a teller who shall meet not later than October 4, to verify the vote count. The teller shall then certify to the Legislative Commission the results of the balloting. At the next regular meeting of the Legislative Commission following the election, the Commission shall canvass the vote and declare the candidate(s) in each District/Division receiving the highest number of votes for each position to have been elected. In case of a tie in any District, the tellers shall determine the winner by lot.

Rationale: These proposals would allow the nominations and voting to be conducted via electronic forms. There would be fewer spoiled ballots from ballots being returned in the wrong envelopes, nominations for people from the wrong district, etc. The electronic balloting process would be easily accessible to the appropriate people who are authorized to vote using their passwords and would be set up so only one vote for each school would be allowed for the appropriate nominations and elections. Schools would be sent a reminder notice regarding the deadline dates and how to nominate or vote in the elections.

1. Details of the voting process may no longer be anonymous.

This proposal was adopted by a vote of 445-42.

Submitter: Emmett Aubry, Principal, Geneseo (Darnall), on behalf of the Public-Private Action Team

Each member school principal or his/her designee shall be in attendance at an annual principals rules meeting/town meeting. Failure to comply with this requirement may be penalized by the Board of Directors.

Rationale: IHSA By-law 2.020 specifies that member school principals shall be responsible to the Association for matters pertaining to interscholastic competition. Topics include new rules, interpretations of existing rules and possible upcoming changes. The principal is the person who is directly responsible to the Association and should be knowledgeable regarding IHSA by-laws and policies.

1. Provides an opportunity for the principals to learn about IHSA by-laws and interpretations, IHSA policies and new amendment proposals.

1. The principal or principal's designee may not be able to attend on the day of the meeting.

This proposal was adopted by a vote of 303-190.

A school shall have on file for each student who participates (including practice) in interscholastic athletics a certificate of physical fitness issued by a licensed physician as set forth in the Illinois School Code not more than 365 days preceding any date of participation in any such practice, contest or activity.

Revise By-law 2.140 to read:

A school shall have on file for each student who participates (including practice) in interscholastic athletics a certificate of physical fitness issued by a licensed physician, physician's assistant or nurse practitioner as set forth in the Illinois State Statutes not more than 365 days preceding any date of participation in any such practice, contest or activity.

Rationale: On July 19, 2002, Governor George Ryan signed into law Public Act 92-0703, granting signature authority to physician's assistants and nurse practitioners for school physicals (�Physicians licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches, advanced practice nurses who have a written collaborative agreement with a collaborating physician which authorizes them to perform health examinations, or physician assistants who have been delegated the performance of health examinations by their supervising physician shall be responsible for the performance of the health examinations��). As a result, when schools sought verification of physical examinations based on By-law 2.140 and its accompanying Illustration #72, they were met with resistance and refusal. This By-law revision will allow schools to utilize all valid school physical examinations under this new law.

None

This proposal was adopted by a vote of 470-21 and becomes effective January 16, 2003.

Submitter: Emmett Aubry, Principal, Geneseo (Darnall), on behalf of the Public-Private Action Team

They reside full time with their parents, custodial parent or guardian appointed by a judge of a court having proper jurisdiction, and attend the private member school attended by one or both of their parents or the current spouse of one of their parents; or

Revise By-law 3.032.3 to read:

They reside full time with their parents or custodial parent or guardian appointed by a judge of a court having proper jurisdiction, and attend the private member school attended by one or both of their parents; or

Rationale: The committee feels that the legacy provision should be limited to the legal parents of the student. Adoptive parents are considered legal parents.

1. Provides that the legacy provision should only be limited to the legal parents of the student.

1. None.

This proposal was adopted by a vote of 405-88.

Submitter: Jill Dillard, Principal, Jacksonville (Illinois School for the Visually Impaired)

Add By-law 3.108 to read:

The Illinois School for the Visually Impaired (ISVI), may with the permission of the IHSA Executive Director, under the guidance of the Board of Directors, conduct cooperative practices with another team in the immediately geographic area of Jacksonville, Illinois.

Rationale: Due to the extremely small enrollment of the ISVI (around 40) and the need to have appropriate sized partners in a sport such as wrestling, it is quite often impossible to conduct a proper practice. The ISVI feels strongly about maintaining their identity which we feel would be lost if the ISVI formed a coop team. All the teams in the 2001 PORTA Regional and numerous coaches at the state tournament were polled concerning this issue and the results were all the same; no objections to the ISVI having coop practices. Additionally, the interaction among sighted peers would be an educational benefit to all individuals/teams involved.

1. Allows ISVI athletes to conduct cooperative practices with another team in the area. The size of the ISVI team does not allow its members to wrestle with other athletes in the same weight category.

1. Liability issues are a concern for home public school districts.

This proposal was adopted by a vote of 294-197.

(a) No school belonging to this Association shall allow its Competitive Cheerleading squad to participate in interscholastic contests earlier than Wednesday of Week 18 or later than Saturday of Week 39 in the Standardized Calendar.

No Competitive Cheerleading team representing a member school shall, in any one season, participate in more than five (5) meets exclusive of the IHSA state series.

1. Sets a season and a contest limitation for cheerleading. Presently teams are competing all year long.

1. There is a concern that schools will choose a separate competitive cheer team.

This proposal was adopted by a vote of 355-134.

IHSA Announcements

IHSA Schools Approve 7 of 7 Proposals On Annual Ballot

Revise Article 1.310 to read:

Revise By-law 2.140 to read:

Revise By-law 3.032.3 to read:

Add By-law 3.108 to read: