IHSA August Board Meeting Recap

The IHSA Board of Directors met for their regularly scheduled meeting at the IHSA office in Bloomington on Monday, August 20, 2018, where the Board approved the appointment of Dunlap High School Principal Scott Adreon (right) as the Board Treasurer.

Adreon previously served on the IHSA Board from 2013-2016 when he was the principal at Maroa-Forsyth High School and was elected to represent Division 5. He was the Vice-President during the 2015-16 school year and vacated the board seat when he accepted the position at Dunlap entering the 2016-17 school year.

“We feel very lucky to have a person of Scott’s integrity and experience to fill this important role,” said IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson. “The IHSA has a history of being fiscally responsible within a model that allows it to return millions of dollars each year to its member schools. We look forward to Scott’s oversight and ideas on maintaining a healthy fiscal climate and know his past experience on the Board will help him to quickly adapt to his new responsibilities.”

Greg Bradley, first of Mt. Zion High School (2000-2012) and then of Decatur Christian High School (2012-2018), had served as the Board Treasurer since 2000 until his retirement in June. Adreon becomes the ninth individual in the Association’s history to serve in the Treasurer role.

“During my 27 years in education, working with the IHSA in different roles, as a coach, athletic director, principal, and member of the board of directors has provided some of my most rewarding and enjoyable moments,” said Adreon. “The people here are all top notch and working together to serve students and schools couldn’t be more gratifying.”

The Treasurer is a non-voting member of the IHSA Board of Directors and the only member of the 11-person Board who is not elected.

ACTION ITEMS
1. The Board voted to approve Recommendation 2 from the Classification Ad Hoc Committee for the 2019-20 school year. Recommendation 2 will change the multiplier waiver calculation process from being calculated on a four-year basis to a two-year basis. Read the entire recommendation by clicking here. *The IHSA Board had passed ad hoc committee recommendations 1 and 4 at its June, 2018 meeting, but tabled recommendations 2 and 3 until August.*

2. The Board voted to approve Recommendation 3 from the Classification Ad Hoc Committee for the 2019-20 school year. Recommendation 3 will change the success formula process from being calculated on a four-year basis to a two-year basis. Read the entire recommendation by clicking here. *The IHSA Board had passed ad hoc committee recommendations 1 and 4 at its June, 2018 meeting, but tabled recommendations 2 and 3 until August.*

IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson:
“These four recommendations from our ad hoc committee were the result of thoughtful conversation, data review, and membership feedback, as they attempted to understand and address the various issues our diverse membership faces in regard to classifications. They represent large changes in the sense that we move from a fluid annual enrollment classification cycle to a two-year cycle. We felt that for this process and the goals of the ad hoc committee to truly work, it was important that all four of these recommendations passed so they work in unison beginning in 2019-20. Like any major change, there will be some growing pains and potential tweaks, but we like the direction we have charted and believe it will be a long-term positive for our schools.”

3. The Board approved a recommendation for the Executive Director and staff to form a Strategic Planning committee to develop future goals and direction for the Association.

4. The Board provided an interpretation of IHSA By-law 3.011 as it relates to home school student eligibility. When a member school chooses to allow home school students to participate, the member school is required to approve the academic program the student is taking as credit towards graduation at the member school. The approved academic program could come from a non-member school that does not provide any extra-curricular offerings.

APPEALS & ELIGIBILITY RULINGS
1. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Joliet (Catholic Academy). The student was ruled ineligible for non-compliance with IHSA By-law 3.040 and its sub-sections.

2. The Board modified the Executive Director’s ruling on the enrollment figure for Burbank (St. Laurence). St. Laurence is in the midst of transitioning from being an all-boys school to a coed school, but its IHSA enrollment was still being calculated under the all-boys policy. For the 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years, St. Laurence’s IHSA enrollment will be determined by the following formula: (actual girls enrollment x 1.33 + actual boys enrollment). For the 2018-19 school year, St. Laurence’s non-multiplied IHSA enrollment will be 685.

3. The Board did not rule on the appeal from the Illinois 8-Man Football Association, represented by Hebron (Alden-H.), regarding an exemption to IHSA by-law 5.073. The Board believes that an option already exists for the Illinois 8-Man Football Association to carry out its planned playoffs within the limits of the by-law.

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 August 20, 2018, agenda:
IHSA’s multiplier and success formula.

1. The Board heard a report from Assistant Executive Director Sam Knox on the 2018 IHSA Officials Conference, which was attended by over 700 officials in East Peoria on July 20-21.

2. The Board heard a report from Director of Special Programs Raye McDonald on the 2018 IHSA All-School Mailing.

3. The Board heard a report on the IADA’s New Athletic Directors Workshop co-hosted by the IHSA in July.

4. The Board heard a report on member school financial aid information.

5. The Board heard a report from the staff on its staff retreat discussion.

6. The Board heard a report on IHSA staff goals for the 2018-19 school year.

7. The Board discussed the IHSA’s Transgender Policy and suggested changes brought forth by a state representative.

8. The Board heard a report on IHSA and IESA representation at the 2018 NFHS Student Leadership Conference.

9. Nominations are currently open until September 15 for open Legislative Commission and Board of Directors positions. The following positions are currently up for election:
-Board Division 5
-Board Division 7
-Board At-Large Minority
-Commission District 1
-Commission District 4
-Commission District 5
-Commission District 10
-Commission District 11
-Commission District 15
-Commission District 16
-Commission District 17
-Commission District 21
-Commission Athletic Administrator Division 3
-Commission Athletic Administrator Division 6
-Commission At-Large Minority or Underrepresented Gender Division 1
-Commission At-Large Minority or Underrepresented Gender Division 4
-Commission At-Large Minority or Underrepresented Gender Division 6
-Commission At-Large Minority or Underrepresented Gender Division 7

10. The Board discussed creating a recognition program for students at member schools who participate in three sports/activities in one school year.

11. The Board heard a report on IHSA Assistant Executive Director Matt Troha being named to the Coach and Athletic Director Magazine’s inaugural 40 Under 40 team.