(11-7-17) The IHSA Legislative Commission reviewed 28 bylaw proposals on Monday (November 6). The proposals will be discussed at town meetings held at various sites throughout Illinois between November 8 and 16. The Commission will meet again on Monday, November 20, to decide whether to submit each of the 28 proposals to a vote of the general membership. The final vote by IHSA member schools will take place between November 21 and December 5.
Six of the proposals are suggesting changes to the current transfer process (Proposal #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, #12). Each proposal has small changes and adjustments. Most likely, as in the past, only one at hte most could be voted on.
Every proposal has been submitted by an IHSA member school administrator.
Proposal #7 Submitted by Steve Millsaps, Official Representative, Joliet West
Proposal #8 Submitted by Steve Millsaps, Official Representative, Joliet West
Proposal #9 Submitted by Steve Millsaps, Official Representative, Joliet West
Proposal #10 Submitted by Daniel Klett, Principal, Wauconda (past IHSA Board President)
Proposal #11 Submitted by Terry Treasure, Official Representative, Palos Hills Stagg
Proposal #12 Submitted by Brendan Conroy, Principal, Chicago St. Rita
In another possible bylaw change you could see the Chicago Public Schools no longer ruling on their own eligibility cases, the IHSA would take over those rulings in the future should this pass.
According to the CPS website they have 181 schools listed (not all have athletics).
Proposal #11 Submitted by Jon Baffico, Principal, Chicago St. Patrick
The purpose behind the proposal is ensure that all eligibility rulings are funneled through the IHSA. In essence, the way the by-law is currently written it allows school districts with 10 or more high schools to govern their own eligibility rulings via their elected board of directors. I am not sure how many IHSA official school representatives (Athletic Directors, Principals, etc.) are aware of the fact Chicago Public Schools are the only district in the state of Illinois that has 10 or more high schools. From an equity perspective, it is contradictory to much of what the IHSA tries to promote.I believe it has a chance to pass is based on the impact various schools and officials have had with regards to students transferring for athletic purposes.
In the past Private schools with over 200 in enrollment have not been allowed to be a part of a coop program (Only private schools with non-multiplied enrollments of 200 or less are eligible to form cooperative teams).
‘Super team’ is mentioned (in the summary below) due to some public schools taking advantage of the current bylaws. A recent example is the Prairie Ridge (coop team) that draws athletes from Cary-Grove, Crystal Lake Central, Crystal Lake South and Prairie Ridge, they have won the State title in three consecutive years.
In Rockford the four RPS 205 girls coop golf team has been very successful, it won its third conference championship in four years.
Proposal #3 Submitted by Peter Groom, Principal, Oak Park Fenwick
Rockford Lutheran Executive Director Don Gillingham
The proposal from Private schools asks for simple fairness. Teachers, coaches and administrators, mostly, went into education to walk with kids as they grow. Equal opportunity should be the standard in all that we do. How can it be fair to have a coop team with four public schools of nearly 2,000 and not allow two private schools that are both under 200 to provide the same opportunity for their athletes.
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