(7-9-22) The Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) at its last Executive Committee meeting on June 23rd reviewed four provisional members who were being considered for full membership with the Association.

The four schools, MTI School of Knowledge, Dugger Union, Evansville Christian and Purdue Polytechnic were discussed and the committee heard from the IHSAA officials (Robert Faulkens, Sandra Walter and Chris Kaufman) who monitored the provisional years of the fou . 17 committee members then voted on each school separately.

All schools each have an unique approach in their educational process. MTI School of Knowledge is an Islamic based school, Dugger Union is a school that avoided being shut down by their past school system and now are a Charter school under the direction of Grace College, Evansville Christian is a Christian based school and Purdue Polytechnic is a STEM-related post-secondary programs and high-tech careers.

IHSAA Executive Committee, Thursday, June 23, 2022, Swan Lake Resort – Plymouth, Indiana

  • MIT School of Knowledge – K – 12th grade school of excellence in academic and Islamic values, located in Indianapolis, Indiana.
  • Dugger Union – Dugger Union Community Schools is a tuition free public charter school serving kindergartners through 12th grade.
  • Evansville Christian – Pre K-12th grade Christian School an A-Rated, four-star school. It is fully accredited by the Indiana Department of Education, the Association of Christian Schools International and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement
  • Purdue Polytechnic – Founded by Purdue University and the City of Indianapolis in partnership with community, industry and academic leaders, Purdue Polytechnic High School prepares students to succeed in technical, STEM-related post-secondary programs and high-tech careers.

A look at the voting by the Executive committee.

Two schools were being considered after a new by-law modification was enacted recently that allows a school to be considered for full membership after just 3 years of a waiting period as a provisional member, 1 year earlier then in the past.

One of them was MTI School of Knowledge who was not approved and will be eligible to be considered again next year. The other school and the first to use the 3 year period to be approved is Purdue Polytechnic.

The other two schools to be approved, Dugger Union and Evansville Christian, had completed the four year waiting period

Chad Gilbert

The approval process had one interesting item that came during the voting. Charlestown AD Chad Gillbert voted against all three schools for full membership, he also 2nd the motion to not recommend MTI to be considered for full membership, which was the only 17-0 vote during the considerations.

Dugger Union also received a 2nd no vote, that came from LaPorte AD Ed Gilliland who announced in late May that he was retiring at the end of the school year.

It might be noted at the IHSAA BOARD OF DIRECTORS – 2022 Annual Meeting on Monday, May 2, 2022 that Gilbert also voted no on the by-law of changing the waiting period from 4 to 3 years. Also voting no was Victor Bush, MSD Lawrence Township, who is the chairman of the Executive Committee.

2021-22 IHSAA Executive Committee

The Executive Committee meets monthly and is responsible for organizing and directing state tournaments and meets, interpreting the Association’s By-Laws, determining penalties for rules violations, and establishing the Association’s state office and employing a commissioner and staff to administer the Association.

Victor Bush, MSD Lawrence Township (Chairman)
Stacy Adams, Valparaiso (Vice-Chairman)
Tom Black, East Central 
Jim Brown, Fishers
Chris Conley, Delta 
Nathan Dean, Jimtown
Kye Denney, Wes-Del 
Jeff Doyle, Barr-Reeve
Tom Finicle, Southwood
Chad Gilbert, Charlestown
Ed Gilliland, LaPorte
Tim Grove, South Knox School Corporation
Matt Martin, Knightstown
Patti McCormack, Lowell
Kris Painter, Terre Haute North Vigo
John Steinhilber, Hebron 
Brian Strong, Logansport
Mike Whitten, Boonville
Dave Worland, Indianapolis Cathedral

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