Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

Spring Meeting of IESA Board of Directors Recap---Sectional Track Meets to be Conducted; State Track Meets canceled; Normal Parkside to Host State Cross-Country; Chris Frasco Added to Administrative Staff

The regularly scheduled spring meeting of the IESA Board of Directors was held via a video conference call on April 9. During the meeting, the Board discussed the feasibility of conducting the IESA state track meets in May; approved a recommendation to extend the contract with Normal Parkside to host the state cross country finals for an additional five years; hired Chris Frasco as an Assistant Executive Director; and acted on several staff recommendations.

ACTION

1. The Board discussed the IESA state track series. Presently, only three Class 1A sectional sites are set; all 10 Class 2A sectional sites have hosts; and both the Class 3A and Class 4A have seven hosts determined. Discussion was held regarding the state meets with not having all sectional sites set. Additionally, the logistical issues of conducting a meet the size of the state track meet were discussed. Discussion followed on the possibility of holding the state meet without spectators. Given the myriad of issues, the Board voted to allow sectional meets to be held for those sites with a host but canceled the state meets for 2021.

   IESA Executive Director Steve Endsley:

   "The IESA Board of Directors discussed the feasibility of conducting the 2021 state track meets at our meeting today. Previous discussions with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Tazewell County Health Department as well as state mandated mitigation requirements for fan attendance simply presented too many logistical issues to conduct the meet safely, effectively, and at a standard that schools have come to expect of the IESA state meet. To a person, the Board wanted to give students the opportunity to participate in a state meet setting. With several classes not having a sectional site determined, the amount of time needed to prepare for the meet, the logistical concerns of contact tracing the spectators, trying to determine who would or would not be allowed entrance into the facility, monitoring social distancing, and the recent uptick in COVID-19 cases in Peoria and Tazewell counties the Board simply did not feel comfortable in conducting the meets this year."

2. The Board awarded the state cross country meet to Normal Parkside through 2025. The Board sought bids to host the meet last fall. The state cross country meet has been held at Maxwell Park in Normal since 1994. The 2021 meet will be held on Saturday, October 16.

   IESA Executive Director Steve Endsley:

   "Maxwell Park has been the home of the IESA state cross country meet since 1994. It is where thousands of IESA cross country runners want to end their season each year. We are thrilled to have Normal Parkside continue to serve as our host school for this meet and we look forward to creating lifetime memories for the runners who advance to the state meet."

3. The Board approved a staff recommendation to allow the bowling sectionals to be held on either a Friday or Saturday depending on the availability of the bowling centers.
   
   
4. The Board approved refund deadlines for the sports that have a June entry deadline. Schools that enter these sports may now receive a refund if they are not able to field a team as long as the IESA Office is notified by the refund deadline date.
   
   
5. The Bord approved a three-year bid for trophies, plaques, and ribbons with the current supplier, A & M Products, Princeton, IL
   
   
6. The Board approved a plan that all schools that paid the track entry fees for 20-21 will receive a one-half credit toward the entry fees when they renew their membership for 21-22. Member schools can begin to renew their 21-22 memberships on April 12.
   
   
7. Chris Frasco, a former Assistant Executive Director with IESA, will be returning to the office starting June 1. Due to the uncertainty of the IESA finances, Mr. Frasco took an administrative position with Metamora High School for the 2020-21 school year. Mr. Frasco will fill the administrative vacancy created by the impending retirement of Steve Endsley and the promotion of Nicole Schaefbauer to the Executive Director position.