Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

June 2010 Board Meeting Summary

IESA Board of Directors Approves Cheerleading Safety Rules; Tony Frost Seated as New Board Member

The Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) Board of Directors approved a recommendation to prohibit certain stunts by a school's cheerleading squad in any IESA sanctioned activity at its regular meeting that was held on Friday, June 18. In addition to the cheerleading change, the Board acted on the recommendations of five advisory committees as well as the general business of the Association.

Effective with the 2010-11 school year, cheerleading squads performing at any IESA sanctioned contest or at the IESA state cheerleading competition will not be allowed to perform basket tosses and double full twisting dismounts. Spirit squads must conform to all rules set forth in the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Spirit rule book in addition to not being allowed to perform the aforementioned stunts. School squads that participate in any cheer competition other than the IESA state cheerleading championships will follow the rules set forth by the organizing body of that given competition. "Safety is at the forefront of all that we do in interscholastic activities," said IESA Executive Director Steve Endsley. "The NFHS writes rules for high school students. Even though the NFHS Spirit rule book does not prohibit basket tosses and double full dismounts, the IESA Board of Directors has once again proven their leadership and commitment to safety for the students in IESA member schools who participate in any type of IESA sanctioned activity. While some schools may be able to safely perform these higher levels of stunts, the decision to prohibit all basket tosses and double full twisting dismounts in IESA sanctioned contests, sideline cheering as well as the IESA state cheerleading competition, sends a clear message that safety for all cheerleaders is at the top of the priority list."

At the conclusion of the regular June meeting, Tony Frost, Principal of Elmwood Grade School, was seated as the Board Member for IESA Division F after being elected to the position. Division F encompasses the counties of Peoria, Stark, Knox, Warren, and Henderson.

Advisory, Board Committee Action

The Board acted on advisory committee recommendations in Girls Volleyball, Music, Scholastic Bowl, Track and Field and Chess, and on recommendations from the Board of Directors Staff Relations Committee.

Advisory committees are generally composed of one IESA Board of Directors member and coaches, administrators and/or officials with expertise in the respective sport or activity. Each sport/activity has an advisory committee and it meets once a school year. The advisory committee reviews the Terms and Conditions, administrative procedures and all other aspects of the sport/activity and makes recommendation to the Board of Directors. The Board committees are composed of IESA Board members and meet once a year.

Music:

1) A recommendation to allow solo and ensemble contests to be held on Saturday of weeks 33, 36, 38, or 39 of the IESA standardized calendar did not receive a second after the motion was presented and therefore was not voted on by the Board. The approved date for the 2011 solo and ensemble contests is April 2, 2011. Any change to that date must be approved by Julie Cochran, IESA Assistant Executive Director.

Scholastic Bowl:

1) Approved that moderators used in the state series must be at least 18 years of age. High school students familiar with Scholastic Bowl rules and regulations may be used as scorers and timers.

2) Rule 2-1-3a of the IESA Scholastic Bowl rule book will be updated to reflect that paper used for the answering of questions must be clean with only numbers and lines permitted.

Girls Volleyball:

1) The schedule of the matches on championship night was changed so teams will arrive home at an earlier time. The third place match will now begin at 5:30 with the championship match scheduled to immediately follow, generally around 6:45 p.m. Prior to the change, the third place match started at 6:00 p.m. and the championship match at approximately 7:30 p.m.

2) Special Awareness Night Guidelines were approved. Schools that might want to wear special uniforms for a given cause will now have guidelines to abide by for the special night.

Track and Field:

1) Changes to the procedures for conducting the pole vault event at the state final were approved. The event will be run "five alive". The bar will be raised 6" at a time until a designated height is reached at which time the bar will be raised 3" at a time until one contestant remains. The designated heights are 7AG @ 7'0", 7AB @ 9'3", 8AG @ 7'3", 8AB @ 10'3", 7AAG @ 8'6", 7AAB @ 9'6", 8AAG @ 8'6", and 8AAB @ 10'6".

2) Schools that fail to enter their sectional entries online by the designated date may now be ruled ineligible to participate in the sectional meet.

3) A recommendation so the individual listed as an alternate in relays does not count toward that individual's limitations was not approved.

4) New qualifying standards in some events were approved. Complete listing of 2011 qualifying standards.

Chess:

1) The Board approved the pay scale for state chess workers.

Staff Relations Committee:

1) The Board approved a recommendation to extend the contracts and set contract provisions for following administrative staff members: Steve Endsley, Nicole Schaefbauer, and Julie Cochran.

2) The Board approved the employment and contract provisions for Patrick Bodame, Administrative Specialist.

3) Approved the Monday after the Class AA state track and field meet as an administrative closure day.

Other Business

Bowling - Changed the entry limitation to the first 95 boys and the first 95 girls who enter rather than the first 190 bowlers.

Prayer at IESA State Series Contests - The Board prohibited prayer at all IESA state series contests that take place over a public address system.

State Final Sites - The Board finalized the remaining state final sites for the 2010-11 school term. IESA State Hosts and Dates.

Asst. Executive Director Report — The Board was informed of the schools who won the Commerce Bank Division Sportsmanship Award. The listing of schools winning the award in 2009-10 can be found on the IESA Web Site at www.iesa.org by clicking on the Division Awards icon in the Sportsmanship Section Section of the home page.

Executive Director Report — The board was provided with an update on the NFHS Summer Meeting, which will be held in San Diego, California from July 6-10, 2010. A meeting was held with representatives from St. Francis University in Joliet concerning graduate credit for athletic director training.

State Series Finances - The Board received financial reports for girls volleyball, boys wrestling, speech, and music.

Building Loan Repayment—Approved a loan repayment schedule for the remodeling of the IESA Office.

Treasurer's Report - The Board received and accepted the treasurer's report.

Division Reports

At each meeting of the Board of Directors time is devoted for each board member to report on communication with and requests from the member schools in the member's division. Following is a report of those from the June 18 meeting:

Division A — Dr. Scott Herrmann indicated that he was contacted by a member school regarding the possible addition of the triple jump to the IESA track and field events. Mrs. Nicole Schaefbauer, Associate Executive Director, has contacted the school making the request and also discussed the possibility of adding the event with the track and field advisory committee. That committee did not recommend that the event be added. No other action was taken by the Board.

Division B — Mr. Joe Buresh indicated he was contacted by a school about a decision that was made by a track official at one of the Class A track sectionals. No action was taken.