Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

September 2011 Board Meeting Summary

Kenny Lee Seated as New IESA Board Member; Implementation of Boys Volleyball State Series to be Delayed; Slammer Systems Selected as Official Scholastic Bowl Lock-Out System; Strategic Planning Recommendations Approved

Mr. Kenny Lee, Superintendent of Iroquois County CUSD #9, was appointed by President Ron Graham to fill the remaining term as the Division G representative on the IESA Board of Directors. His appointment was the result of a resignation letter that was received from James Bunting when he accepted the high school principal position at Watseka High School. Mr. Lee's term will expire in January, 2014. The Board of Directors selected Slammer Systems from Ringwood, Illinois as the "Official Lock-Out System" for IESA Scholastic Bowl, approved the FY2012 budget, heard a report on the boys volleyball state series, approved the recommendations from the strategic planning session held in July, and tied up other loose ends at its regular quarterly meeting Friday (Sept. 9) held at the IESA headquarters building.

Slammer Systems

The IESA and Slammer Systems, Inc. have entered into a three year agreement that names Slammer Systems, Inc. as the "Official Lockout System of IESA. The Slam-In lockout system automatically keeps score, manages time, controls the ring in process, and produces detailed results spreadsheets for every match. This makes it possible for one person to moderate and conduct a match. It is even possible to conduct a match over the internet which can save schools time, money and transportation costs. Slam-In systems will be used at the 2012 State Scholastic Bowl finals which will be held May 4, 2012 at the Civic Center in Peoria.

Boys Volleyball

The Board had previously approved that in order for the IESA to conduct a boys volleyball state series that at least 40 schools had to register for the activity as of September 1, 2011. As of that date, only 30 schools had registered for the activity. "Because we did not have at least 40 schools registered for the boys volleyball state series, we will not be implementing a boys volleyball state series in 2013 as we had hoped," said Steve Endsley, IESA Executive Director. "However, I want to make it very clear to our member schools that we are not dropping the idea of implementing a boys volleyball state series. Our surveys have told us that there are many IESA member schools who are currently playing boys volleyball. But, if we are going to offer a state series, then we need at least 40 schools to commit to participating in the state series so we can set-up and organize the state series. We will ask our members once again next spring to commit to entering a boys volleyball state series and if we get at least 40 schools to do so by September 1, 2012, then we will plan to have a boys volleyball state series in the spring of 2014."

Strategic Planning

The Board received and the recommendations from the strategic planning committee that met in July, 2011. The committee presented a new mission statement which was approved and reads as follows: "The IESA provides the leadership and framework to ensure safe, equitable opportunities for students who are enriched through participation in education-based interscholastic activities." Several Belief Statements were approved as were new strategies. These belief statements and strategies will be sent to the entire membership soon and IESA personnel will have the opportunity to serve on various action teams to work on the strategies developed by the strategic planning committee.

Other Business:

Board of Directors Meeting Dates: The Board set the dates for the other quarterly meetings for the 2011-12 school year. They will be January 20, 2012, April 13, 2012, and June 15, 2012.

Scholar Attitude Luncheon: The Board heard a report that the date for the 14th annual IESA Scholar Attitude Award presented by State Farm will be Tuesday, April 24, 2012. The luncheon will be held at the Doubletree Hotel and Conference Center in Bloomington.

Treasurer's Report: The Board accepted the August treasurer's report and received a five year comparison of income and expenditures through FY 11. The principal of a member school may request that a copy of the report be mailed to the school.

Budget: The Board approved the budget for the 2011-12 school year. Anticipated receipts are budgeted at $1,389,875. Anticipated expenses are budgeted at $1,452,925. Executive Director Steve Endsley noted that traditionally income is budgeted below what is normally received and expenses are budgeted a bit higher than actual expenses. He cited figures from the FY 11 budget which reflected an anticipated $29,931 deficit but final figures showed that income exceeded expenses by $53,091. The principal of a member school may request that a copy of the budget be mailed to the school.

Audit: The Board approved the annual audit of the Association by Striegel Knobloch & Company, LLC of Bloomington. The principal of a member school may request that a copy of the audit be mailed to the school.

Sponsorships: The Board received an update regarding the status of different sponsorships with Sports Authority, State Farm, Rawlings, and Commerce Bank.

IPA Luncheon: The Board heard a report of plans for the annual luncheon hosted by IESA and IHSA at the Illinois Principals Association Fall Conference. The luncheon will be Tuesday, October 18. Mr. Ken Bradbury, chairman of the IESA speech committee and noted humorist, will be the guest speaker.

IASB Session: Members of the IESA staff will staff the exhibit booth at the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) Annual Conference November 18-19 in Chicago.

Board of Directors Eligibility: The Board changed the qualifications for persons eligible to serve on the Board of Directors: Only administrators with the title of Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Principal, or Assistant Principal may serve on the Board of Directors. Previously, any personnel who were administrators were eligible to serve on the Board.

Mileage Rate: The Board approved a new mileage rate for all personnel who serve on advisory committees and strategic series action teams. The rate paid will be .30 cents per mile.

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. In addition, Board members also may make observations regarding the operation of the Association. Following is a report of those from the September 9meeting:

Division A: Dr. Herrmann reported to the Board he had been contacted by a couple of member school with concerns about the date of the IESA cross country sectionals conflicting with Yom Kippur. Dr. Herrmann had contacted Mr. Endsley about the conflict and Mr. Endsley subsequently wrote to the schools involved. However, no changes were made to the sectional date.

Division H: Mr. Ingold informed the Board that the dugouts used at state baseball finals were being refurbished. He also indicated that the two host schools for the state track meet are working on a plan for additional parking.

Division K: Mr. Chris Graham reported that a few parents at his school were concerned with the timeline of the online baseball seeding process. Mr. Endsley informed Mr. Graham that the timeline will be addressed for 2012.

Division M: Mr. Lamkey informed the Board that he had received the email exchange between IESA and a school in his division regarding the eligibility of home schooled students at private schools. He indicated that he had not received any additional correspondence from the school involved.