Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

April 2012 Board Meeting Summary

IESA, East Peoria Robein, and East Peoria Central Extend Track and Field State Final Contract

The Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) Board of Directors voted to extend the contract with the two schools that host the track and field state finals at the EastSide Centre in East Peoria during the Board's regularly scheduled meeting on Friday, April 13. Approval was given for East Peoria Robein and East Peoria Central to continue to serve as the state host through 2018.

"The IESA track and field state final meets are truly a one-of-a-kind experience for the athletes that participate in them," said Steve Endsley, IESA Executive Director. "The two schools who serve as the host for the meets, East Peoria Robein (Class A) and East Peoria Central (Class AA), along with all of the volunteers, have worked hard to make sure the meet is an experience the students will never forget. The EastSide Centre provides an excellent, centrally-located venue for the schools and students and we are excited that the meets will remain in East Peoria."

The IESA state track and field meets were first held at the EastSide Centre in 1999. When the extended agreement reaches its final year, it will mark 20 years that the meets will have been held at the East Peoria facility.

Several other items of business were discussed and acted on at the meeting. Those items included:

** Heard a report from the Executive Director concerning the timeline for filling the administrative vacancy created due to the resignation of Pat Bodame. It is anticipated that a new employee will be named by Monday, April 30.

** Instructed the IESA staff to present a revised By-Law at the June meeting regarding whether a transfer student should be immediately eligible or have to wait a period of time after a transfer in order to participate for the new school. Currently, there is no mandated ineligibility period once a transfer student meets all eligibility guidelines.

** Discussed the eligibility of students who transfer from one member school to another member school within the same district. The IESA staff will present recommendations for a change to the current By-Law at the June meeting as well.

** Decided not to allow schools to participate in a higher class even though their actual enrollment would place them in a lower class.

** Approved some of the state sites for the 2012-13 school year.

** Received the report from the Strategic Planning Action team that is discussing By-Law 3.042

** Did not allow a track sectional to be conducted on a Sunday. One of the sectionals is having difficulty finding a site and had requested to hold the meet on a Sunday.

**Approved a recommendation that beginning in 2013, the solo and ensemble contests may be held on one of the four approved dates. Previously, there was one approved date. The contests are scheduled around Easter and given that schools take different spring breaks, the ability to schedule a contest based on the fewest number of conflicts for the competing schools allows for some flexibility.

The Board took the following action regarding advisory committee recommendations:

Boys/Girls Basketball: A recommendation to allow a student to play 5 quarters in one day in regular season contests was approved, although the approval was not a unanimous decision by the Board. "The four quarter per day rule in regular season contests has been a long-standing rule in IESA and one that truly promotes participation," said Steve Endsley, IESA Executive Director. "However, for whatever reason, there are many schools, both large and small, that are having trouble fielding both a 7th grade and 8th grade basketball team: girls and boys. Our hope by adding one additional quarter is schools that have an outstanding 7th grader player or plenty of players will not use the extra quarter to their advantage. The intent of the additional quarter is to provide those schools that do not have enough players to fill two teams enough flexibility with their substitution pattern that they will be able to continue to participate and not have to drop the activity because of low numbers." In addition, because of the additional quarter that can be played per day, students will now be limited to 110 quarters in any one season.

The Board did not approve a recommendation that both girls and boys basketball seasons must end on Saturday of week 36 in the standardized calendar. Currently, the girls season must end on Saturday of week 36 and the boys season must end on Saturday of week 45.

The Board did approve a recommendation that the game time posted for state series contests is the earliest time that a game may start.

Bowling: Approved a slight change to the time schedule for the state contest which will be held Friday-Saturday, March 22-23, 2013 at Town and Country Lanes in Joliet, IL.

Also approved was the addition of team awards for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place teams. A maximum of four competitor's scores can be used to count for the team award.

Chess: The Board approved a recommendation that will allow a school to not place competitors on certain playing boards. Any playing boards left open at boards 1-4 would result in an additional opening on board 5.

They also approved a slight change to the time schedule. The date and site for the 2013 chess competition will be approved at the June meeting of the Board of Directors. Also minor changes were made concerning competitor participation and style of play in the last minutes of a match.

Officials: The Board authorized the use of written or electronic forms of a contract and reiterated that all member schools shall contract officials. Also approved was for the Executive Director to assess penalties for breach of contract between a member school and an official.

Volleyball: The Board approved a recommendation to change the warm-up period to reflect recent changes that will be used by the Illinois High School Association.� IESA member schools will now use a 2-3-3-3-3 warm-up period. The 2 minutes of teams serving across the net at each other will no longer occur. Instead, warm-ups will begin by both teams sharing the court for 2 minutes, then the home team will have the court for 3 minutes, followed by the visiting team having the court for 3 minutes, followed by the home team once again having the court for 3 minutes, and then the visiting team finishing up warm-ups with 3 minutes of court time.

The Board also approved a change to the tournament rules that will now indicate state series hosts must have their court ready for play 45 minutes prior to the scheduled start time of the first match.

Other Business Items

Scholar Attitude Award Update: The Board heard a report about the selection of the 30 Scholar Attitude Award Presented by State Farm winners for 2012 and the plans for the upcoming luncheon scheduled for Tuesday, April 24, 2012, at the DoubleTree Hotel, Bloomington.

Treasurer's Report: The Board received and accepted the treasurer's report for the fiscal period through April 4, 2012.

Financial Reports: The Board accepted the financial reports for the state series in boys baseball, bowling, boys and girls basketball, chess, cross-country, cheerleading, golf, and girls softball.

Board Meetings: There is one regular meeting remaining in the 2011-12 school year. It is scheduled June 15, 2012.

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 April 13 meeting:

Division A: Dr. Herrmann was contacted by a school regarding the assignment of state series hosts.

Division B: Mr. Buresh was contacted by a school regarding the enrollment split for track. The school is currently one of the smaller Class AA schools. No action was taken.

Division D: Mrs. Lind expressed concern about receiving an assessment for a deficit when the regional or sectional contest is not conducted in an appropriate manner. It was mentioned that state series host schools should introduce all teams, play the national anthem, and conduct an appropriate trophy presentation in addition to all other facets of hosting responsibilities.

Division F: Mr. Frost received an inquiry concerning the possibility of a 2 or 3 class basketball system. No action was taken.

Division H: A member school contacted Mr. Ingold to express appreciation and thanks to the IESA Board and staff for all that is done to provide opportunities for students to participate. He also received a question regarding the why the soccer state series which is scheduled to take place in the fall of 2013 will be held in the fall instead of the spring. It was explained to the Board the rationale for the fall placement.

Division J: Mrs. Isackson indicated her district as well as area schools are discussing the possibility of participating in the soccer state series.