Spring Meeting of IESA Board of Directors Recap---Change Made to Eligibility of Transfer Students; Proposal to Add a Multiplier to Non-Boundary Schools Not Approved

The regularly scheduled spring meeting of the IESA Board of Directors was held on April 5, 2019. During the meeting, the Board approved a major change to the eligibility of transfer students; did not approve a recommendation to add a multiplier to non-boundary schools; and acted on recommendations from several advisory committees.

A change to the eligibility of transfer students will become effective with the start of the 2019-20 school year. Under the new by-law, any student who transfers after the official start date for an IESA activity (defined as the date practice may begin), shall be ineligible to participate in that sport for his/her new school of attendance. If there is a sport or an activity that has yet to start after the student has transferred, that student would be eligible to participate in that sport or activity. Prior to the change, a transfer student became eligible upon his/her 11th day of attendance at the new school. "This a major change to the transfer student by-law," said IESA Executive Director Steve Endsley. "This revision will no longer permit a student from participating with the school to which they are transferring if they transfer after the IESA season for the sport has started. It eliminates the decision many schools were faced as to whether they should add a student to a team when a student transferred during the season. Whereas some schools allowed transfers to join the team after the season started and some schools did not allow transfers to join the team, the revised by-law levels the playing field for all schools. Now, no student who transfers once the season has started is eligible for the new school in that sport. This becomes much more fair and easier to articulate to schools, parents, and students."

The Athletic Directors advisory committee also recommended that a 1.65 multiplier be added to the enrollment of any non-boundary school who placed in the top four of a given sport. A non-boundary school who advanced to the finals but did not place in the top four would have been exempt from having the multiplier added their enrollment. The recommendation was not approved by the Board. "After reviewing the number of schools that the multiplier would actually impact, the Board ultimately did not approve the recommendation," said Endsley. "While three of the four Class 1A boys baseball teams that participated in this year’s finals would have been moved to Class 2A for next year, no teams would have been moved to Class AA in girls softball; only two teams would have been moved to Class 2A in cross country, none would have been moved in girls basketball, only two in boys basketball, and only one in girls volleyball. It simply did not make sense to add a multiplier when it affected such a small percentage of the schools."

The Board took the following action regarding recommendations from the athletic directors, basketball, cheerleading, and chess advisory committees:

Athletic Directors

The IESA Board of Directors APPROVED the following recommendation from the athletic directors advisory committee:

**At the regional and sectional level in volleyball, the host school will be allowed to list the expense of line judges if they are used with a rate of pay not to exceed $20 per line judge per match. Host schools who use line judges must adhere to the qualifications for line judges as detailed in the Volleyball Terms and Conditions.

The Board DID NOT APPROVE the following recommendations from the athletic directors advisory committee:

**To allow 7th graders free admission into the 8th grade state series and 8th graders free admission into the 7th grade state series. Ex. Director's Note: The Athletic Directors Committee recommended this same policy last year and just like last year, the IESA Board of Directors once again did not approve the recommendation. Schools that host basketball and volleyball regionals and sectionals shall NOT allow the 7th grade team in free at the 8th grade games and/or the 8th grade team in free at the 7th grade games. This has always been the policy but we continue to receive reports that some schools are allowing this. The problems occur when a 7th grade regional host allows the 8th grade teams free admission into the 7th grade regional but then a week later the 8th grade regional host does not allow the 7th grade teams in free to the 8th grade regional. The IESA state series does not allow for free admission except for those people listed on the regional entry form. Host schools are expected to abide by this policy.

Boys/Girls Basketball

The IESA of Directors Board DID NOT APPROVE the following recommendations from the basketball advisory committee:

**To allow individuals to play 12 quarters in a day.

**To increase the length of the quarters to 7 minutes.

Chess

The Board APPROVED all of the recommendations as presented to the Board and modified another. For a complete list of those recommendations, please click here. The Board modified one of the committee’s recommendations---starting in 2020, only those players who score 5.5 points will earn a bronze medal at the chess finals. Previously, players who scored 5.0-5.5 points received bronze medals.

Other Business Items

Treasurer's Report: The Board received and accepted the treasurer's report for the fiscal period through March 31, 2019.

Financial Reports: The Board accepted the financial reports for the state series in girls basketball, cheerleading, chess, and speech.

Scholar Attitude Award: The Board received the names of the Scholar Attitude Award winners from their respective divisions. The date of the luncheon for the winners is scheduled for April 30, 2019.

Board Meetings: There is one regular meeting remaining in the 2018-19 school year. It is scheduled for June 14, 2019

Peotone Coach: The Board assessed a penalty to Peotone for repeated violations by their assistant wresting coach for use of tobacco during wrestling matches.

Ejection Reports: The Board received a composite report showing the number of ejections reported to the IESA Office in all sports this year. To date, there have been 27 player ejections (same as last year); 28 coach ejections (down 2 from last year); and 40 fan ejections (down 13 from last year)

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 5 meeting:

Division A: Mr. Haupt received a request that IESA standardize the admission for the state series events. The IESA finance Committee will discuss the request.

Division C: Dr. McAlister was contacted by a school that had some concerns about the recommendation of the Athletic Advisory Committee to institute an enrollment multiplier to non-boundary schools. Dr. McAlister brought forth those concerns when the committee recommendations were presented to the full Board.

Division K: A school in Mr. Graham’s division expressed thanks to all schools that host IESA contests.