Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

IESA Board Acts on Several Items at September Meeting, Approval of QuizBowl Systems, Inc.

The IESA Board of Directors met for its regularly scheduled meeting on September 13, 2021. The Board acted on the recommendations from the music and official’s advisory committees; approved the financial audit and budget of the Association; approved a four-year contract with QuizBowl Systems, Inc., Dunedin, FL and tied up other loose ends.

The Board approved a four-year contract with QuizBowl Systems, Inc., formerly Slammer Systems, to be the official lock-out system for the IESA scholastic bowl state finals. "QuizBowl Systems continues to provide excellent service to our participating schools while providing innovating product solutions for competition," said Nicole Schaefbauer, IESA Executive Director. "We have been fortunate to work with them and we look forward to our continued relationship."

In addition to the above-mentioned items, the Board tied up other loose ends at the meeting. The following is a summary of the meeting:

Action Items

1. The Board approved the IESA budget for the 2021-22 school year.
2. The financial audit of the Association was presented by Striegel Knobloch & Company and approved by the Board.
3. The Board received and accepted the treasurer's report.
4. Quiz Bowl Lockout System: The Board approved a four-year contract with QuizBowl Systems, Inc. to serve as the official online system for the IESA state finals.
5. Music: The Board approved a recommendation to approve a change in the contest format for the 2021 Music Solo & Ensemble season. Schools will host their own S&E contests this year. Organization will be in the traditional format.

Discussion Items

At each meeting of the Board of Directors, there are certain items the Board discusses, but upon which no action was taken, or action may not be required. The following is a report of those items from the September 13, 2021, agenda:

1. Assistant Executive Director Report -- Reported on the upcoming IESA state golf finals. Mr. Frasco did share his timeline for the introduction of a golf team competition. Update on baseball. Informed the Board of his preparation of a scholastic bowl question bid packet. The packet would be distributed to those vendors who had expressed an interest in providing questions for the scholastic bowl state series.
2. Executive Director Report -- Mrs. Schaefbauer presented the Executive Director's report. The Board was updated on the sponsorship agreement with Rawlings. Contract is still under financial review with Rawlings. Discussion was held on pursuing an official volleyball provider. Information was shared on the new accident insurance rate. She shared information on the new partnership with DICK’s Sporting Goods. The new Board Manual was shared. She informed the board that membership now stands at 852 schools. She updated the Board on an upcoming support staff vacancy.
3. A review of the election procedures and the timeline was given to those Board members who will be up for election in the fall of 2021.
4. Updated COVID-19 information was shared. Discussion was held regarding ISBE probation status schools, officials and whether they could be defined as "school personnel", and quarantining questions. Mrs. Schaefbauer posed a question to the Board asking for direction as it related to allowing changes to post-season rosters because of COVID quarantines after the roster closed deadline. Current practice is to not allow roster changes after the roster closed deadline. The Board supported the continuation of this practice.
5. Discussion was held on the transfer by-law and its application in the activities of baseball, softball, and cross country whose seasons begin prior to the start of classes. The current interpretation: If a student has participated in a tryout or practice with one school team and then moves prior to school beginning, the student would not be eligible to participate in that same activity at the new school. A student would be eligible in any activity in which they did not participate in a tryout, practice, or contest. The Board supported the continuation of this interpretation. A Q&A will be added to the Handbook for further clarification.
6. Discussion was held concerning the ability of schools who form coops that are not formally recognized or approved by the IESA Office to play IESA school teams. The current interpretation is that these teams are considered non-school teams and IESA schools may not participate against those teams in those sports in which they are entered into the IESA state series. The Board supported the continuation of this interpretation.
7. The Board reviewed a request from Cowden-Herrick Superintendent Seth Schuler asking for them to consider other options related to IESA participation while on ISBE probation.
8. Officials- Discussion was held on a game shortening recommendation that will be going before the Baseball Advisory Committee.
9. The dates of the future Board meetings were announced. The dates are January 28; April 8; and June 17. All future meetings will be held in a hybrid format and will start at 10:00 a.m.

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 11 meeting:

Division D---Mrs. Marski received an inquiry regarding student athletes with a medical exemption from wearing a face covering. IDPH guidance does allow for those who cannot medically tolerate a mask due to a health condition or medical contraindication as documented by a health care provider to participate in indoor sports without wearing a mask.

Division M--- Mr. Vanausdoll received feedback for two schools within his division regarding ISBE recognition status, the mask mandate, and participation in the state series. Discussion was conducted with no recommendations.