Chairman Dale Crafton, Vice Chairman Mike Blackburn, Linda Barnett, Dan Cunningham, Dennis Eller, Michael Necessary, Cecil Raymond, Oren Sutherlin, Joseph Trimboli, Directors Curtis Casbon, Jim Feist, Phillip Gardner, Lee Lonzo, Mike Powell, Commissioner Blake Ress, Associate Commissioner Ray Craft, Assistant Commissioners Bobby Cox, Sandy Searcy, Theresia Wynns, Sports Information Director Jim Russell and Attorney Robert Baker.

Minutes of the November 3, 2000 were recommended for approval. A motion for approval was made by Joseph Trimboli; seconded by Dennis Eller; motion passed 9-0.

Commissioner Ress recommended that Jean Shonkwiler, principal at Oak Hill High School, be appointed to the IHSAA Board of Directors to fill the District II Minority Seat that is open due to the resignation of Sue Keenan. A motion was made by Dennis Eller to accept Jean Shonkwiler as the District II Minority Seat representative; Oren Sutherlin seconded the motion; motion passed 9-0.

Commissioner Ress (as outlined below) presented the results of the Board of Directors elections that were conducted by mail from December 1-10, 2000, for certification.

District I – Class 1 Urban Seat – Northern District

Janis Qualizza, Merrillville 55 Cassel White, Hammond 76

Timon Kendall, Fort Wayne Northrop 29

Janis Qualizza, Phil Hoskins, Dan Cunningham, Patrick Mapes, Roger Weaver, and Cassel White are elected to serve a three-year term beginning July 1, 2001. Roy Simpson is elected to serve a two-year term beginning July 1, 2001. John Williams is elected to serve a one-year term beginning July 1, 2001.

Commissioner Ress requested that members of the support staff receive a Christmas bonus as they have in recent years. Michael Necessary made a motion that members of the support staff receive Christmas bonuses as follows: full time employees receive $100 and part-time employees receive $75. Joseph Trimboli seconded the motion; motion passed 9-0.

Assistant Commissioner Wynns presented a list of basketball officials who have applied to work the 2000-01 Girls Basketball Tournament Series. Permission was requested to select officials from this list. A motion for approval was made by Mike Blackburn; seconded by Dan Cunningham; motion passed 9-0.

Heritage Christian High School has requested permission to participate in the Association of Christian Schools Invitational (ASCI), state basketball tournaments. The girls tournament commences after the starting date for the IHSAA Girls Basketball tournament series. Under the IHSAA By-Laws, Heritage Christian High School will be unable to compete in any IHSAA state tournament series prior to the 2004-05 school year. A motion was made by Oren Sutherlin to approve participation in the ASCI tournament for one year; seconded by Linda Barnett; motion passed 9-0.

Linda Barnett, chairman of the Automobile Committee, recommended one automobile be traded on the purchase of one new vehicle. Bids were obtained from three dealers, with Classic Chevrolet submitting the lowest bid. A motion to approve the recommendation and accept the lowest bid was made by Linda Barnett; seconded by Oren Sutherlin; motion passed 9-0.

The National Federation of State High School Associations is sponsoring the 2nd Annual Girls & Women Sport Awareness Luncheon on February 1, 2001. Outstanding contributors will be recognized in several categories, with an emphasis on competition, participation and contributions to girls and women. The National Federation has requested the IHSAA participate in this event as an award sponsor. Permission was requested by Commissioner Ress for the IHSAA to become an award sponsor for this national award day. A motion to support National Girls & Women in Sports Day to become an award sponsor was made by Michael Necessary; seconded by Dan Cunningham; motion passed 9-0.

John Leemhius and Ronald Frieden of Ernst & Young LLP presented the annual auditor’s report on the Association to the Executive Committee. They issued an unqualified opinion on the Association’s financial statements for the year ending June 30, 2000 and recommended some adjustments in the accounting policies of the Association.

Mike Chastain (Culver Academies), representing the Indiana Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches (IATCCC), and Jolinda Lucas (Hamilton High School), representing the Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Association (ICGSA), appeared before the Executive Committee to present the following proposals on behalf of the track and cross country coaches:

1. Specify that the starting time for the 3200 meter run for both males and females be after the 200 meter dash in the order of events.
2. Have a set starting time schedule for all events for all levels of the tournament series. Most importantly, the 4x800 relay start time should be run during the field events.

Associate Commissioner Craft reported on items discussed during the meeting of the Sports Medicine Committee of the Indiana State Medical Association. The Committee approved the use of a new Scantron physical form that can be used to create a health profile for each student athlete. The IHSAA will continue to provide the regular forms to member schools, but will accept the new form as well. The Sports Medicine Committee has considered a proposal that would allow nurse practitioners to conduct and sign physicals. That proposal did not earn the support of the Sports Medicine Committee.

Associate Commissioner Craft reported on the transfers that have been ruled upon during the 2000-01 school year. This report included the following actions as of December 6, 2000:

Full Eligibility -- 1,781

Limited Eligibility -- 148

Ineligible -- 21

Total -- 1,950

Assistant Commissioner Wynns reported on the unsportsmanlike conduct reports filed as of Dec. 7, 2000. The final tally for the fall sports season was 585 reports. Assistant Commissioner Wynns stated that these reports were not all ejections. At this early stage, 45 unsportsmanlike acts have been reported for the winter sports season.

Commissioner Ress presented the monthly financial report of the Association.

Attorney Robert Baker updated the Executive Committee on the current status of pending litigation against the Association.

DISTRICT II MEDIA AWARD

Sports Information Director Russell reported that Paul Beitler, sports editor of the Bluffton News-Banner since 1986, was selected as the IHSAA Distinguished Media Service Award recipient for 2000-01 in District II. Beitler has chronicled high school sports in northeast Indiana for the past two decades. He is a graduate of South Adams High School in Berne, and earned two degrees at Ball State. He was honored during pre-game ceremonies of the Oak Hill-Bluffton boys basketball game on December 5.

Commissioner Ress reported that official enrollments, which will be used for classification purposes, have been obtained from all member schools. Classification in team sports (except football) is based on the total enrollment in grades 9 through 11. In football, it is the male enrollment in grades 9 through 11 that determines the classes.

The following penalties were assessed for various violations of the IHSAA By-Laws:

Commissioner Ress reported the following action as a result of a violation of Rule 15-2.2a.

1. The Elkhart Central High School boys basketball program is issued a warning.
2. The four student athletes who caused this violation to occur shall be suspended for three games.
3. The administration is commended for its prompt reporting and handling of this matter.

Commissioner Ress reported the following action as a result of a basketball scrimmage violation.

1. The Rensselaer Central High School girls basketball program is issued a warning.
2. Coach Marian Harazy is reprimanded for causing this violation to occur.
3. The IHSAA accepts and supports the actions taken by the administration to prevent future, similar incidents from occurring.
4. The administration is commended for its prompt reporting and handling of this matter.

Commissioner Ress reported the following action as a result of a violation of Rule 15-1.2a.

1. The Southwestern (Hanover) High School boys basketball program is issued a warning.
2. The student athlete involved in this violation shall be suspended for three season contests.
3. The administration is commended for its prompt reporting and handling of this matter.

A motion to adjourn the December meeting of the IHSAA Executive Committee was made by Michael Necessary; seconded by Mike Blackburn; motion passed 9-0. The next meeting of the Executive Committee will be at IHSAA headquarters at 8 a.m. on Jan. 11, 2001.