Dist. 139 board to abide by SIJHSAA transfer rule
The Chester District 139 school board decided not to take action in regard to a Southern Illinois Junior High School Athletic Association policy restricting certain transfer students from immediately participating in school athletic programs.
Board Member Chuck Fricke in July questioned whether the rule, which says students who transfer from parochial schools to public grade school must attend the new school for 45 days before they can participate in any sport programs. Fricke said the rule is unfair to students and families involved, noting a student leaving a public school and going to a private school would only need to attend for 21 days.
Last school year, Fricke said the ruling affected five students in the district.
However, SIJHSAA Director Greg Hale told the board at its Aug. 16 meeting the transfer rule was adopted after some public schools in larger towns recruited students from private schools to participate on the larger schools' sports teams. The students would then transfer back to the private school after the season was over.
Fricke had presented a motion to allow summer transfer students to participate after 21 days at the last meeting, but it was tabled. Hale noted if the board would pass the motion, it would put the district in violation of the rule, which would result in the baseball and softball teams being ineligible in any state competition.
Hale suggested the school come to the October meeting of the association and speak to the steering committee and make the case for changing this rule rather than openly violate it.
Fricke disagreed, saying a schools would be in violation when the student actually walked onto a playing field and personally felt that the schools were being coerced into following the rule. Superintendent Brian Pasero pointed out that as soon as a student's name appeared on the roster, they would be considered participating.
Fricke mentioned that the school might consider leaving the association. That would result in no post season play.
Member schools pay $30 a year plus $30 for each sport offered, Chester has been a member since the association was founded back in the 1920s.
Fricke moved the motion forward with Trent Vasquez seconding to allow student participation after 21 days. Fricke was the only yes vote and the motion failed.
The district will continue to abide by the 45-day rule and will address the SIJHSAA board in October.
In other business, the board approved the tentative 2018-19 School District Budget be placed on file for public inspection with a hearing on it to be held at 7 p.m. Sept. 20, prior to the next regular meeting.
The Board also approved a 1.75 percent salary increase for Pasero as their last action of the evening.
The board also looked at options concerning the condition of the football field turf. Kueker's, who has the contract to care for the field, suggested that the district spend $2,000 to overseed it with rye this fall. Vice Principal Jeremy Blechle said the field is in better shape than in past years. The mowing has been deemed to be set on too high of a setting and it is felt that a different kind of mower may be needed in the future. The Board took no action.