Sangamon Valley Conference

Principals’ Minutes

January 7, 2004

 

1.  The meeting started at 8:20, all schools were present except Hoopeston Area.

 

2.  Mr. Colba of Tri Valley made a motion, seconded by Mr. Roberts of Watseka, to accept the minutes of the December 3, 2003 meeting as presented.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

3.  Mr. Uphoff of Fisher presented the Treasurer’s Report for the month.  The SVC has a balance of $3793.50; this is an increase of $1.80 in interest.  Mr. Koehl of Blue Ridge made a motion, seconded by Mr. Maurer of Cissna Park, to accept the report.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

4.  A discussion concerning the future of the SVC was held.

 

President Jim Flaherty of PBL started with a history of the changes that were made last year.  (Please refer to minutes of last year’s meeting for a complete history)  Flaherty stated that last year the concerns of several schools were addressed, those including travel in other sports, crossover games and the playing of juniors in sophomore games.  Divisions were reestablished to cut down on travel; juniors can not play in the sophomore games unless certain numbers are not available.  The addition of Clifton Central and St. Thomas More and inviting Heyworth and Ridgeview to join, (they rejected the offer).  Also with the possible growth to the east (Vermilion Valley) and to the west (Midstate) into a “mega” conference in at least football to help with crossover games.

 

Flaherty stated that he had met with Jerry Farris, Principal at Flanagan High School, and the secretary of the Midstate in December to discuss some of the possibilities.  Both Flaherty and Farris felt the need to continue some talks in some form.  On the same day, Leroy and several other schools met to discuss the formation of a new conference centered around Bloomington.

 

The Midstate will have a meeting on January 14th to discuss this new conference.

 

Mr. Colba said that Tri Valley was not joining the Midstate, that they had been rejected two years ago, but would be interested in hearing talks on a merger to create a larger football pool.

 

Mr. Roberts asked if this was just for football?

 

Mr. Colba said that football was just a part of it and he would like to see it expanded to other sports.  He said that one of the major problems facing the Midstate is the probable changes in schools with consolidations and other factors.  He suggested to wait and see where the Midstate is and if it becomes stable.

 

Mr. Totheroh of Milford state that Donovan had told Milford that it was no longer interested in a football coop.  Donovan was more than likely going to renew its coop with Tri Point.  Mr. Rabideau of Clifton Central concurred that were told the same.

 

Mr. Tipsord of LeRoy said that there was an old guard of schools that had been in the Midstate for years and several newer Midstate schools who did not have the same ties.  He said that some of the schools that voted against Tri Valley, LeRoy and Blue Ridge a few years ago were some of the districts that may not exist in the near future.

 

Questions were asked about who was in the Midstate and enrollments and where schools were located.

 

Mr. Flaherty asked what options the Principals wanted to take:  1) pursue more talks with the Midstate, 2) recruit more members, 3) hold a joint meeting with the Midstate

 

Mr. Tipsord said at this time LeRoy was going to continue to pursue the new conference.

 

He also stated that there was a rumor that Bloomington Central Catholic was thinking about leaving the Corn Belt and might be a good fit for some conference. 

 

Mr. Koehl stated Blue Ridge was in the middle of both conferences and was not too excited about playing its crossover games in the SVC next year, but they were happy with the small division of the SVC.  He said that Blue Ridge was ‘sitting on the fence” and would do what was in the best interest of the students of his district.

 

Mr. Tipsord said the SVC alignment would force LeRoy into 2A football next year instead of 1A.

 

He also said that natural rivals in the new conference were important.  He said that when they played Ridgeview, the gym was full.  He said that would not happen when they played Rossville because of the lack interest.  He stated that most of LeRoy’s natural rivals were around Bloomington.

 

Mr. Tipsord asked if any SVC school was thinking about the VVC.

 

Mr. Totheroh said that Milford had been contacted, but its loyalty was to the SVC.  He did state that if certain schools joined causing longer travel and other problems they would look to the VVC.

 

Mr. Uphoff of Fisher asked what kind of formal contact was made last year to the Midstate.

 

Mr. Flaherty said that Heyworth and Ridgeview were asked formally to attend meetings with the SVC.

 

Mr. Tipsord said that those two schools were not interested in the SVC.

 

Mr. Uphoff said “they would have been”

 

Tipsord said that a mega conference would probably not work, he used the failure of the SIA as an example.  He did say that a mega conference in football may be a possibility.  He felt that having small division (6 teams) did help with geography and travel but did not provide a meaningful champion.  He stated that a Bloomington area conference was in the best interests of LeRoy, but not for the SVC.  He said that the new conference would keep LeRoy in 1A.  It would be a great 1A conference, reducing travel and allowing for more press from the Bloomington area.

 

He also said that LeRoy was not interested in joining the Midstate, just like some of the Midstate schools were not interested in joining the SVC, but would like a new conference.  The discussions for the new conference started out of the McLean county Principals’ association.

 

Mr. Roberts stated that the powers that control the purse strings may see it differently and would want to reduce travel to save money.

 

Mr. Maurer said that some schools were always going to be on the edge of every conference and not be happy.

 

Mr. Uphoff said that he was instructed by his superintendent that Fisher would attend the meeting to listen, but his loyalties were with the SVC, but may have to if certain school left.

 

Mr. Totheroh asked what SVC schools were invited?

 

Tipsord said that LeRoy, Blue Ridge, Tri Valley, Fisher and Gibson City Melvin Sibley.

 

Totheroh said that if those schools left, it would leave no one in the small and Milford would more than likely go to the VVC.

 

Mr. Rabideau of Clifton Central stated that Clifton Central was looking for a stable conference to join and that geography is only one way to form natural rivals.  He said that by playing schools year in and year out that also is a way.

 

President Flaherty stated that next year’s schedules are set and that any change would be in 05-06.

 

Mr. Loschen of Armstrong said that the VVC would be very interested in an alliance in football with the SVC.

 

It was agreed that nothing could be done until after the meeting on January 14th.   A general timeline of hopefully having some of the issues settled by March was discussed.

 

A side discussion was held concerning the IHSA allowing all football schools in to the playoffs to eliminate the conferences from constantly changing.  There was disagreement that allowing a 0-9 team was good for that school due to the physical nature of football and that allowing most 5-4 teams in had helped.

 

5.  A discussion was held on counting games in tournaments between conference schools as a conference game.  This would allow teams to play fewer games between each other and maybe make some tournaments more stable.  It was agreed to have the Athletic Directors discuss this at their February meeting and make recommendations to the Principals at the March meeting.

 

6.  Information on the games to be held at Parkland this Saturday January 10th has been posted online at the main SVC page.

 

The meeting adjourned at 9:45.