The financial troubles facing the IHSA with having little, to no, high school sports being played for nearly a year now have been well documented. Maybe even more dire, is the future of the organization that runs junior high sports, the IESA. Like the IHSA, the IESA was able to hold a few sports in the fall but none of those were able to hold a state tournament. A junior high track and field state final was not able to be held last spring, as well. State finals are a major source of income for the IESA.
On the heels of the IHSA meeting on Wednesday, the IESA also sent out an email to member schools later in the day on Wednesday regarding the resumption of IESA sports and activities. Similar to the IHSA’s announcement on Wednesday, IESA Executive Director Steven Endsley said in the email that until Governor Pritzker moves Illinois from Tier 3 to Tier 2 mitigations, his organization can not move forward with a sports schedule for the remainder of the school year. Endsley said he asked the Governor’s office about how soon the IESA could continue inter-scholastic activities after moving to Tier 2. In the response, the Governor’s office replied with, “Just heard from IDPH, and as of now there are no decisions on any regions that may be eligible to move to Tier 2. Thus, we’ll have to revisit this once any region is in that position.” When Endsley sent a reply asking for clarification, the Governor’s office replied back with, “We are still in Tier 3, and when it is determined a region, or regions, can move to Tier 2, we will let you know and address how that impacts sports guidance. Thanks for your patience.”
Also in the email to member schools, Endsley expressed his frustration about the vague replies from the Governor’s office, saying, “I have no answer to the question if you can start practice and play games if your region moves to Tier 2. This is becoming increasingly more frustrating each day. Schools need to plan; IESA knows that. All I can tell you is that once we are told how Tier 2 mitigations impact interscholastic activities, you will be notified immediately. For now, we are still in Tier 3 and sports remain paused.”
Endsley further stated that if there is no further information from the Governor’s office or the IDPH by their regularly scheduled board of directors meeting on January 29th, there could be some junior high sports that will have to be cut from this year’s schedule.
To help offset the financial crisis that has beset the IESA, a Go Fund Me campaign is on-going. You can make a donation by going to the IESA’s website at iesa.org.
