November 6, 2020 – Collinsville Community Unit School District #10 Superintendent Dr. Mark B. Skertich is among 200+ superintendents of schools across the State of Illinois who presented a letter yesterday to Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker asking for a meeting with him and representatives from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to create a mitigation plan to allow student athletes to safely compete in a 2020-21 winter basketball season.
“The letter was sent to the Governor regarding our willingness to find common ground and allow our 7-12 student athletes to compete in basketball this year,” said Dr. Skertich, “We ask that a group of athletic directors, coaches and superintendents be able to meet with IDPH and find common ground. Kahok Basketball is synonymous with our community. CHS Athletic Director Clay Smith and Basketball Coach Darin Lee have already played a part in suggesting additional mitigation strategies to allow our students the opportunity to play in partnership with districts around the state safely.”
Collinsville High School has also joined with the schools in the IHSA Southwestern Conference to issue a joint press release.
Letter sent to Governor Pritzker from Illinois Superintendents:
The Honorable JB Pritzker
% Office of the Governor 207 State House
Springfield, IL 62706
November 5, 2020
Dear Governor Pritzker,
First, we want to thank you for the work you are doing as Governor to mitigate the risks of
COVID-19 while keeping our communities, families, and most importantly our students in a safer
environment. The purpose of this letter is to share our experience and perspectives as educators
and leaders tasked with the safety and wellbeing of our students, staff, families and communities.
The educational experiences of our students are most successful and valuable while interacting
in-person with teachers and coaches while participating in extracurricular and co-curricular
activities in our schools. Well rounded and balanced experiences inside and outside of our
classrooms help our children mature into young men and women. The pandemic has and continues to
impact the social interactions of our students among their peers, adults, and various situations
that help prepare them for what life will bring. Some of the negative effects that we are seeing as
a result of these experiences being limited are depression, anxiety, lack of motivation, and loss
of self. Despite the resilience of children, negative consequences are appearing and we fear this
is the tip of the iceberg as these issues continue to rise.
The interactions and opportunities provided before, during, and after school hours throughout a
variety of settings shape the lives of our students. Educators have worked relentlessly to
reinvent how we educate our students and provide social interactions over the past six months.
However, extracurricular experiences that include high stress situations, teamwork, dedication and
focus towards a common goal cannot be replicated unless students are given the opportunity to play
and participate. We urge you to consider three factors before delaying or canceling any future
extra-curricular seasons at the high school or junior high/middle school level.
1. School districts have shown that when given the opportunity, we rise to the challenge and find
the delicate balance between health and safety of our school communities while providing for
continuity of learning. Districts this summer created a plan, adhered to State safety measures,
implemented cleaning protocols and made decisions in the best interest of our students during the
COVID-19 pandemic.
2. School districts are creative. We continue to find ways to connect with students, teach them,
and provide opportunities for participation, and to hold special events. Schools have students
learning in remote, blended and in-person environments. We have made special events such as graduations, parking lot proms, drive through celebrations, senior recognitions and much more happen safely. Parents have become our partners in even deeper and more meaningful ways.
3. In most instances, positive cases found in schools come from outside of the school. We take
the safety of our students seriously. When it comes to athletics, schools will provide a safer
environment with procedures and accountability with more fidelity than a travel or club program
every single time. Without the opportunities in our schools, students will play for unregulated
clubs and travel teams while traveling out of state to do so.
We as superintendents are calling on you to allow our students to participate in extracurricular
activities and interscholastic competition. While each scenario is different, schools have shown
that we are adaptable, vigilant, and accountable while keeping the health, safety, and well-being
of our students as the highest priority. It is time to allow superintendents, athletic directors
and coaches the opportunity to partner with IDPH to provide interscholastic competition in a safe
environment. Our students are our top priority and nobody will take better care of them than our
schools and the educators who have dedicated their lives to them. Our students will benefit
immensely from the unrepeatable experiences. The physical, mental and academic well-being of our
students are depending on us. Our students are depending on you.
Below you will find the signatures of school district superintendents throughout the state in
support of this request and the number of students each school district serves. Collectively, we
represent over 200,000 students in grades K-12 throughout the state of Illinois.
[Click HERE for participating list of superintendents/school districts/student population.]
Press Release from IHSA Southwestern Conference Schools:
Southwestern Conference Schools Request Agreement Regarding Athletic Participation
November 6, 2020 – Southwestern Conference Schools are committed to providing as many athletic opportunities as possible for our student athletes, while following guidance from state agencies regarding the ability for sports seasons to take place under existing pandemic conditions.
During the past week, contradictory guidance from state agencies about the risk level and recommended timing of the Illinois high school boys’ and girls’ basketball seasons have been provided by state governing agencies. While schools in the Southwestern Conference have a desire to participate in the basketball seasons for both girls and boys, we feel strongly that the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), the Illinois High School Association (IHSA), and Governor Pritzker need to reach agreement in the guidance being provided to school districts in the state of Illinois.
As IDPH, IHSA, and the Governor’s Office have differing opinions on how and when to move forward regarding basketball, these agencies have placed school districts in an unfortunate position. Both legal counsel and liability insurance providers have advised districts in the conference that they may be taking on significant liability should we choose to proceed with basketball at this time. Governor Pritzker and the Illinois State Board of Education have noted that schools who do not follow the Governor’s directives may be subject to “other ramifications that may negatively impact school communities,” with the speculated consequence being the potential withholding of state funding.
Members of the IHSA Southwestern Conference are requesting the governing agencies involved reach agreement in the guidance being provided to high school regarding athletic participation and to speak with “one voice” when providing direction moving forward. As a conference, we are hopeful that a safety plan can be developed that will allow our students to participate in basketball this year.