When's The Worst Time To Schedule An IHSA Hearing?
We might have found it: a Friday afternoon during high school football season that likely is *somebody's* Homecoming.
But..that's what is happening. And...it stinks of 'shenanigans'. There's a committee in the House that wants to take up discussion about the 'feasiblity of the State Board of Education taking over the functions of the IHSA (Illinois High School Athletics Association). (Shouldn't it be IHSAA?!? nevermind...)
And that committee, chaired by Democrat State Representative Linda Chapa-LaVia has called a meeting for 4:00 pm TODAY (Friday) at a Chicago school to gather testimony.
And State Representative Barbara Wheeler thinks the timing 'stinks'. And she's right:
“This is a blatant example of political shenanigans at its finest,” said Wheeler, a member of the committee. “This is a late Friday afternoon on a football Friday during Homecoming season. All schools are going to be ‘all hands on deck’ with their local sporting events and will be unable to send representation to the hearing.”Join State Representative Barbara Wheeler in asking Representative Linda Chapa-Lavia re-schedule the meeting.
“They could not possibly have made this hearing more inconvenient for the major stakeholders who stand to lose the most,” said Wheeler. “Families, coaches, volunteers and players will be busy that night with local sporting events, but I believe it’s by design. I must wonder if they want to shut the major stakeholders out of the discussion.”
The only reason to have the meeting today is because the powers-that-be don't really want testimony. They want to accomplish their goals without getting the important stakeholders that disagree with them to stay silent.
We can't let that happen.
You can email her at: Chapa-laviali@ilga.gov or call her at her district office at (630) 264-6855.
