JAN. 2007 Volume 91 • Number 4 LeaguUN I VE R SI TY I N TE R SCH O LA S TI C L E er A G U E 5A Football Finals Briefs and Notes Calendar of upcoming events Feb. 12 ...............CX Debate: District results deadline Feb. 15 ................CX Debate: Deadline to submit required judging information for state meet without $100 late fee. Certifi cation deadline for advancing teams (Left) After defeating Westlake 43-29 Feb. 16-17 ............ Swimming in the 5A-Division I State Football and Diving State Meet Championship, Southlake Carroll Feb. 19 .................. Baseball: Head Coach Todd Dodge celebrates First day for interschool with his team. Photo courtesy of games Photo Texas (Above) Cedar Hill Feb. 23 .................. OAP: title quarterback William Cole looks for entry cards due an open man during the 5A-Division Feb. 23-24 ............. Wrestling II State Football Championship State Meet against Cypress Falls. Cedar Hill March 1 ................ ILPC: Max won the game 51-17. Photo courtesy Haddick Teacher of the Year of Photo Texas and Edith Fox King Awards For more coverage, see page 14 nominations due March 1 ..................... Solo & Ensemble: First day of online IMPORTANT registration 2006 Sponsor Excellence March 1-3 ............Girls’ State ANNOUNCEMENT: Basketball Tournament March 8-10 ......... Boys’ State Tentative calendar Award Winners announced Basketball Tournament The University Interscholastic League is the hard work and dedication of sponsors, coaches, March 10 ............ Academics: changes for academics proud to recognize 15 of the top UIL sponsors and directors like these,” said UIL Director Dr. Last day for invitational meets Due to the change in the sched- in Texas as the 2006 UIL Sponsor Excellence Bill Farney. using Set B materials uled dates for the University of Texas Award winners. “On behalf of the UIL, I commend these out- March 12-13 ........CX Debate: at Austin’s spring break, CX Debate A panel of judges in the areas of music, ath- standing educators.” State Tournament for 1A, 2A State Meets and fi rst academic dis- letics and academics selected the winners from Each winner will receive $1,000 and a sym- and 3A trict week have been modifi ed. nominations submitted by school principals and bolic keepsake from the UIL in recognition of March 16-17 ........CX Debate: The CX State Meet in 2008 has superintendents across the state. their outstanding achievements in the pursuit of State Tournament for 4A been moved to the week of March The award, now in its 16th year, was created educational excellence through interscholastic and 5A 9-15. to identify and recognize outstanding sponsors competition. March 17 ................... Solo & Academic district week one will who enable students to develop and refi ne their The League continually strives to strengthen Ensemble: Last day for be March 17-22, and district week extracurricular talents to the highest degree pos- and promote the role of extracurricular activities region contests two remains March 24-29. sible within the educational system. in Texas through programs like the UIL Sponsor These dates are tentative until “The benefi ts of interscholastic competition Excellence Award. TEA confi rms the TAKS testing and student performance are only possible through See Winners page 12 The UIL web page is: www.uil.utexas.edu schedule. UIL Leaguer 2 • Theatre January 2007 Legislature files bills about UIL he 80th Session of the Texas Legislature count toward eligibility. However, some schools did not check with the began in early January. Several bills League prior to ruling incorrectly that concurrent courses did not count for EDITOR Tpertaining to the UIL or to school eligibility. Therefore, HB 208 has been filed to formalize an interpretation Dr. Bill Farney, activities have already been filed. that should have been followed, but was not. UIL Director This article will list the bills and a brief sum- Regarding steroid testing: MANAGING EDITOR mary of contents. 11/30/06, HB 346, Representative Flynn – Relating to random steroid Jeanne Acton, Relating to automated external defibrilla- testing of certain public school students for steroid use. assistant academic tors: The bill requires: director 11/14/06, HB 214, Representative Vo – Au- 1) the UIL to adopt rules prohibiting a student from participating ADMINISTRATIVE tomated external defibrillators must be available in an athletic competition sponsored by the UIL unless the student agrees Bill Farney at public school campuses and events. not to use steroids and submits to random testing for the presence of illegal STAFF UIL Director Dr. Bill Farney, 11/13/06, SB 82, Senator Van de Putte steroids in the student’s body, in accordance with a steroid testing program director – Relating to safety regulations for public school established by the UIL, Dr. Charles extracurricular activities and the availability of automated external defibril- 2) each district to submit to the League a list of students who are Breithaupt, lators at public school campuses and events. subject to testing under the program, assistant director & 11/13/06, SB 87, Senator Hinojosa – Relating to instruction in cardiopul- 3) the UIL to establish a statistically significant number of students director of athletics monary resuscitation and the availability and use of external defibrillators to be tested, Richard Floyd, director of music at public school campuses and certain athletic events. 4) the UIL to generate a random list of selected students to be tested activities UIL Legislative Council has passed a requirement for 2007-2008 that each by each school district for steroids, Treva Dayton, high school must have an AED. Some of the pending legislation extends 5) each school district to test the selected students at a laboratory director of academics that requirement to more than just one. In a large high school it could be designated by the UIL, Jeanne Acton, mandatory that multiple AEDs be available to cover a number of activities 6) providing a process for confirming any initial positive test result assistant academic occurring at the same time. Additionally, middle schools and elementary through a subsequent retest conducted as soon as practical after the initial director schools may need to have at least one AED on every campus. test, and Daryl Beasley, 11/17/06, HB 277, Representative Madden – Creates a state virtual 7) a period of ineligibility from participation in any athletic compe- athletic coordinator school network to provide education to students through electronic tition sponsored by the League for any student with a confirmed positive Diana Cardona, spring meet materials means. steroid test result. director This bill, if passed, would permit students to obtain a diploma without The UIL shall pay the cost of the steroid testing program. If necessary Peter Contreras, being in school in the traditional way of on-site attendance. Currently to provide adequate revenue to pay these costs, the UIL shall impose an athletic coordinator students, in order to be eligible for UIL activities, must meet the full-time admission fee at local athletic competitions. Dr. Mark Cousins, student provision. It is projected that these “virtual schools” will be directed Revenue raised through this admission fee can be used to pay the costs athletic coordinator through colleges and universities. If students in virtual schools would of the steroid testing program. If passed, this bill would take effect Sept. Dijaira Smith, be interested in representing a high school in school activities, the UIL 1, 2007. financial officer Legislative Council would need to consider new methods of determining These bills could be amended from their current format by legislative Eddie Wolski, eligibility and ascertaining academic progress to comply with No-Pass-No- committees and be passed in some altered version. waiver officer Rachel Harrison, Play provisions of HB 72 and SB 1. It is not the function of the UIL to speak for or against any proposed athletic coordinator 11/13/06, HB 208, Representative Flores – Relates to eligibility of legislation. If you need further information, we suggest you consult with Kelly McCollum, students enrolled in joint credit or concurrent enrollment programs for your superintendent. technology director extracurricular activities and UIL competitions. There could be additional bills filed during the session. Certainly your Luis Muñoz, TEA and UIL interpretations have stated that concurrent courses can local school will have an interest in some of them. theatre director Bonnie Northcutt, director of policy Jana Riggins, March and April/May. There are no issues in June, July Garland ISD; Mark Henry, Galena Park ISD; John Leaguer or August. One year’s subscription is $8. Periodicals Folks, Northside ISD. assistant academic Postage Paid in Austin, TX. 4A • Darrell Floyd, Stephenville, ISD; Rick Reedy, director “ISSN 0897-4314” Frisco ISD, Don Hendrix, Crosby ISD; Richard Bo- Kim Rogers, STATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE canegra, Edgewood ISD. public information POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Chairman: Mike Motheral, superintendent, Sundown 3A • David Foote, Dalhart ISD; Bruce Wood, director Leaguer, P.O. Box 8028, Austin, TX 78713. ISD; Kaufman ISD; John Key, Groesbeck ISD; Romeo Cody Havard The Leaguer is the official publication of the Members: Richard Avila, Corpus Christi; Robin Rodriguez, Zapata County ISD. assistant public University Interscholastic League. The Leaguer is Battershell, superintendent, Salado ISD; Johanna 2A • Berhl Robertson,