October Final
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OCTOBER 2004 Volume 89 • Number 2 LeaguUN I VE R SI TY I N TE R SCH O LA S TI C L E er A G U E The Spotlight is on Briefs and Notes Story by Amy Casteen Calendar of Friday Nights phenomenon. A upcoming events A secular religion. Oct. 28...........................Marching Band: Area contest deadline for An obsession. These are 3A and 5A Oct. 30...........................Marching all words the media has Band: Region contest deadline for 1A, 2A and 4A used to describe Texas Nov. 1 ............................Marching Band State Contest, 3A and 5A high school football re- Nov. 1 ................................... ILPC membership due, yearbooks due cently. But those who for rating Nov. 1 ........................ First day for participate and experi- Invitational Meet for E/JH Nov. 1 ..................... District direc- ence the sport fi rst-hand tor name and info. forms due to state offi ce for CX Debate are the only ones who Nov. 1 ........................ Academics: Deadline to update on-line school truly understand what it information Nov. 5 - 6 ...................Team Tennis is like to be under the State Tournament Nov. 13 ................................ Cross Friday night lights in HS Photo by Maxim Mironow - Westlake Country State Meet Nov. 18-20 ....................Volleyball Texas during the foot- Queen for a pseudo-tailgate party turned into a proud tradition in the schools. It’s not the Eagles State Tournament before heading over to watch the Texas, and this is evident through- beating the Panthers, it’s my town ball season. game,” said UIL Athletic Director out the state, said UIL Executive beat your town.” academics Notes Events such as the opening of Charles Breithaupt. “It’s become Director Bill Farney. The community spirit that the movie Friday Night Lights and Student Ac tiv i ties a community event because even “Texas has a history of being football fosters is apparent in the live telecasts of high-profi le Con fer enc e if people don’t have a kid on the very proud, for example with many cities and towns around football games again brings Texas team, they go to the game anyway the tradition of the Alamo and the state, Farney said. He said high school football into the na- • Nov. 6 - Texas A&M to watch the kid who mowed their being the only state that was its the activity has gone beyond just tional spotlight. Uni ver si ty - Kingsville grass over the summer or their own country,” Farney said. “This being a sport. “Our Friday night experience neighbor play.” is the unique nature of Texas and “Football games have become involves a family piling into their The conference will be gin With a strong emphasis on foot- Texans. That spirit fosters com- a social event,” Farney said. “It’s pick-up truck and driving to the at 9 a.m. and conclude at 1:30 ball in the state, Friday nights have munity pride that spills over into See Friday Night, page 12 p.m. Admission is free to all next town over to the Dairy ac tiv i ties. Please check the UIL website for more de tails. UIL outlines transfer provisions under NCLB Invitationals By Mark Cousins is not in Title I School Improvement. the Constitution and Contest Rules. For information about In- Athletic Coordinator Below, UIL provides information on the Students and parents of athletes choosing vitational Meets in your area, With the implementation of provisions of transfer provisions of NCLB and the criteria to transfer under NCLB provisions should be please check the UIL website. the Federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), that will determine a student's eligibility for aware of some specifi cs regarding to eligibility All submitted Invitational many questions have arisen in reference to varsity athletic participation at the new school for varsity athletics: Meets are posted on the web. the UIL eligibility of students who elect to subsequent to the transfer. Eligibility for UIL First, the provisions of the Previous Ath- take advantage of transfers. NCLB provisions activities other than athletics should not be letic Participation Form will apply. A student allow students who attend schools identifi ed in question as the residence rule only applies who is determined to have changed schools as in Title I School Improvement, for failing to varsity athletic participation. Individuals for athletic purposes may be ruled ineligible The UIL web page is: to meet Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for participating in UIL activities other than for participation by the local District Execu- www.uil.utexas.edu consecutive years, to transfer to a school that athletics must comply with section 400 of See NCLB, page 15 UIL Leaguer UIL Leaguer 2 • News October 2004 October 2004 • 3 Survey results guide council, UIL This year's fall UIL staff will continue to seek creative means to areas do not have convenient access to bowling survey revealed new facilitate playoffs and minimize travel. facilities ; and (3) schools are reluctant to add new information that will There was sizeable interest in adding mixed activities because of budget and staffing concerns. EDITOR help the UIL Legis- doubles to spring tennis. Other states have proven Only 46 schools indicated an interest in adding Dr. Bill Farney, lative Council make this to be a solid format. If the ballot passes, par- bowling as a UIL activity. UIL Director decisions and assist ticipation in both boys’ and girls’ tennis would Only 24 schools charge a participation fee for MANAGING EDITOR the UIL staff in plan- increase. extracurricular activities. Almost 1,000 schools do Jeanne Acton, assistant academic ning for upcoming The League is keenly aware of holding costs not. Parents can be thankful that Texas does not director years. Conference 5A down for schools. Some schools have expressed mirror other states. In some states, a participation schools showed some concern that they have a difficult time purchasing fee is the norm rather than the exception. With the Bill Farney interest in adding a major awards (letter jackets) for the $60 limit. escalating school finance problem, more schools in ADMINISTRATIVE UIL Director STAFF fourth team to the The survey showed that 480 schools did not want the near future may have to charge a fee. Whatever Dr. Bill Farney, direc- playoffs, but the vote to change the limit. But, 229 wanted to raise the happens, we hope that participation will not be tor was about even for and limit to $70, 188 wanted $80 and 117 preferred limited to only those who can pay. Dr. Charles against. Comments on this item indicated a grow- $90. Another follow-up question should have been Almost 250 schools conduct drug testing for Breithaupt, ing concern about nine and 10 team districts and “Are you able to purchase these major awards students in extracurricular activities. With the assistant director & director of athletics the added incentive in those districts of having a for $60?” Obviously, some schools are not. The reality of substance abuse in society, today’s stu- Richard Floyd, fourth team in the playoffs. Others believed the Council is well aware that whatever “maximum” dents face more exposure to drugs and to influences director of music addition of another team would eliminate the mad allowance becomes the rule, all jackets will cost from peers and adults in an atmosphere of abuse. activities scramble for warm-up games at the end of the sea- at least that amount. Almost 800 schools do not test for drugs. Either Bobby Hawthorne, son. Some were concerned about lop-sided scores An interesting result on insurance revealed that the cost is too great or their school district has director of academics when #4 played #1 in bi-district contests. 808 respondents carry catastrophic insurance on not deemed it necessary. In a survey conducted Jeanne Acton, By a vote of 148 for and 135 opposed, Confer- extracurricular participants. While 202 schools do two years ago by the UIL, the majority of school assistant academic ence A schools indicated an interest in having not, some of these offer catastrophic options for administrators indicated there was not a problem director three teams in the playoffs. Those voting against parents to purchase. The specter of catastrophic in their schools – but many perceived that other Daryl Beasley, assistant athletic have some doubts about the quality of a third place injury is something that all of us fear every day. schools had a problem. When asked why UIL director team. From a personal perspective, I have seen a The survey indicates a depth of concern that is does not require drug testing, the answer is that Diana Cardona, number of good third place teams and some weak both compassionate and realistic. Four hundred when and if a majority of schools ask the UIL to spring meet materials first place teams over the years. Also, in Confer- seventy eight schools favored coaching manuals consider it as a statewide procedure, drug testing director ence A basketball, there was a 2 to 1 majority being available electronically only, while a near will be on the agenda. Peter Contreras, that wanted to do away with the “Texas Cup” equal group of 464 was not in favor. This response The fall survey also revealed that a majority athletic coordinator basketball game. The fact that a state champion probably will initiate a “choice” option in the near of schools responding (523 to 486) now require Mark Cousins, goes home after losing its last game seems to take future where schools can request written manuals an annual physical examination. athletic coordinatator some luster off the tournament. or electronical manuals. We want to be sure that The annual questionnaire will become a twice Treva Dayton, assistant academic With all the travel problems and other lo- we are meeting the needs of our schools in an ef- yearly event with another solicitation of opinion director gistic concerns, a majority of schools oppose ficient and economical way – not just transferring on various issues being surveyed in the spring of Sandra Deel, eliminating regional tournaments in volleyball, printing costs from our office to local schools.