East Central Reporter

Republican state Rep. Blaine Wilhour (R-Effingham) is cheering a recent 5th District Appellate Court’s decision rendering that the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) cannot exclude schools from sports because they are on probation.

“More affirmation that the bureaucracy is acting way outside their authority,” Wilhour posted on Facebook. “The 5th District Appellate Court ruled today that the IHSA cannot exclude a school from sporting activities due to noncompliance with the mask mandate.”

The verdict came after the Huntsville School District CUSD #1 and the family of senior high school student Cory Sheets filed suit against the ISHA on the behalf of the school volleyball team.

While court documents outline the decision isn’t directly related to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s mask mandate or the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) power to put a school on probation stemming from it, Wilhour seems certain it will send a message along those lines.

“This was the biggest reason most districts I talked to surrendered into compliance. That reasoning is now off the table.”

KHQA reports the decision directly addresses the question of if the IHSA can change a school's eligibility based on ISBE probation status, adding neither the governor’s mandate nor ISBE’s rules state that “on probation” means schools can’t play.

ISHA officials have since confirmed that the school will be allowed to take part in the girls’ volleyball state series this season.

“However, we have no further comment at this time given the ongoing litigation,” ISHA officials said in a statement.

As part of its suit, the Sheets family argued that as a senior this is the last chance their family member would be able to compete in such events and no monetary judgment could remedy that sort of ban.