The arm of the Illinois General Assembly stops short of the IHSA, the private group that runs school sports in the state. State Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia (D-Aurora) has a problem with that.
Chapa LaVia, chair of the Illinois House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee, is upset the Illinois High School Association, created by the legislature more than 100 years ago, is not answerable to her or to any other lawmaker. In fact, its leaders barely take her calls. Among other things, she says, there were allegations of plagiarism in Scholastic Bowl questions. “When the person reported this, he was fired,” she told lawmakers, “and the executive director was told about it, but they did nothing about that.”
When dozens of representatives opposed her measure, she responded, “If they’re doing such a great job … then there shouldn’t be an issue coming before my committee.”
A resolution carries no weight. Call it what you want, it passed.
HR 895 has passed the House, 55-51.