Oct. 15-16 UIL Legislative Council Meeting Results

Moving the pilot Robotics Education & Competition Foundation (RECF) contest to a permanent part of the UIL robotics program was among the several UIL rule changes approved by the league’s 32-member rule making Legislative Council at the conclusion of its two-day meeting on Monday.

• Note: All of the rules adopted by the council must first be approved by the education commissioner before they can become final. Please click the image to learn when a particular rule will become effective (either Aug. 1, 2024, or immediately).
  
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In addition to robotics, the only other academic contest changes approved were to pilot a middle school theatrical design contest and to increase the number of students each school is allowed to enter in the Congress contest.

The lone music contest rule adopted was to increase, from 10 hours to 15 hours, the total time that a marching band can spend practicing visual fundamentals prior to Aug. 1. The stated reason for the change was due to school years starting earlier and the need to acclimate students to the heat.

Among the several athletic proposals approved included authorizing a two-year pilot to allow coaches to coach up to two of their athletes in a UIL approved state association all-star game, and allowing schools to schedule up to three (instead of up to two) basketball games during the Thanksgiving break.

In accordance with bills passed during the regular legislative session this year, the council relaxed certain athletic eligibility requirements for students who transfer to new schools if their parent either: 1) works in a SBEC certified position in that district or 2) is in the military or is a peace officer. The council also eliminated the 15-day deadline for a parent to request a review of a decision by the league’s waiver officer.

Studied
Among the items the council directed staff to study was the possibility of adding — some time in the future — activities such as a drone contest and a state jazz festival.

The council denied, rejected or took no action on several proposals — including proposals to add, as UIL contests, boys volleyball, girls flag football, and wheelchair tennis. A proposal to ban Native American theme mascots did not receive the council’s approval.

Goodbyes
Kind words were said about two of the council’s longest serving members — starting with a prayer offered by Barbers Hill Superintendent Greg Poole in remembrance of James Brewer, who had been the council’s only non-superintendent member. Brewer, who was Longview (ISD) High School’s principal, died of a sudden cardiac event in June.

This was followed with words said in appreciation about 24-year council member Mark Henry, whose tenure on the council ends with his retirement as Cypress-Fairbanks ISD superintendent in December.

“UIL has always been my love, even the difficult decisions,” Henry responded, adding: “A child getting connected in something in school is the best dropout program we have. And, you have to have something in life that you love, and the UIL provides those opportunities.”

New Officers
The council, as the final order of business, elected Supt. Keith Bryant (Lubbock Cooper ISD) as chair for the upcoming year, replacing outgoing chair Supt. Cody Moree (Apple Springs ISD).

Also elected were Supt. Roland Hernandez (Corpus Christi ISD) as first vice chair and Supt. Richard Kilgore (Bruceville-Eddy ISD) as second vice chair.

The council next meets on June 12, 2024.