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Decatur SD 61 board gives consensus to pursue IHSA‑required baseball co‑op between Eisenhower and MacArthur
Summary
The board gave consensus Oct. 28 to pursue an IHSA‑style co‑op for spring baseball if either Eisenhower or MacArthur cannot field a full team; administrators said the combined enrollment would place a co‑op in Class 4A and the application deadline is Feb. 1, 2026.
The Decatur SD 61 Board of Education on Oct. 28 gave administration broad consensus to pursue an Illinois High School Association (IHSA) co‑op process to combine spring sports when necessary, with baseball identified as the immediate candidate.
Craig Bundy, who presented the plan, said the proposed baseball co‑op would be a two‑year agreement that cannot be ended after one season. "It is allowable in baseball," Bundy said, and described the administrative requirements: the district must submit a letter through DPS detailing the combined team’s name, colors and mascot and provide an estimate of participating players from each school. Bundy added the application deadline for the upcoming season is Feb. 1, 2026, and that baseball practices would start March 2 with the first games as soon as March 16.
Administrators said combined enrollments for the two high schools — Eisenhower (listed as 860 for football enrollment) and MacArthur (1,009) — would total 1,869, which places a combined baseball program in Class 4A. Bundy warned that class placement and roster rules are set by IHSA and related conferences; he also noted roster limits for regionals and the logistical paperwork required for co‑op approval.
Dr. Clark asked the board for a broad consensus "to proceed with a process outlined by IHSA to combine a necessary spring sports if one or both high schools do not have enough players to formulate and or complete a full roster team for that particular sport." He said that when IHSA rules require formal board action, the matter would return to the board for a vote.
Board members stressed baseball is the primary immediate focus; administrators said other spring sports (softball, track, etc.) could be considered later if participation declines. The administration emphasized the co‑op must run two years if approved and would need conference and state approvals before it can be finalized.
Next steps: administration will prepare required IHSA/Conference paperwork and, if a formal board vote is required by IHSA, bring an action item back to the board. No formal roll‑call vote was taken on the consensus at the Oct. 28 meeting.
