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Decatur SD 61 board gives consensus to pursue IHSA co-op for spring baseball between Eisenhower and MacArthur
Summary
District administrators told the board Oct. 28 that combining Eisenhower (860) and MacArthur (1,009) for a spring baseball co-op would create a combined enrollment of 1,869 (Class 4A); the board gave consensus to pursue the IHSA process, with a 2‑year minimum agreement and a Feb. 1, 2026 application deadline.
Decatur School District 61 administrators asked the school board Oct. 28 for consensus to pursue an IHSA‑sanctioned cooperative (co‑op) for spring baseball that would combine Eisenhower and MacArthur teams, and the board agreed to let administration proceed.
Craig Bundy, who presented the report to the board, said the co‑op would count the two schools' combined enrollment for classification: "Eisenhower, which is listed as 860 right now for football enrollment, and McArthur's is 1,009. That would give us a combined enrollment of 1,869, which would put us in class 4A," Bundy said. He described the agreement as a two‑year commitment: "It is a 2 year agreement. It lasts—you can't cut it off after a year," Bundy said.
Bundy outlined steps required to file for a co‑op: written approval from the relevant conference or state oversight body, a letter from DPS specifying the proposed team name, colors and mascot, a report on expected player numbers from each school and a written assurance that the coop would not limit student opportunities. He said the application deadline for a coop for the coming baseball season is Feb. 1, 2026; baseball practice would begin March 2 and the first game could be played March 16.
Board members asked practical questions about roster sizes and pitcher pitch counts; an attendee noted typical regional dress limits of about 15 players, with occasional rosters larger but with some players not dressed for games. A former coach raised concerns about pitch counts and said adding a JV team would reduce pitching strain on young players; one board member estimated pitch limits at about 120 pitches in a week.
Administration asked for consensus rather than a formal vote. An administrator summarized the request: "Administration is asking for consensus to move forward. If board action is required, that can come back before you at a later date for the formal vote before anything would be turned into IHSA," and the board provided the requested consensus to proceed. Bundy and administrators said they would follow IHSA procedures and return if formal board action is required.
