Some Oppose New Plan on Releaguing

Another releaguing proposal that involves 21 public high schools in Southeast Los Angeles County is expected to meet with strong resistance when it comes before a California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section appeals committee Tuesday.

Administrators from at least four schools say they will file formal appeals with the Southern Section before Friday’s deadline.

This is the second plan submitted by the San Gabriel Valley Area releaguing committee to be contested. The appeals committee rejected the group’s first plan in May. The Southern Section releagues every two years in an attempt to balance competition.

Gahr Principal’s Plan

The latest proposal, created by outgoing Principal Mara Clisby of Gahr High School, was forwarded to the appeals committee on a 14-7 vote of school principals. All the no votes came from the seven schools that would make up the new San Gabriel Valley League. They are Bell Gardens, El Rancho, Montebello, Lynwood, Dominguez, Paramount and Cerritos. Voting for the proposal were Artesia, Glenn, Bellflower, Mayfair, La Mirada and Norwalk, current members of the Suburban League, which would remain intact. In addition, Gahr, Warren and Downey high schools joined five Whittier Union high schools in approving the plan. They would form a new Whitmont League. The rejected proposal called for the formation of four leagues, three of which would have been composed of five schools each.

Proponents contend that competition and scheduling will be made easier by the new proposal, which would begin in the fall of 1988. Opponents maintain that the new plan, like its predecessor, segregates minority schools and would not provide better competition.

When the first plan was rejected last month, opponents had hoped to win enough votes on the releaguing committee to keep the current three-league setup. But despite previous indications, the six principals in the Suburban League surprised several administrators when they voted in a block for the Clisby plan.

Principals Dumbfounded

“I can’t understand that,” said Stan Steddom of Cerritos High School. “They weren’t involved in a change either way.”

Other principals agreed.

“This is all being done for reasons that are very unclear,” said El Rancho Principal John Sherman.

Said Larry Triplett of Lynwood: “It’s amazing that this group would create a league in which all seven participants voted against it.”

Steddom, who had voted for the rejected plan, said he will argue in his appeal to stay with the status quo. He said he expects the Southern Section to alter or eliminate the San Gabriel releaguing area by 1990.

Chairwoman Michelle Lawrence of Whittier, who voted for the proposal, said the relatively small size of the San Gabriel area poses the greatest problem in any releaguing effort.

“I’m not sure my kids are any better off with this plan,” she said. “Any configuration we have will not please everyone.”

She said she has received assurances from Commissioner Stan Thomas that the Southern Section will restructure the San Gabriel area in time for releaguing in 1990.

RELEAGUING PROPOSAL

Current Alignment: SAN GABRIEL VALLEY

Cerritos

Dominguez

* Downey

* Gahr

Lynwood

Paramount

* Warren

SUBURBAN

Artesia

Bellflower

John Glenn

La Mirada

Mayfair

Norwalk

WHITMONT

* Bell Gardens

California

* El Rancho

La Serna

* Montebello

Pioneer

Santa Fe

Whittier

The Clisby Plan: SAN GABRIEL VALLEY

Bell Gardens

El Rancho

Montebello

Lynwood

Dominguez

Paramount

Cerritos

SUBURBAN

Artesia

Bellflower

John Glenn

La Mirada

Mayfair

Norwalk

WHITMONT

Gahr

Downey

Warren

California

La Serna

Pioneer

Santa Fe

Whittier

Revised leagues would begin play in the fall of 1988.

Italics and asterisk indicate teams that would move to another league.