New proposals submitted to ease public-private school feud

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In an attempt to deal with competitive equity issues between public and private school athletic programs, a public/private school committee has put forth three proposals for a first reading at the Oct. 23 Southern Section Council meeting.

The most controversial proposal and one that has already drawn disapproval from the Southern Section Executive Committee would allow leagues to vote on whether to declare a dominant school a “competitive anomaly,” forcing the school to leave the league and play a freelance schedule.

It’s based on what happened in Northern California when Concord De La Salle switched to a freelance schedule in football because it had become too strong for league opponents.

The criteria to declare a school a “competitive anomaly” would be playing in the Southern Section playoffs five consecutive years, having a dominant won-loss record against league schools over five years and winning the vast majority of its league games by excessive margins over the past five years.

Based on that criteria, Orange Lutheran, Ventura St. Bonaventure, San Juan Capistrano St. Margaret’s, Elsinore, Palmdale, Long Beach Poly, Mayfair, Dominguez, Faith Baptist and Montebello Schurr would be among the schools considered a “competitive anomaly” for football.

One school that surprisingly wouldn’t be considered is Westlake Village Oaks Christian because it was part of a three-way tie last year and finished third in the Tri Valley League in 2003.

Another proposal from the committee would require all schools to have on file with the Southern Section their financial pay structure for coaches. That would allow public and private school supporters and opponents to determine if there is an inequity in pay.

The third proposal would put in writing that “financial aid, grants or scholarships given to students based soley on athletic prowess is prohibited” and would recommend that an outside independent firm be associated with determining which students can receive need-based financial assistance.

Last school year, there was a proposal to hold separate playoffs for public and private schools. It was pulled before a vote could be taken.

-- Eric Sondheimer