Catholic Schools Allowed to Join Public Leagues : Prep sports: Southern Section votes to permit four private schools to compete in 1992-94 seasons.

The Southern Section General Council voted Thursday to allow four Orange County Catholic schools to play in leagues with public schools.

Santa Margarita, Mater Dei and a combined entry of Servite (all boys) and Rosary (all girls) won approval to play with Orange County public schools for the 1992-94 seasons.

The issue now goes to the state panel. If approved, it will be the first time public and parochial schools in Orange County will be allowed to compete in the same leagues.

“The issue is over as far as the Southern Section is concerned,” said Dean Crowley, the section’s associate commissioner. “The next level would be a hearing panel by the state’s executive committee.”

The executive committee’s next scheduled meeting is April 11. County principals are expected to continue through the appeal process regarding the placement of the Catholic schools into the county geographic area.

Currently, all private schools in the county compete against other private schools in what is termed the private geographic area, crossing county lines. The four private schools have made a request to be placed with the county’s public schools because of rising transportation costs incurred while competing against other private schools in Los Angeles, La Puente and Downey.

Public school administrators throughout the county fear that private schools will dominate athletic events because private schools have no boundaries from which to draw athletes.

The issue has been debated for three years. The next issue will be the placement of the Catholic schools into specific leagues.

In other council agenda items:

- Sea View League representatives proposed that a summer dead period (a period when coaches may not contact their athletes) scheduled to begin Aug. 1 be set aside until a study is made of all the sports and coaches that would be affected. The measure was overwhelmingly approved.

- Sunset League representatives proposed that a football scrimmage be added to the 10-game schedule beginning in the 1991 season. Ten years ago, the council voted to allow football programs the option of either a 10th game or a scrimmage. The measure will be voted on at the next council meeting April 25.