Section Orders Realignment Work to Start : High schools: Commissioner looks into the process by which the leagues were devised.

Southern Section Commissioner Stan Thomas ordered Orange County principals Wednesday to begin their league realignment process.

Thomas said he was concerned about the process in which principals had devised the county’s 10 leagues.

A proposal was approved in March that set the leagues for the 1994-95 school year. But Thomas said he was contacted by principals who were “concerned” about the process by which the proposal was formed.

“They requested that I look at the situation,” Thomas said. “I felt it would be in the best interest for them to go back and look at their process. It wasn’t the substance, it was the process.”

The biggest concern among some principals was the shuffling of schools before the final vote. The proposal approved was not the same one mailed prior to the meeting.

The final proposal was created after a few principals complained at the meeting. The nine-member alignment committee then went into special session and created another proposal, which was approved, 35-20.

“There were some athletic directors and coaches who were concerned about the new proposal,” Corona del Mar Principal Tom Jacobson said. “It was not the proposal that had been mailed out. There were concerns about travel and competitive equity.”

Thomas met with the county’s nine league representatives on Wednesday and asked them to revise the realignment procedure.

“They need to create a process and follow through on it,” Thomas said.

A three-member subcommittee was formed to create a process on which the committee will vote. Included in that is a requirement that every county principal receive information regarding meetings that concerns the changing of proposals. Thomas also requested that the principals record the minutes of each meeting in the event of an appeal.

“I feel due process was served,” Irvine Principal Gary Norton said. “I feel we came up with a proposal that was equitable. No matter what proposal is made, someone is not going to be happy. If we’re going to start again, I’m concerned.”

A final proposal must be submitted to Southern Section officials by May 17. The section’s executive committee will hear appeals June 2. The section expects to approve the league realignment Oct. 21.

The Plan That Was Approved

CENTURY--Canyon, El Modena, Foothill, Orange, Santa Ana Valley, Villa Park.

EMPIRE--Cypress, El Dorado, Esperanza, Katella, Kennedy, Loara.

FREEWAY--Buena Park, Fullerton, La Habra, Sonora, Sunny Hills, Troy.

GARDEN GROVE--Bolsa Grande, Garden Grove, La Quinta, Los Amigos, Pacifica, Rancho Alamitos, Santiago.

ORANGE--Anaheim, Brea-Olinda, Magnolia, Savanna, Western, Valencia.

PACIFIC COAST--Aliso Viejo, Costa Mesa, Estancia, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, University.

SEA VIEW--Corona del Mar, Irvine, Newport Harbor, Saddleback, Santa Margarita, Woodbridge.

SOUTH COAST--Capistrano Valley, Dana Hills, El Toro, Mission Viejo, San Clemente, Trabuco Hills.

SUNSET--Edison, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Los Alamitos, Marina, Mater Dei.

NEW LEAGUE--Century, Ocean View, Santa Ana, Servite/Rosary, Tustin, Woodbridge.