Change in Conferences Likely for 2 City Schools

Administrators representing 17 area City Section high schools Wednesday voted unanimously to make a minor modification in the makeup of two area conferences, a move that is expected to take effect in 1994-95.

Under the proposal, Reseda and Birmingham will switch conferences. The plan likely will be ratified by the City’s Interscholastic Athletics Committee on Dec. 6.

Whether the plan is sweeping enough to satisfy former City Commissioner Hal Harkness’ edict that an imbalance of power in the two conferences be rectified is a matter of opinion.

“There will be no opposition from this office,” said Barbara Fiege, who succeeded Harkness last month. “But there’s still an imbalance of power.

“But if they all voted for this and this is what they want, I’m not going to stand in their way.”

If the plan is approved by IAC, Reseda will move into the Valley Pac-8 Conference and play football in the 4-A Division East Valley League along with Sylmar, Van Nuys and Canoga Park. Birmingham will play football in the Northwest Valley Conference’s 3-A West Valley League along with Chatsworth and Cleveland.

Dimitri Vadetsky, an assistant principal at Reseda where the releaguing meeting was held, said Birmingham was in favor of the move.

The proposal, effective in all sports, does not seem to accomplish its objective in football. In head-to-head play against the Valley Pac-8 this season, Northwest Valley teams posted a record of 8-1-1, with Reseda winning three of the games.

Of the eight football teams in the Northwest Valley Conference, five have winning records after nine games; only three teams in the Valley Pac-8 are above .500.