City Releaguing Plan Takes Form

City Commissioner Barbara Fiege said Wednesday the Interscholastic Athletic Committee has passed two motions that laid the groundwork for the final step of a releaguing plan.

IAC passed one motion that eliminates predesignation of schools as 3-A and 4-A. Championships will still be contested in two divisions, but schools will no longer be able to choose whether to compete in the 3-A or more powerful 4-A. Instead, the determination will be made by the playoff seeding committee after the regular season in each sport. The strongest 16 teams will be 4-A, the next strongest 16 in 3-A.

IAC also passed a motion for a six-team league format. Now there are four-team leagues in seven conferences. Other than the Magnet Conference, each conference includes two leagues. Teams play league members twice and other conference members once.

The new format will eliminate conferences and allow schools to play other opponents from other leagues twice in one season.

Fiege said the final step involves placing schools in the respective leagues. The releaguing committee will develop an initial proposal, send it to the schools and hold a public forum.

Fiege said the plan should be finalized by December so it can be implemented for the 1999-2000 school year.

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Los Angeles Board of Education member David Tokofsky said he plans to introduce a motion calling for a 30% raise in coaching stipends at the next board meeting on Monday.

City Section coaches have not received a pay raise since 1989. Their pay scale ranks 43rd among 47 Los Angeles County school districts.

Board members expressed support for the coaches’ plight at an earlier meeting, but Tokofsky said it will be difficult to convince district staff to support the pay raise because the money would come from the general fund and others might also seek a raise.

“I’m afraid of the anger coaches will have if they have to go another two to 10 years without another raise,” he said.

BASKETBALL

James Morris and Adam Levitt have been selected co-coaches of the Cleveland High boys’ team.

Both were assistants the last two seasons under Andre Chevalier, who is expected to become an assistant at Cal State Northridge.

Junior point guard Jerome Joseph is transferring from The Master’s College to Azusa Pacific.

Joseph last season averaged 17.3 points and 3.3 assists, and helped the Mustangs (23-12) to the fifth consecutive appearance at the NAIA national championships.

BASEBALL

Shea Johnson, a Thousand Oaks High third baseman-catcher who batted .425 with seven home runs this season, and Tom Manos, a 6-foot-3 left-handed pitcher who graduated from Royal High in 1995, will play at Cal State Northridge next season.

Mitch Tisher of Moorpark College, a right-handed pitcher and outfielder who went to Agoura High, will attend Arkansas. Eric Devine of Moorpark, a pitcher from Westlake High, is headed to UC San Diego.

MISCELLANY

The Los Angeles City Council gave final approval Wednesday for an ordinance approving Proposition K funds, clearing the way for lights to be erected at El Camino Real High’s football field and Birmingham’s baseball diamond.

GOLF

Stephanie Martin, a graduate of Rio Mesa High, qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open when she shot shot two-over-par 74 in sectional qualifying at Timarron Country Club in Dallas.

The U.S. Women’s Open is July 2-5 at Blackwolf Run Golf Course in Kohler, Wis.

SWIMMING

Bennett Bier of Petaluma High has signed a letter of intent with Cal State Northridge.

SOCCER

Tony Scalercio has been hired as Valencia High girls’ coach.