Look out, PIAA, here come city public schools Many details need to be worked out, but the school district has officially asked to join the state body.

With the PIAA come questions.

But those questions do not concern the athletes in the Public League. Those questions are for the coaches and the athletic directors and the bigwigs who wear suits to work every day to figure out.

But not the athletes.

They just want their shot at a state title.

They said as much yesterday at a news conference at William Penn High School to announce the Public League's intention to join the PIAA, the governing body for most of the state's high school athletic programs, next year.

"Watch out, state, because Philadelphia is coming to a town near you," said Strawberry Mansion senior Delton Morgan-Hines, a member of the defending Public League boys' basketball champions.

If the PIAA approves the Public League's applications, the league will follow PIAA rules and bylaws during the 2003-04 school year, but will not compete at the state level. The Public League, which will compete as District 12, will compete for state championships beginning in the 2004-05 school year.

PIAA executive director Brad Cashman said the Public League champion will essentially be the District 12 champion.

"It's going to be good to have the Public League in the PIAA," Strawberry Mansion senior basketball player Maureece Rice said. "To compete for the state championship would mean a lot. I never thought the Public League would get a chance to compete in the state, but I always wanted to."

William Penn senior Christina Smith, a track and field standout, said it also gives athletes in the city more of an opportunity to be noticed and earn college scholarships.

"And for people to say they're state champions, I can only speak for William Penn, but we beat most of them during the year," she said.

Smith is right. William Penn has won 17 of the last 19 Pennsylvania Track and Field Coaches Association indoor state championships (Simon Gratz won the other two), which is noteworthy because the PIAA does not sponsor a state indoor track and field meet.

On hand yesterday were top brass from the School District of Philadelphia and the PIAA, seven Public League championship teams and their coaches, the band from GAMP and others such as Philadelphia basketball impresario Sonny Hill and Philadelphia Charge star Lorrie Fair.

Paul Vallas, the school district CEO who spearheaded the move, spoke enthusiastically about his expectations for the Public League.