You don't say anything about your Progress/OpenEdge version!
AFAIK, the 4GL database engine only sees tables which are located in the PUB schema. I you move them out of this schema chances are that they are not known to the 4GL database engine anymore. If the only clients that connect to your database this may work, but, if you have to support 4GL clients too, then I think this will introduce serious issues for the 4GL side of things.
Regards, RealHeavyDude.