CENTINELA VALLEY PROTEST: A SEARCH FOR COMMON GROUND : All Sides Speak Out on Centinela Schools’ Racial Tension

Sheila Stachowiak, PTA President

Sheila Stachowiak, is serving her second two-year term as president of the Centinela Valley Council of PTAs. Her five children have graduated from the district, two from Lennox High School, which has since been closed, and three from Hawthorne High.

Q: What do you think has been the cause of the racial tensions and student unrest in the district?

A: I feel the allegations (about racism) are very untrue. I think the adults started (the student protest). . . . I don’t want to say any names because I don’t want to point any fingers. . . .

There never were any problems (with racism) before with Rudy Crew (a previous principal at Hawthorne High School, who was black). I think a lot of this is made up.

Q: What about the mannequin?

A: It has been on the campus for years. It’s not a new thing. It’s been there since Rudy Crew was here.

Q: And the anonymous notes and cartoons?

A: I think there may be a few individuals who are doing it. There will always be a few people who do things like that. There is nothing you can do about it. That’s the way it is. But we should not say that all the teachers are racist. . . . I think it’s time they stop the racism thing and concentrate on the job at hand: education.

Q: How effectively have the school board, administrators and teachers responded to the situation?

A: Most parents feel (the protest) hasn’t been handled properly. They feel the administration knew about the protest before it happened and didn’t do anything about it. They should have been on top of this. They must have seen the tension growing. . . .

I feel sorry for the teaching staff because they are in the middle of all of this. I feel bad for them because so many of them have done so many extra things for the students. I don’t feel the teachers are racist. . . .

The board is trying to do the best they can (to address the racial tensions), but it must be difficult with all this happening at once. . . . Given the opportunity, the board will address this, but they have not been given a chance.

Q: What do you think should be done to address the problems?

A: Parents, administrators and teachers should just sit down and talk. That’s the key to the whole thing: communication.

Q: Do you think all sides will be willing to talk?

A: If the children are important to them . . . they will put aside their anger and talk. . . . There are all kinds of cultures in the district, but we need to stop looking at the differences and start looking at the similarities. . . . Parents feel that the racism (issue) needs to be dropped. It’s got to stop.

Q: Has any good come from the controversy?

A: No. I don’t think the (racism) problems were ever there.