County Reviews Charge Against Centinela School Superintendent : Allegation: Critics say the educator approved a pay raise for his wife in violation of the district’s anti-nepotism rule.

The Los Angeles County Office of Education is reviewing an allegation that the superintendent of Centinela Valley Union High School District violated the district’s policy against nepotism by authorizing a $4,000-a-year pay raise for his wife.

Board critics Adrain Briggs and Lionel Broussard raised the accusation in a Sept. 2 letter, claiming that Supt. Tom Barkelew authorized a promotion for his wife, Eleanor Hooper, which led to the salary increase.

Because school districts are free to formulate their own policies on nepotism, the county will simply look into whether Barkelew violated the district’s policy, said Calvin Hall, the county’s assistant superintendent of business services. If the policy was violated, the county will recommend that trustees change it or revoke the raise, Hall said.

If the district does not comply, the county--which acts as the district’s treasurer and issues paychecks--may refuse to pay Hooper the higher salary, said Bruce Zentil, the county’s director of school financial services.

Barkelew said Friday that the district has no policy against nepotism, only an administrative regulation that acts as a guideline. He said that his wife’s promotion in July from coordinator of special projects to director of instructional services was legitimate and that the higher salary reflects the pay level of her new position.

“It’s just another example of attempts (by Briggs and Broussard) to harass the board,” Barkelew said.

Briggs denied that the allegations were calculated to harass Barkelew or the school board. “We’re not attacking (Barkelew) because he’s a white male doing these things,” said Briggs, who is black. “We’re talking about nepotism. He shouldn’t do it.”

The exchange reflects tensions over persistent allegations that the school district and its predominantly Latino board have discriminated against black employees and parents. Earlier this year, racial unrest among students exploded into large-scale brawls at both of the district’s high schools.

In their letter to the county, Briggs and Broussard also complained that Assistant Supt. Robert Church received a $7,825-a-year raise, despite statements by the board that no additional salary adjustments would be made for the fiscal year 1991-92.

Barkelew said the allegation is a lie and insisted that no administrator or district employee received raises this school year.

That allegation is also under review by the county.

Other issues raised by the activists’ letter include claims that the district improperly transferred restricted property sale funds to the general fund and that school officials have refused to release documents outlining payments for legal services, which Barkelew said totaled nearly $500,000 last year.

In a letter dated Oct. 4, county Supt. Stuart E. Gothold described the fund transfers as temporary loans and said they were not illegal because they were repaid within a year.