Ken Crowe

Monday's demonstration by students from two South Bay area high schools, which was sparked by the resignation of a popular black principal, culminated months of racial tension in a district that has seen dramatic ethnic changes in recent years. Hawthorne High Principal Ken Crowe announced last Wednesday that he would resign at the end of the year under pressure from the Centinela Valley Union High School District Board of Trustees, which decided last week to reassign him.

Racial divisions remained firmly drawn in the Centinela Valley Union High School District Thursday night as trustees chose the interim successor for a controversial black principal amid continuing allegations by some residents that the district has not treated blacks fairly. Trustees, who had demoted Kenneth Crowe as principal at Hawthorne High School, replaced him with John Carter, the white vice principal of the district's adult school and an 18-year veteran of the district.

Unrest continued Tuesday at two South Bay high schools as students staged a second day of protests against alleged racism and the resignation of a popular black principal. At Hawthorne High School, Principal Ken Crowe told about 40 students attempting to leave campus that he would ask the Centinela Valley Union High School District Board of Trustees to rescind his resignation. "I have no intention of going anywhere," he said.

A controversial former administrator at Hawthorne High School has been named to replace ousted principal Lawrence Freeman as the head of Inglewood High School. Inglewood trustees decided that Kenneth Crowe, demoted in June from the Hawthorne principal's office to the classroom, had been the victim of a political maneuver. "We just based our decision on his qualifications," said Inglewood school board President Lois Hill-Hale.

A group of 27 community leaders, law enforcement officials and educators emerged from a hastily called, four-hour meeting Friday with a plan to ease racial tensions at two South Bay high schools. The 10-point plan, which includes provisions for community-wide race relations training and for an ombudsman to handle complaints, came at the end of a school week that began with two days of noisy student demonstrations.

A demonstration Monday morning by about 2,000 students from two South Bay area high schools protesting alleged racism turned violent as demonstrators began fighting and vandalizing property, police said.

A controversial former administrator at Hawthorne High School has been named to replace ousted principal Lawrence Freeman as the head of Inglewood High School. Inglewood trustees decided that Kenneth Crowe, demoted in June from the Hawthorne principal's office to the classroom, had been the victim of a political maneuver. "We just based our decision on his qualifications," said Inglewood school board President Lois Hill-Hale.

A 10-point plan aimed at providing a long-term solution to Centinela Valley Union High School District's racial tension has been unanimously adopted by the district's board of trustees. The plan was proposed after students walked out at two of the district's high schools early last month to protest the planned resignation of Hawthorne High School Principal Kenneth Crowe, a black administrator, and longstanding allegations of racial discrimination.

Racial divisions remained firmly drawn in the Centinela Valley Union High School District Thursday night as trustees chose the interim successor for a controversial black principal amid continuing allegations by some residents that the district has not treated blacks fairly. Trustees, who had demoted Kenneth Crowe as principal at Hawthorne High School, replaced him with John Carter, the white vice principal of the district's adult school and an 18-year veteran of the district.

Ken Crowe has been appointed principal of Hawthorne High School in the Centinela Valley Union High School District, succeeding Jack Weber, who moved to the Anaheim Union High School District in August. The vacant Hawthorne post had been filled by Assistant Supt. Bernard McGuire during the search for Weber's replacement. Crowe, 34, came to the Centinela Valley district in 1985, serving first as dean of students and then as assistant principal.

A 10-point plan aimed at providing a long-term solution to Centinela Valley Union High School District's racial tension has been unanimously adopted by the district's board of trustees. The plan was proposed after students walked out at two of the district's high schools early last month to protest the planned resignation of Hawthorne High School Principal Kenneth Crowe, a black administrator, and longstanding allegations of racial discrimination.

A group of 27 community leaders, law enforcement officials and educators emerged from a hastily called, four-hour meeting Friday with a plan to ease racial tensions at two South Bay high schools. The 10-point plan, which includes provisions for community-wide race relations training and for an ombudsman to handle complaints, came at the end of a school week that began with two days of noisy student demonstrations.

Unrest continued Tuesday at two South Bay high schools as students staged a second day of protests against alleged racism and the resignation of a popular black principal. At Hawthorne High School, Principal Ken Crowe told about 40 students attempting to leave campus that he would ask the Centinela Valley Union High School District Board of Trustees to rescind his resignation. "I have no intention of going anywhere," he said.

Monday's demonstration by students from two South Bay area high schools, which was sparked by the resignation of a popular black principal, culminated months of racial tension in a district that has seen dramatic ethnic changes in recent years. Hawthorne High Principal Ken Crowe announced last Wednesday that he would resign at the end of the year under pressure from the Centinela Valley Union High School District Board of Trustees, which decided last week to reassign him.

A demonstration Monday morning by about 2,000 students from two South Bay area high schools protesting alleged racism turned violent as demonstrators began fighting and vandalizing property, police said.

Orville Echols has resigned as Inglewood High football coach, it was announced Wednesday night at a meeting of the school board. Inglewood was 1-17-1 with two last-place finishes in the Bay League under Echols. The Sentinels were 1-8-1 this season. In a letter to the district, Echols criticized Inglewood Principal Ken Crowe's handling of a fight that broke out Oct. 25 after a sophomore football game between Inglewood and Hawthorne.

Gene Popko, one of the founding fathers of interscholastic volleyball and the former Inglewood High coach, says he will return next season as coach of the Inglewood boys' team. Popko, entering his 28th year at Inglewood, started the school's volleyball club in 1969 and helped coach the team through the 1985 season. He resigned as coach because of conflicts with former principal Lawrence Freeman. "I like the man, personally," Popko said of Freeman.