COMMISSION TO EXAMINE SCHOOL ATTACK.

Byline: Lisa Van Proyen and David R. Baker Daily News Staff Writers

As police pressed their investigation into the racially charged beating of Burton Street Elementary School's principal, the Los Angeles Human Relations Commission began an inquiry Thursday and city leaders sought to ease tensions.

The attack on Principal Norman G. Bernstein has provoked finger-pointing in the school, neighborhood and school district, as parents, school board members and administrators struggle with the possibility that racial conflicts fueled the violence.

Reached at home where he was recovering, Bernstein said parents have criticized him, but he declined to be specific. He said he does not believe these conflicts led to the attack Monday and believes he has worked diligently to address concerns.

``I feel that hopefully it is an isolated instance,'' he said of the attack. ``What I want to emphasize is restoring normalcy at the school. I respect all people, and even if someone is critical of me - I respect them.''

``I respect all of our parents, even if they disagree with me,'' he said.

The 65-year-old Bernstein said he was beaten unconscious Monday outside the school by two men who told him: ``We don't want you here anymore, principal. Do you understand that, white principal?''

For a second day, parents met with administrators and police privately at the school amid concerns that Bernstein's management style and his handling of the state-ordered elimination of bilingual education might have played a role. The parents asked to meet because they said the police had intimidated them.

``They thought they were getting grilled,'' said district spokeswoman Socorro Serrano. ``So it was a clearing of the air between the parents and the LAPD facilitated by the school district.''

Investigators said Bernstein heard the attackers speaking Spanish, but they have no description of them. Parents questioned Bernstein's story because he called his office before 911, and they said the men would have used the word ``gringo'' or ``gabacho,'' not ``white.'' Police said they believe Bernstein.

``I have no reason to doubt Mr. Bernstein's story at all,'' said Capt. Robert McNamara of the Los Angeles Police Department's Van Nuys Division.

Board member rebuked

School board member Victoria Castro drew criticism from the Anti-Defamation League and Human Relations Commission for saying parents acted reasonably by asking for a Latino principal ``based on previous conflicts they have had with the current principal.''

``Race and religion can never be a criteria for leadership, and it's inexcusable for any public official to call for that,'' said Joe Hicks, executive director of the county commission.

The commission is reviewing the case. ``We'll do that by identifying the problem and coming up with a course that will best help the school and the community around it,'' Hicks said.

Castro stood by her comments and added that she believes it is reasonable for parents to want a Spanish-speaking principal, but that race should not disqualify someone for the job.

``If you're a parent, and you're not able to communicate with the principal, it's very frustrating,'' she said.

Castro's office has fielded several complaints about her comments, she said. Most came from anonymous callers, but the principals union president also called to complain, she said.

A former principal, Casto said she was shocked that anyone could think she accepted violence toward school employees.

``There's no way I condone attacking a principal or a teacher,'' she said. ``Someone who knows that I was a principal - how could they think that?''

A racial issue?

State Sen. Richard Alarcon, whose district includes the school, said that before the attack, he had offered to meet with Burton parents and teachers to address problems.

``I can't speak for the two people who committed the act of violence, but we don't get any sense from the parents that this is a racial issue,'' said Alarcon, D-Van Nuys. ``They simply want their children to learn.''

Principals must be sensitive to the needs of the ethnic and racial communities they serve, but should not be placed on the basis of the race, he said.

``That would be like saying a Latino can only be principal of a school with Latino children. I would never espouse that,'' Alarcon said.

Parents voiced frustration that conflicts over school issues could in any way be connected to the violent crime.

Some questioned how bilingual education would be an issue when the school has 200 waivers for children to remain in bilingual classes. Most schools in the San Fernando Valley only have a few waivers, officials said.

``The attack does not have to do with Proposition 227. We really hope and wish that he gets well,'' said Lorena Ayon, 26, speaking on behalf of a half-dozen parents by her side. ``We're so angry for what happened to our principal. We wish that he gets well and comes back to the school.''

Principal under siege

Racial- or ethnic-tinged disputes between parents and principals are rare, but arguments over educational issues and management are inevitable in such a large, diverse district, said Dan Isaacs, assistant superintendent for school operations.

``It's like an extended family. Not everyone in an extended family is going to agree,'' he said.

Eli Brent, president of Associated Administrators of Los Angeles, said Bernstein told him he has faced problems at the school for at least the past six months.

Brent said Bernstein told him he faced possible disciplinary action and a possible demotion by the district because ``the school was not settling down.'' Brent questioned how much support Bernstein received from district officials.

Gene McCallum, cluster administrator, said he spent months working with Bernstein but parents wanted a ``switch in the administration.''

``I have worked with him every day on every issue,'' McCallum said.

Brent said a recent survey conducted at the school shows ``overwhelming support'' of both the principal and his staff.

A few streets away at Ranchito Avenue Elementary School, where Bernstein was principal previously, parents and staffers said they enjoyed working with him.

``Everybody here adored him. He's a really sincere man. It's just disgraceful,'' Alan O'Hara, a Title 1 coordinator at Ranchito, said of Bernstein, who worked eight years at at the school.

Daily News Staff Writer Phillip W. Browne contributed to this story.

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PHOTO Lorena Ayon speaks Thursday in support of Norman Bernstein, principal of Burton Street Elementary.

Evan Yee/Daily News