RICHMAN TO JOIN PANEL ON RACE HART DISTRICT GROUP FORMED IN RESPONSE TO COMPLAINTS.

Byline: Eugene Tong Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - State Assemblyman Keith Richman said Friday his office will join the Hart High School District committee formed in response to complaints that African-American students were subjected to racist slurs and bullying.

Richman, R-Granada Hills, committed staff members to the effort after an hourlong discussion that included city, Los Angeles County and school officials and parents from a grass-roots diversity coalition who said their children have been victims of racist incidents. Local leaders pledged to address the issue, citing a ``zero tolerance'' for hate crimes.

``If that's the commitment that everybody's agreed to, this committee is not going to be a dog-and-pony show,'' said Richman, whose 38th Assembly District includes parts of Santa Clarita.

Richman called the meeting after claims of racially-motivated harassment surfaced at Valencia High School, attracting widespread media attention. Last week, 5th District county Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich joined a discussion on the issue in a forum hosted by People Supporting Diversity at the William S. Hart Union High School District office.

Hart Superintendent Bob Lee insisted Friday the issue goes beyond schools' walls as the city deals with changing demographics over the past decade.

``You walk around and drive around, and it's different than what it was seven years ago or even five years ago,'' he said, adding that the district has tackled the problem through its ad hoc committee.

Patricia Pope-Jordan, a Castaic resident who is African-American and said her children have been harassed, said the community needs to be more aware of the problem.

``People keep minimizing it - 'it's just 10 families,''' said Pope-Jordan, a member of the diversity forum. ``We're just the 10 families that are speaking up.''

Cis Herkovitz of Newhall, who said her children faced anti-Semitism from classmates, agreed.

``If it doesn't affect you, if it doesn't affect your family, people don't see it,'' said Herkovitz, also a forum member.

College of the Canyons board Trustee Bruce Fortine, a resident for more than two decades, said the community needs to move beyond the initial surprise that racial tensions exist here, and learn to be vigilant.

``People need to become more aware of what is happening in Santa Clarita,'' he said. ``People need to be trained on how to react to this situation. There is no reason we can't work together. ... If one family has a problem, that's one too many.''

Santa Clarita sheriff's Capt. Patti Minutello said her deputies are undergoing diversity training, and working with federal law enforcement to better handle hate-related incidents.

After the meeting, Richman said he believes the community is on the right track.

``I have zero tolerance for racial and other bigotry,'' he said. ``I think that there is some progress being made, and we just have to make sure continued progress is being made.''

Eugene Tong, [phone]

eugene.tong(at)dailynews.com