Simi Valley : Schools Panel to Look Into Sex Bias

In an effort to make students, parents and the community more aware of the school district’s policy on sex discrimination, Simi Valley school board members have decided to form a committee to meet with the district official who handles such matters.

Simi Valley Unified School District officials are trying to raise awareness about Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits sex discrimination in educational programs.

Board members decided to form the committee after two representatives of the National Organization for Women raised the subject of Title IX awareness at a recent meeting.

Supt. Robert W. Purvis said he wants to make students more aware of who to call if they want to report an incident of sex discrimination.

In addition, a training session on the subject is scheduled this month for classified workers; a workshop will be held later for teachers.

The committee, which will meet with Assistant Supt. Leon Mattingley, will consist of representatives from NOW, the American Assn. of University Women, Simi Educators Assn., the Classified School Employees Assn., the PTA and the Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce. The committee should start meeting this month.

“We’ve been in compliance with this law for 20 years, but it doesn’t hurt to take a look at it,” said Mattingley, who handles Title IX matters for the district. “The committee is being formed to deal with any discrimination that we may or may not know about in the district.”