Changes in Campus Weapon Policy Urged

The unwritten policy of suspending students who bring toy or replica guns to Simi Valley schools should be made official, city education officials said this week.

The Simi Valley Unified School District has suspended students who brought toy guns to campus as an unwritten part of the district’s zero-tolerance policy on weapons. But board members said Tuesday they want it to become a permanent part of the policy.

To comply with new state regulations, the board also discussed adding brandishing a knife as grounds for suspension.

The board will vote on changes to the policy at its next regular meeting, March 3.

Although the policy spells out the circumstances under which a student would be disciplined, there are some cases in which the discretion of the school principal or administrator will still be used.

“Principals make judgments all the time when they are investigating an incident,” said Susan Parks, assistant superintendent. “It’s part of their jobs.”