Policy Would Target Schoolyard Bullying

A statement forbidding intimidation in Simi Valley schools may be added to the district’s existing policy on harassment after recent complaints of schoolyard bullying, school officials said.

In addition, all schools in the Simi Valley Unified School District will be strongly encouraged to provide conflict resolution training for their staff if they have not already been trained, Supt. Mary Beth Wolford said Wednesday.

The proposed addition to the existing policy will be presented to the Board of Education for discussion on April 16.

“We already have a lot in our existing policy on this,” Wolford said.

But a separate statement on intimidation may be needed for clarification, she said. “Intimidation of students [by other students] is just not acceptable,” she said.

The review came after a student at Valley View Junior High School complained that he had been repeatedly kicked, shoved and threatened by a group of students wearing military-style clothing. Although at least one student was suspended, the intimidation has continued, he said.

That student’s father, Jack Rowe, has said he is planning a lawsuit against the district to protect his son.

Another parent, Hillarie Levy, has contended that her fourth-grade daughter was sexually harassed by a classmate and that the school principal and the district did not appropriately discipline the boy responsible.

Her daughter said the boy threw leaves in her face, shoved her while in line at school and waved a pickle at her.

Wolford said, however, that she is attempting to meet with Rowe to discuss the trouble his son is having.

She also said that the fourth-grader responsible for harassing Levy’s daughter has been properly disciplined, and that no suspension or further discipline is warranted.