2nd Sex Harassment Complaint Filed Against Simi Valley School

A second sexual harassment complaint involving an Atherwood Elementary School child has been filed at the Simi Valley Unified School District.

The complaint, filed May 8, alleges that a kindergarten boy on several occasions last October pulled down the pants of a 5-year-old classmate, now 6, and touched his genitals.

The accusation comes in the wake of a case earlier this year in which a fourth-grade girl, 9, alleged that a classmate made sexual innuendo with a pickle. The classmate was disciplined, but the mother is appealing for harsher punishment.

On May 21, the Simi Valley mother whose kindergartener was reportedly harassed amended her allegation to include another incident in which a different classmate reportedly touched her son’s genital area while in the bathroom.

Becky Wetzel, director of programs and assessment for the school district, said that an investigation of the October incidents had been resolved and that the May incident was currently under investigation.

But the child’s mother said she is unhappy with the way the district has handled the matter.

She wants the district to better publicize its sexual harassment policy, requiring all parents to read and sign a copy of it. She also wants the district to require all children to attend workshops that clearly define what behavior constitutes sexual harassment.

But Wetzel said it is difficult to explain sexual harassment to kindergarteners.

“The federal law says sexual harassment applies to children in grades 4 through 12,” she said. “There is a reason for that. It is because it is very difficult to be absolutely sure whether a young child truly understands the sexual intent behind sexual harassment.”

Wetzel said it is not uncommon for young children to be be curious about other children’s private parts.

“It is very common in the fall of kindergarten year for children to look under skirts and pull pants down,” she said.

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Principal Beverley Radloff said she is prohibited from speaking about the case because it is still under investigation.

On Tuesday, Radloff announced that she had been reassigned to Katherine Elementary School, upsetting many parents and children who said they were happy with her performance.

On Wednesday, supporters collected more than 200 signatures opposing her transfer, saying they believe she is being punished for the case involving the fourth-grade girl.

But Radloff on Friday said the transfer was part of a district policy to move principals after several years at one school to broaden their experience.

Five other principals will be transferred next year, she said.

She has asked the parents to call off a plan to picket at Tuesday’s Simi Valley Unified School District board meeting.

“The kids are really upset and we just can’t be affecting them in this way,” she said. “Instead I have asked them for the biggest and best party on the last day of school.”