Parent Protest of School Sale Fails to Sway Simi Trustees

Residents opposed to plans by Simi Valley school officials to sell a surplus campus failed to move trustees at a meeting Tuesday, but they aren’t giving up.

Five parents protested the sale of the Belwood Elementary School campus at Tuesday’s Simi Valley Unified School District board meeting, but group organizer Jennifer Lacey submitted 87 signed statements from other residents who could not attend.

Lacey told the board that selling Belwood is “shortsighted planning” that does not consider housing growth in the east end of Simi Valley, which she said will burden already crowded schools.

Board President Janice DiFatta said she would have interim Supt. Ken Moffett contact the parents to explain the studies that recommend selling the school. School officials say even with expected enrollment growth, the campus will not be needed.

“They basically blew us off,” said Nan Mostacciuolo. “By saying they’ll get in touch with us individually, they’re keeping the issue away from the rest of the east-end residents. We’re demanding a town meeting.”

Lacey said she plans to mount a door-to-door campaign to get people to attend the May 26 board meeting, when bids for Belwood will be accepted.

Moffett said he concurs with their concerns.

“I find we’re growing in Simi too,” Moffett said. “I want to meet with them and do a lot of listening at first. When we stop listening and looking, that is a mistake.”

Dan Polino, whose children attended Belwood and whose grandchildren now go to Big Springs, said there is a new generation of children in the Belwood area and that a neighborhood school is needed.

Polino also said he thinks Belwood is being sacrificed to fund a new elementary school being built in the west end of Simi Valley.

“That’s the ritzy end of town, and they’re getting a brand new school with all the goodies, but don’t have enough to pay for it,” Polino said. “That’s why they’re selling Belwood.”