Bad student behavior irks parents at Sumac school
By John Loesing
Acorn Staff Writer

Having an occasional problem child in class is nothing new, but at Sumac Elementary School in Agoura Hills, the actions of one alleged bully are causing more than just the usual concern.

A fifth-grade boy described as violent and physically imposing has used foul language and made threats to students and teachers numerous times, said parent Sue Siegel.

The boy allegedly intimidated Siegel’s daughter, causing the fifth-grade girl to fear she might be attacked.

"My daughter was horrified, the kids were horrified, but nothing was done," Siegel said.

The boy reportedly makes inappropriate gestures such as pointing his middle finger at students and mowing them down as if his hand were a machine gun.

Earlier this year the school suspended two other students for bringing knives to class, but Principal Karen Hansen denied that Sumac is experiencing a trend toward violent student behavior.

"I wouldn’t say it’s a pattern," Hansen said. "What there is is more of an awareness on the part of parents that these things are really threatening and scary. We’ve always considered them to be something that we need to deal with … It is absolutely not any different than any other school."

Animosity spilled over at a parent-faculty meeting when Siegel confronted Hansen and demanded to know why more stringent steps hadn’t been taken against school bullies.

"Every child has the right to be and feel safe, and with these rumors flying, they aren’t safe," Siegel said. "These things are happening. Whether it’s copycat or not, it’s happening."

School officials suspended the boy and assigned a full-time aide to keep track of his actions when he returned.

"We follow the education code and they are suspended for a period of time, but they have to be in school, that’s the law," Hansen said.

Sandi Pope, president of the teachers’ union, shared the administration’s frustration over when to mete out punishment.

"You’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t," Pope said. "If you discipline the student, the parent threatens litigation against the district. If you don’t discipline the student, the parent of the child that has been victimized threatens to sue the district."

At least a dozen Sumac parents said they would appear at an upcoming board of education meeting to make their feelings known about the bully issue, according to Siegel.

The parents of two other children who were reportedly victimized declined to be interviewed.

Hansen said Sumac would hold a separate meeting June 8 on school safety. Among other concerns, the school begins major construction changes next year and wants to make sure the campus remains safe while the work takes place.

The elementary school has 700 students.

Sumac isn’t alone in its dealings with problem students.

Willow Elementary School in Agoura Hills disciplined a first-grader last year for the violent treatment of animals in a classroom. In addition, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department reported that three students at Medea Creek Middle School in Oak Park were caught March 15 carrying explosive fireworks to class.

"How they explode is unpredictable, so they can be dangerous," said Dep. Scott Hyatt. "They don’t belong at the school."

Madge Lamb, the Las Virgenes Unified School District director of elementary education, echoed Hansen’s feelings that because of recent national events, parents everywhere have heightened sensitivity toward violence in the classroom.

"We want our students to be safe and we’re doing everything we can to that end," Lamb said.