Parents press Simi Valley Unified on library materials, vaccine mandates and parental involvement

Three members of the public used the board's public-comment period to press the Simi Valley Unified School District on library materials, vaccine mandates and parental engagement.

Laurie (Lori) Mills, identifying herself as the parent of a high-school student, said she was concerned about book displays she encountered while volunteering in a school library and read a Webster definition of "indoctrination." Mills said she purchased about $350 worth of books to donate and asked the district to display them. In her remarks she asked whether the district had books portraying "how great the police are in our community" and said she did not want children "to be indoctrinated." (public comment)

A speaker who identified herself as Natasha spoke against possible COVID-19 vaccine mandates for children ages 5–11, questioned the size and duration of pediatric trials and invoked mortality statistics; she asked the board to make a formal statement and to defend parental choice. Natasha said she is "absolutely not anti-vaxx" and asked the board to respect parents who decline vaccination for their children.

Elena Johnson, a teacher with the Los Angeles County Office of Education who said she previously taught in the Philippines, urged the board to increase parental involvement and to return to in-person meetings so families without internet access can participate. Johnson said parents at a prior meeting were unsure what Panorama Educational Services is or how it was funded and asked whether LCAP or ESSER funds were used for the program.

Board leadership thanked the speakers and said staff would follow up where contact information was available. Trustees and the superintendent emphasized that parent input is sought through LCAP committees and surveys and that many ESSER actions were developed to align with community-vetted LCAP goals.

The meeting record shows public commentators raised several factual claims and allegations (about specific people and organizations and about vaccine-trial sizes and mortality rates) without extended board rebuttal during the comment period; trustees acknowledged the concerns and referred some follow-up to staff.