Concerns over School Resource Officer staffing in Simi Valley public schools are prompting a new joint effort among city, school district and police officials to review campus safety coverage and consider whether long-term funding changes are needed.
The Simi Valley City Council appointed Councilmembers Joseph Ayala and Mike Judge to the working group on May 11 after Ayala suggested forming the panel to bring all agencies together to evaluate SRO staffing and related school safety services. The Simi Valley Police Department will also participate, along with city staff.
The Simi Valley Unified School District selected its representatives June 9, naming Board Chair Dawn Smollen and Trustee Stephen Pietrolungo to the group.
The panel will focus primarily on SRO staffing while also reviewing crossing guard services and other school safety programs, and evaluating whether a cost-sharing partnership between the city and school district is needed.
The discussion comes as officials point to a sharp reduction in coverage this school year, when the number of SROs dropped to zero after one officer retired and another went on maternity leave, raising questions about campus safety coverage across the district’s 28 schools.
Councilmember Mike Judge said he supports expanding the program.
“Three is a nice number, but four would be the optimum number for SROs,” Judge said.
Councilmember Joseph Ayala said he opposed setting a staffing target in advance, saying the group should first evaluate needs before determining appropriate staffing levels. Ayala said the goal is to develop a comprehensive, data-driven plan with a long-term funding mechanism.
City Manager Samantha Argabrite said she has discussed the issue with school Superintendent Hani Youssef, including the city’s effort to recover costs for school safety services. She said the school district has indicated a willingness to explore cost-sharing and has discussed a possible voter-approved sales tax measure to help fund school safety programs.
The Simi Valley Police Officers’ Association urged expansion of the SRO program, saying the current structure is insufficient for a district with more than 17,000 students across 28 campuses. The association argued that dedicated campus officers provide services that patrol officers cannot replicate.
School board members who joined the effort after the June 9 vote said the working group offers an opportunity to improve coordination and address long-standing concerns.
Smollen said she supports strengthening the program and noted that her husband served as an SRO for 10 years, giving her personal insight into the role officers play on campus.
Pietrolungo, a retired principal and assistant principal in the district, said his experience working in schools gives him firsthand knowledge of campus operations and safety needs.
The working group is expected to begin meeting in the coming weeks and will bring recommendations to both governing boards for further consideration.
