Is Simi Valley Unified School District Superintendent Hani Youssef Jeopardizing Simi Valley Town Center Revival Plans

The city has been challenged by Simi Valley Town Center for years. Many small boutique storefronts are empty, and anchor stores like Macy’s are gone.

Last year, SteelWave, a San Mateo-based commercial real estate developer, and SteerPoint Capital, headquartered in Los Angeles, purchased the Simi Valley Town Center.

Over the years, I have purchased homes nationwide, from Connecticut to Los Angeles, including Simi Valley. Regardless of where I was buying, one selling point that every real estate agent and builder's agent mentioned was the area's excellent schools. However, this is not true. Many schools in communities like Simi Valley are failing, and the Simi Valley Unified School District is no exception.

When I look to purchase a new home, my only criterion is that it be close to a place to fish. However, my wife, who heavily researches local school districts, usually wins out. As a result, we live in a location perceived to have “good schools” rather than good fishing.

SteelWave and SteerPoint Capital may encounter significant challenges in their Simi Valley Town Center redevelopment project. Their planned Planned Unit Development featuring approximately 400 new residences could face marketing difficulties due to concerns surrounding the local education system. The Simi Valley Unified School District has been challenged by various controversies, including litigation regarding alleged sexual misconduct by educational staff toward students, claims of mistreatment of special education students with disabilities, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission investigations into sexual harassment allegations against Superintendent Hani Youseff, and recent claims of retaliatory actions against a parent who reported emotional abuse of students with disabilities at Vista Fundamental School, the district's premier educational institution.

The stigma surrounding the outcome of the Rodney King trial continues to cast a shadow over the City of Simi Valley. This stigma has not been helped by Simi Valley City Council Member Mike Judge’s Facebook post, which suggested that law enforcement fend off BLM and other protesters by spraying them with human excrement. Such comments have certainly harmed the city's reputation among Black and Brown communities. While SteelWave and SteerPoint Capital may be able to overcome the stigma of the City of Simi Valley’s history, as it only applies to a small percentage of the Population, overcoming the Simi Valley Unified School District's shortcomings, especially when it comes to Student Safety, is a challenge.

Allegations of Sexual Harassment by SVUSD Superintendent Hani Youssef

According to employees who contacted the AmFed, the EEOC is currently looking into allegations that Hani Youssef, the Superintendent of Simi Valley Unified, engaged in sexual harassment of district staff. According to one woman who was victimized by Youssef, “Dr.Hani Youssef. Sean Goldman refused to investigate my claims of sexual harassment against Dr. Hani Youssef and the school board denied my appeal. The retaliation has been severe and I am on administrative leave for no reason, but was put on leave a day after I reported intimidation of a witness.”

The issues of sexual harassment have become so rampant at Simi Valley Unified under the leadership of Yousseff that the SVUSD students have started to speak up. Serious allegations have surfaced against SVUSD Superintendent Hani Youssef about his response to sexual harassment complaints in the district.

Female Simi Valley High School Students Fight To Attend Schools Free of Sexual Harassment as Hani Youssef Ignores Safety

Youssef, who served as Assistant Superintendent before his promotion, now faces questions about how his leadership dealt with the sexual harassment of female students at Simi Valley Schools. A petition on Change.org names Youssef directly because he failed to respond when asked about the district's sexual harassment policies. The petition creator tried to learn about procedures but was "repeatedly transferred over and over again to staff that did not pick up their calls".

These allegations against Youssef highlight a troubling pattern of sexual harassment at the highest levels of the Simi Valley Unified School District. Youssef has allowed female students in Simi Valley schools to be victimized and sexually harassed. The superintendent's dismissive approach toward harassment complaints has raised concerns among community members about student safety. This situation particularly worries new families planning to move to Simi Valley due to upcoming housing developments at the Town Center. Prospective buyers will research the quality of schools in Simi Valley before purchasing one of the new residences at the Town Center. Allegations of sexual harassment against female students will likely pose a significant hurdle for SteelWave and SteerPoint Capital when trying to attract potential home buyers.

Allegations that Sean Goldman covered up sexual harassment at SVUSD

Sean Goldman

Sean Goldman, Assistant Superintendent of Student Support Services, has faced criticism for how he handled abuse allegations at Garden Grove Elementary School. A civil complaint filed in Ventura County Superior Court claims Goldman hid reports about a teacher who "engaged in a pattern and habit of physical, verbal, and emotional abuse of her students" in a special education classroom.

District spokesperson Jake Finch stated, "The Student Support Services Department, under the leadership of Sean Goldman, assistant superintendent, took immediate action and investigated the situation."

However, the lawsuit reveals that parents and staff had notified the district about concerns since 2008. The complaint also mentions that photos showing an 8-year-old child with disabilities in a teacher's leg choke hold were shown to the school principal without proper action.

"The story here is the cover-up," attorney Ron Bamieh explained. "An abusive teacher is an awful thing. The hiding of it exposed other children to horrible abuse. People in the SVUSD need to be held accountable". These serious allegations damage trust in district leadership right when Simi Valley Town Center's redevelopment needs community confidence to attract new residents.

A Simi Valley Special Education Teacher confirmed to the AmFed her experience with abuse at Simi Valley Unified School District. According to the Special ED teacher, “I was asked by Sean Goldman to take on the special education classroom of Garden Grove Elementary. He told me that Ms. Tonkin would be my lead teacher and help guide me, and I would need to return to school to get my SPED ed credential. During my last semester, Sean Goldman let me go in an attempt to cover up what was happening at the school.”

According to Goldman,” education code allows a student to be physically retrained when a student’s behavior is a danger to themselves or others.”

The California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA). This act, as part of California's criminal code, identifies behaviors that lead to "serious emotional damage," including severe anxiety, depression, and aggressive behavior.

It appears that due to Sean Goldman's willingness to allow special needs and disabled students to be physically restrained, the taxpayers of Simi Valley have reportedly been required to pay a proposed $6.8 million settlement in a lawsuit with special education students who allegedly faced abuse from 2015 to 2018.

SteelWave and SteerPoint Capital are going to need to have a strategy to sell their home that overcomes offering a school district that has a history of ignoring, and in the case of Sean Goldman, allegedly covering up the sexual harassment of Simi Valley Unified Teachers and students.

Simi Valley Unified School District Failing Students In English and Math

Test results paint a grim picture of educational outcomes in Simi Valley Unified School District, raising red flags for Town Center redevelopment plans. 45% of SVUSD students failed to meet English standards, with 21% scoring at "Standard Not Met" and 24% at "Standard Nearly Met" levels. Math scores look even worse—58% of students don't meet standards, split evenly between "Standard Not Met" (29%) and "Standard Nearly Met" (29%).

Student achievement gaps across demographics should worry potential homebuyers looking at Town Center's planned housing developments. Hispanic students' scores are particularly low, with 32% not meeting English standards and 42% falling short in math. African-American students' results raise concerns, as 21% don't meet English standards and 39% fall below math standards.

Real estate developers should note that English Learners and economically disadvantaged students comprise much of the district's population, and their academic struggles are severe. The numbers tell a clear story - 48% of English Learners don't meet English standards, while 53% fall short in math. Economically disadvantaged students show similar struggles, with 34% not meeting English standards and 44% below math standards.

Special education students' academic performance adds to existing concerns about abuse allegations. 66% of special education students failed to meet English standards, and 59% didn't meet math standards.

The class of 2023's college readiness stats don't look good either - only 46% met minimum requirements for four-year universities. Hispanic students' numbers dropped to 35%, highlighting equity issues that compound the harassment and abuse problems mentioned earlier.

These academic shortfalls, combined with enrollment dropping from 16,382 in 2019-20 to 15,527 in 2022-23, create major obstacles for Simi Valley Town Center's revival plans. Developers trying to attract residents to new housing units face an uphill battle. Poor academic performance, harassment scandals, and alleged leadership failures have created a perfect storm that could derail SteelWave and SteerPoint Capital redevelopment efforts.

Can a School District in Crisis Support a Town Center Revival?

Simply put, it is not likely. The success of Simi Valley Town Center's $38 million revitalization project depends heavily on the quality of nearby schools. Developers plan to build between 291 and 375 housing units on the property. However, ongoing allegations of student emotional and physical abuse, cover-ups by Sean Goldman, and multiple claims of epidemic levels of sexual harassment create significant roadblocks that deter new residents from moving into the new homes at Simi Valley Town Center.

Realistically, who is going to spend what will likely be in $750,000 to $1,000,000 to move into a community where physical restraining students is tolerated and where their teenage daughters may be subject to Sexual assault and sexual harassment with little to no accountability for the perpetrators of the assaults.

Concerns For Developers In Communities With Subpar School Districts

Steerpoint Capital faces a significant challenge with its ambitious plan to transform the mall into a "dynamic lifestyle area." Jason Jaffe, head of leasing and asset management, emphasized that the Town Center should address "a growing demand for local dining and entertainment options." The housing component is crucial for the mall's revival, but may require families willing to overlook SVUSD's troubled reputation. For the redevelopment of Simi Valley Town Center to succeed, a significant overhaul may need to be done at Simi Valley USD, and Youssef and Goldman might need to be replaced with administrators who have a better understanding of the ethical requirements of professional educators. Research consistently shows a direct link between school quality and property values. Home values typically increase by 2.5% for every 5% rise in test scores. Families with school-aged children prioritize educational quality when house hunting.

Real estate experts weigh in on school quality and home sales

"Schools play a pivotal role in the real estate market," notes one real estate expert. "Buyers are willing to pay a premium for homes in top school districts because they recognize the long-term value it brings". Homes near highly-rated schools can sell for up to 77% more than those near lower-performing schools.

Simi Valley sits in a tough spot now. The area once drew families because of its good schools.

The district's recent decline in reputation, multiple lawsuits for sexually abusing and emotionally abusing students, and academic performance threaten the Town Center's comeback plans. Research from the Brookings Institution confirms that low-income students perform significantly better at higher-performing schools. This highlights the importance of academic quality for families across all income levels.

Role of local government and school board in oversight

The Simi Valley government's limited direct oversight of school operations creates accountability issues. These problems could affect Town Center revival plans. The five-member Board of Education claims to be "providing the best educational programs for all students". Many say the board hasn't supervised district leadership well enough.

Reformers suggest creating joint city-school oversight committees to handle abuse allegations properly. They also want a specialized ombudsman to investigate misconduct claims independently from district administration.

The $38 million Town Center revitalization success might depend on these reforms restoring trust in SVUSD. People considering buying the planned 291-375 housing units will look closely at Simi Valley Unified School District and may be turned off by ongoing sexual and physical student abuse lawsuits and decide to live in other areas.

Conclusion

Our investigation reveals a troubling picture of Simi Valley Unified School District under Superintendent Hani Youssef's leadership. The alleged cover-up of special education student abuse led to a proposed $6.8 million settlement that undoubtedly casts a long shadow over the district's reputation. The $38 million investment to revitalize Simi Valley Town Center now faces its most important obstacle—convincing families to buy homes where school administrators seemed to hide misconduct instead of protecting students.

Steerpoint Capital wants to turn the declining mall into a vibrant community hub with hundreds of new housing units - an ambitious plan. All the same, they face the harsh reality of SVUSD's academic failures. Nearly half the students don't meet English standards and almost 60% fall behind in mathematics. Families looking at these new homes will think twice when they learn about a district dealing with abuse scandals and poor test scores.

Bad administration goes beyond just a few incidents. District officials say they took "immediate action," but the timeline shows years of disturbing inaction while vulnerable special education students reportedly faced physical and emotional abuse. Local residents just need the Simi Valley City Council to be open about the school district's challenges. This accountability must exist before community trust can return.

Real estate experts confirm what many families already know: good schools boost property values and help communities grow. Simi Valley Town Center's comeback depends on fixing these basic educational problems. Ambitious housing plans won't attract enough residents unless real reforms remove leaders involved in these cover-ups and create true student protection.

Right now, the difference couldn't be clearer. While investors foresee a bright future for the mall property, the district's pattern of hiding abuse, especially of vulnerable special education students, threatens both education quality and economic growth. Simi Valley's development plans don't just depend on building designs or retail strategies—they rest on the community's knowledge of how to hold people accountable for their children's education and safety.

FAQs

Q1. What are the current plans for the Simi Valley Town Center? The Simi Valley Town Center has been purchased by real estate companies Steelwave and Steerpoint Capital for $38 million. They plan to revitalize the mall by transforming it into a dynamic lifestyle area with housing, dining, and entertainment options. The proposed plan includes building between 291 and 375 housing units on the property.

Q2. How is the Simi Valley Unified School District performing academically? Recent data shows concerning academic performance in the district. Approximately 45% of students failed to meet English standards, while 58% failed to meet math standards. Only 46% of 2023 graduates met minimum requirements for four-year universities, with even lower percentages for certain demographic groups.

Q3. What allegations have been made against the SVUSD administration? There are serious allegations of a cover-up regarding abuse of special education students. A lawsuit claims that district officials, including Superintendent Hani Youssef and Assistant Superintendent Sean Goldman, failed to address reports of misconduct properly and attempted to conceal abuse incidents reported by school employees.

Q4. How might the school district's issues affect the Town Center revival? The district's ongoing scandals and poor academic performance could potentially deter families from moving to the area, impacting the success of the Town Center's redevelopment plans. School quality significantly influences property values and community development, making it a crucial factor for potential homebuyers considering the new housing units.

Q5. What reforms are being proposed to address the issues in the school district? Community members demand stricter harassment policies, enhanced transparency, and improved oversight. Proposed reforms include mandatory investigation timelines for harassment reports, independent oversight committees, regular public complaints reporting, and enhanced training for district personnel. Some also call for removing current leadership figures implicated in the alleged cover-ups.

Simi Valley Superintendent Hani Youssef