At Newbury Park High School, bullied students and their families are facing an unjust reality. Instead of strengthening on-campus security to protect vulnerable students, the school administration has chosen to impose an additional burden - charging parents a fee for an insurance plan to cover medical expenses from on-campus emergencies. Rather than offering relief, this fee piles financial strain onto families already reeling from loss.

Insurance Plans flyer, courtesy of Conejo Valley Unified School District:

https://www.conejousd.org/fs/resource-manager/view/c019ca7d-4280-4cba-ba10-5865982757cd

The administration might as well brand this scheme as:
"Why prevent, just collect!"
"Pay the fee, and you will see - next ambulance rides for free!"

However, this matter is serious. Principal Steve Lepire downplayed concerns by stating that "accidents do happen". But this policy is less about safety and more about fear - pressuring parents into buying a false sense of protection while the real issue goes unaddressed. Selling insurance is not a solution to safety issues. True safety comes from creating a secure, inclusive environment where all students can learn without fear.

The numbers are alarming: according to the National Center for Education Statistics, nearly 1 in 5 students aged 12–18 nationwide reports being bullied and/or seriously injured in a high school environment. That means countless students are at risk every day when schools fail to take proactive safety measures. Asking families to pay for what should be a basic responsibility of a public school is not only wrong - it undermines the trust between schools and the communities they serve.

These "accidents" already happened:

https://www.vcstar.com/picture-gallery/news/local/2024/12/05/scenes-from-newbury-park-high-school-after-arrest-on-field/76815125007/

https://www.theacorn.com/articles/lewd-act-leads-to-arrest/

https://www.toacorn.com/articles/one-dead-another-in-custody-following-newbury-park-incident/

https://pantherprowler.org/man-arrested-at-nphs-is-charged-with-murdering-his-brother/

The school leadership reduced itself to a play-by-play commentator - watching, writing about incidents, and pretend to be concerned.

Families in Thousand Oaks deserve better. Instead of pushing insurance policies, Newbury Park High School should invest in proven safety measures - hiring additional staff, expanding anti-bullying programs, and improving supervision across campus. These are the real steps that will make students safer.

It’s time to hold the administration accountable. Let’s demand that Newbury Park High School cancel these unfair insurance charges and focus on protecting students the right way - through proactive security and a culture of safety, not fees. Sign the petition today and stand up for the right of every student to a safe and supportive learning environment - without extra cost to their families.