DOG DAYS OF JUSTIN MAY COME TO AN END.

Byline: Angie Valencia-Martinez Staff Writer

SIMI VALLEY - School officials are making a stink over a group of neighbors who take their dogs to a local elementary school and don't clean up after them.

Every afternoon, nearby residents meet at Justin Elementary School, where they unleash their pooches to play on the grass, and the pooches, in turn, unleash their waste.

Some people have not been picking up after their pets and because of that, the district is considering closing the 423-student campus during nonschool hours.

``We can't keep up and clean it every single morning. It's not possible,'' Principal Marian Weaver said. ``We'd like our neighbors to be neighborly by cleaning up after their dogs. That's fair.''

Last week, a student came home with excrement on his clothes, prompting school officials to revisit the issue after years of complaints. The school board is expected to take it up in the coming weeks.

If the district moves forward with the unusual step of closing the campus, Justin would be the city's first elementary campus to be closed when school is not in session.

``We're trying to find a solution that will work,'' said Lowell Schultze, associate superintendent of business and facilities. ``We will take a look at it. We like to keep our campuses open for the neighborhood.''

At least one school board member is not fond of the decision to block access to the school.

``These are our community schools, owned by the taxpayers,'' Carla Kurachi said. ``It's such a shame.''

School board member Janice DiFatta said children deserve a clean and healthy environment in which to play - not one filled with feces.

``It's a school,'' she said. ``We can't allow people to let their dogs run free and think they can leave the droppings for the district to pick up.''

Attempts have been made to get owners to clean up after their pets. The district went as far as installing stations with bags, and letters have been sent to the community urging them to keep the school clean, officials said.

Patti Olson, who lives a block away, said neighbors have been meeting at Justin for more than a decade with their dogs, and that it's the closest thing they have to a dog park.

During the summer, as many as 22 dogs are on site at once. On average, up to 10 pooches get together.

``There's always people in the world that don't do the right thing,'' said Olson, who owns a Chihuahua and a golden retriever mix. ``They are ruining it for the rest of us.''

Angie Valencia-Martinez, [phone]

angie.valencia(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

(color) Patti Olson puts a jacket on her dog Chico on Wednesday as Ben looks on at Justin Elementary School. Officials may close the campus in off-hours.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer