Bancroft parents urge board to address staffing, communication and student supports

Two parents of students at Bancroft Elementary told the La Mesa‑Spring Valley School District board during public comment that the campus has experienced “minimal transparency” and poor follow-through after the sudden departure of a first-grade teacher, and they urged trustees to investigate and improve communication and supports.

Alexandra Soriano, introduced by the board as a Bancroft parent, said the loss of the teacher, identified in her remarks as Hannah Frank, was the latest in a year of what she described as confusing messaging and gaps in accessibility. Soriano said a PTA appearing to be absent this year left some school functions unfunded (a community garden grant she said was not used by the deadline), volunteers were told campus visits require 24-hour notice, and requested clinical paperwork was not returned by a counselor. "I no longer have confidence in approaching our admin," she said, urging the board to look into multiple suspensions of her child and wider patterns she believes affect other families.

Kristen Munoz, who identified herself as a Spring Valley resident and Bancroft parent, described what she called a series of dismissive interactions with school leadership and alleged favoritism. Munoz said a meeting with the principal she requested lasted about 15 minutes, during which she said he arrived late and appeared disengaged. She also said her daughter, who is neurodivergent and epileptic, has faced inconsistent accommodations and described an incident she characterized as a safety risk. "I don't want to have to remove my daughter," Munoz said, asking trustees for transparency and answers about personnel changes and resource allocation.

Board members and staff did not provide direct responses to the parents' specific allegations during the public-comment period. Later in the meeting trustees emphasized a desire for improved family communication; one trustee said the district should do better at ensuring families "feel heard" and that information about resources is "proactively available." The meeting included a closed-session report that the board had unanimously approved the appointment of Amy Isbell as principal at Spring Valley Academy but did not address the Bancroft concerns on the record.

The parents named several district staff and sites in their remarks, including a counselor (Janet Perez Turner) and community-school staff (Jessica Nobles). The board's public-comment rules limit direct responses during the time but direct staff to follow up after the meeting when contact information is provided.

The parent speakers asked for district investigation and follow-up; trustees asked staff throughout the meeting to improve communication to families as part of broader closing remarks. No formal directive or motion to investigate the specific claims was recorded in the public minutes that evening.