Community demands action after teacher's social-media posts; advocates ask board to declare schools 'safe zones'

Parents and community advocates used the Feb. 6 public-comment period to press the Banning Unified School District Board of Trustees to respond to derogatory social-media posts by a district employee and to consider a resolution affirming district schools as safe environments for all students.

Maria Jeronimo, who identified herself as a parent, thanked the board for a recent district letter affirming a safe and inclusive learning environment, then described a social-media post by a teacher identified in public comments as David Sanchez that she called derogatory and demeaning to immigrant students. "You call half breeds dogs, not our students," Jeronimo said.

Brian Sanchez, an organizer with the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice, urged the board to "pass a resolution affirming all Banning schools as safe zones for students regardless of their immigration status," saying the move would reassure families and could include campus protections against immigration enforcement "as far as the law allows." He told trustees that callers to his organization had reported fear about sending children to school and asked the board to join other local districts that have passed similar resolutions.

Several other speakers, including Megan Garcia, Charissa Price and a Beaumont resident who said he will speak at an adjacent district's meeting, described seeing the posts and urged stronger accountability than a public apology. Speakers said the posts remained visible for some period before an apology and that some commenters were blocked after objecting.

Trustees did not take immediate disciplinary action on the teacher at the Feb. 6 meeting. During the board-members comments and future-board-items segment, a trustee asked the board to discuss drafting or reviewing a resolution similar to those passed in neighboring districts; the transcript records that the board agreed to further consider such an item.

The district had earlier sent a letter to parents affirming commitment to a safe, inclusive environment; community members said the letter helped but asked for clearer follow-through, including consequences for staff whose posts undermine students. The board did not vote on a resolution at the Feb. 6 meeting; trustees indicated the item would be considered as a possible future board item.