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Parents tell Brea Olinda board they want third‑party review of Falcon Academy leadership
Summary
Multiple Falcon Academy parents told the board they have stepped back from volunteering and that teachers and families feel bullied or silenced by school leadership; they urged a third‑party investigation and linked concerns to declining enrollment at the school.
Several parents from Falcon Academy used the board's public‑comment period to urge the Brea Olinda Unified School District board to investigate the school's leadership and communication practices, saying the climate has driven volunteers away and harmed students' learning.
Speakers during the public‑comment block said they had stepped back from volunteering and donating to the school after what they described as changes over the past two years under principal "Dr. Kim." Roberta Carrera, identified herself as a PTA volunteer and parent and said parents and teachers feel "intimidated" and "gaslit." Alicia Madrid, another parent, told trustees she and other parents had donated more than $16,000 to Falcon but that new PTO and school leadership practices caused many volunteers to disengage.
Corey Winn said she received a principal communication about sixth‑grade promotion and related activities that she found "insulting," criticized the timing of meetings and objected to a volunteer application that asked parents to justify their interest. Jasmine (last name not stated) said she knew seven families who had left Falcon in the past year and asked the board to ‘‘look at who you're bringing into leadership.’'
What they asked for: Parents asked the board to open a third‑party, unbiased review of Falcon Academy practices and communications and to ensure teachers feel supported. Several speakers said they had filed formal complaints that were not addressed to their satisfaction.
District response: The board listened and acknowledged receiving the comments; no public action or response by district leadership was announced during the meeting beyond an invitation to submit written materials or follow up through district channels.
Why this matters: Parents linked the allegations of poor communication and school culture to falling enrollment at Falcon and to negative impacts on student learning and social‑emotional well‑being, issues the board said it would monitor. The complaints also underscore the district's responsibility to ensure transparent complaint processes and to confirm whether personnel issues require investigation or remediation.
Next steps: Parents asked for a third‑party investigation; the transcript does not record a board commitment to commission one at this meeting. The board's usual processes for personnel matters and investigations were referenced in other agenda items, but no personnel action was taken in open session on these complaints tonight.
