Parents urge board to involve families in Del Air principal search and add a vice principal

Summary

Several Del Air parents told the Wiseburn board they were surprised by an abrupt principal transition and urged the district to include parent input in selecting a long-term principal and to create a vice-principal position to provide continuity for students who have experienced multiple leadership changes.

During public comment at the March 12 Wiseburn Unified School District board meeting, multiple parents from Del Air Elementary urged the board to involve families in the principal-search process and to consider creating a vice-principal position.

"Students are our biggest constituents for you and for us, and they cannot advocate for themselves," parent Jerry Juan said, describing his children’s experience with repeated leadership changes. Rosa Chang, a Del Air parent, said the principal’s sudden removal left students and families “in the dark” and recommended a vice principal to support what she described as an overwhelming job supervising nearly 600 students. Andrew Devash Banks echoed the call for better teacher and family engagement and said board members should spend more time talking directly with teachers and staff.

Speakers asked for clearer communication from district administration about the circumstances that led to the principal transition and requested concrete steps to ensure leadership continuity at Del Air. Board members thanked the speakers and acknowledged the concerns; staff later noted they had been spending time at Del Air and will continue engagement as the district proceeds with transitional planning.