Parents appeal and file complaints after Mount Diablo alters Bankro dual‑immersion enrollment

Jorge Silva, an elected ELAC representative at Bankro Elementary, told the Mount Diablo Unified School District board on April 22 that families are appealing a district decision that removed the Spanish two‑way dual‑immersion enrollment option at Bankro for incoming kindergarten students.

"The elimination of the Spanish program at Bankro is no longer contained within this room," Silva said during public comment, saying families had appealed a uniform complaint to the California Department of Education and that some had taken further legal steps. He urged the board to pause the enrollment change, preserve sibling priority and engage families to prevent what he called “irreparable” harm.

Several parents described individual cases in which siblings were denied transfer into Bankro despite communications they said promised otherwise. Lucille Gishu said Principal Flynn’s February 10 communication stated that incoming transfer children with siblings in the two‑way immersion program would be allowed to transfer under sibling priority; she said her daughter was later rejected.

"My incoming kindergartner who has two siblings at Bankro has been turned away from the school where the brother and sister attend," Gishu said, urging the board to honor the district’s prior written assurance.

Sarah Henley and other parents told trustees they believed the change effectively reduced kindergarten seats at Bankro and disrupted family stability. Several speakers asked the board to clarify the rationale for the shift and to restore continuity for English‑learner students who rely on program stability.

Superintendent Dr. Clark acknowledged the depth of family concern, described the district’s process and said staff had responded through the uniform complaint investigations and written responses. He also said the district had publicly explained that transfers are constrained by available space and that sibling priority is secondary to capacity limits; he noted that some elements of the matter are now in an appeals and legal process, which narrows what staff can discuss in public meetings.

Board members did not take immediate action to reverse the enrollment changes during the meeting. Trustees and staff said they had engaged with families in meetings and in writing, and Dr. Clark said the district would follow the legal process as the appeals proceed.

What’s next: Families said appeals are already in process at the California Department of Education and in some cases have been escalated to legal counsel. The board’s next procedural step will depend on the outcome of those appeals and any court filings.