A year after a flash flood caused extensive damage to Bancroft Elementary School in La Mesa, California, the school has reopened its doors thanks to $1 million in state funding and the dedication of the community. Students and staff were relocated to a nearby school for over a month while reconstruction efforts were underway.
The La Mesa Spring Valley School District received $1 million in state funding to repair and restore Bancroft Elementary School after the campus suffered extensive flood damage. The flash floods of January 22, 2024, particularly impacted this elementary school, which was filled with over 400 students in transitional kindergarten through fifth grade at the time.
As the unexpected downpour intensified, Callie Scher, the school's social worker, bravely navigated through rising water, gathering as many children as possible to safety in the auditorium. 'How do we get kids to safety, and how high is the water going to go?' Scher recalled thinking. 'When is the rain going to stop, and what do we do if it doesn’t stop?' The rapidly rising water soon engulfed the campus. Later investigations revealed that a major county storm drain, situated just a few yards away, had been obstructed for months by branches and debris. The devastating flood forced students to relocate to another school until repairs were completed. Thirty-four classrooms and other offices were ravaged by water damage, mud, and debris carried by the powerful floodwaters. For over a month, students and staff found temporary shelter at the nearby Spring Valley Academy while reconstruction efforts commenced. Bancroft Elementary staff members utilized this makeshift space at Spring Valley Academy as their temporary office for the duration of the relocation. Thanks to the state funding, the district was able to rebuild and restore the damaged buildings within a remarkable six weeks, costing $1 million. The community rallied together, organizing group family dinners, food drives, and other support initiatives. A year later, the school has reopened, and the sense of resilience and unity remains strong
Flood School Damage Repair Community California La Mesa
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