Bancroft Elementary to reopen Monday, a month after flooding forced closure

SPRING VALLEY, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — Bancroft Elementary School in Spring Valley is reopening Monday, over a month after it was damaged by flooding.

Schools in the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District were just one of hundreds of homes and businesses in San Diego that experienced significant flooding during the late January storm.

While every other school within the district saw some amount of flooding, only Bancroft Elementary had to relocate.

Students and staff at Bancroft Elementary School were displaced by the flood damage, which forced them to move to Spring Valley Academy for the past month while repairs were being made.

After just over 4 weeks, students and staff are moving back into the building Monday, Feb. 26.

In celebration of being back in their own building, PTA will have donuts and refreshments available for students and families starting at 8 a.m. Monday.

In an effort to support neighboring students impacted by the floods, 4th grader Sonja Bella Hansat at Lemon Avenue Elementary in La Mesa made friendship bracelets to raise money for students in need at Bancroft Elementary School. Her goal for the “Bracelets for Bancroft” fundraiser was to raise $100. In just one week, the bracelets have raised nearly $700.

The school is now working to determine how they will use the money to support students at Bancroft.

The late January storm and flooding left three people dead and more than 800 homes damaged in San Diego County. Those impacted can now apply for federal assistance through FEMA.