2853 E 5th St, Long Beach, CA 90814

Our experience at Mann Elementary was unfortunately not a positive one. While there are some wonderful teachers and staff who genuinely cared about my daughter, those positive experiences were ultimately overshadowed by larger problems with the administration and school environment.My biggest concerns were communication, accountability, and the handling of serious issues by the principal, counselors, and front office. I repeatedly tried to work with the school but often felt dismissed or had to continually follow up to have concerns addressed.One of the most concerning situations involved a male parent volunteer. I personally felt his level of closeness and interactions with some of the young girls crossed boundaries that made me uncomfortable as a parent. More importantly, my daughter expressed that she was uncomfortable around him. I communicated this to the school and explained that the situation was affecting her emotionally to the point that she was receiving therapy. Despite this, I felt I had to repeatedly advocate for appropriate boundaries and for her to be kept away from unwanted interactions. When a child says an adult makes them uncomfortable, that should be taken seriously.I also had concerns regarding student health and safety, including the lack of a dedicated school nurse and situations where I felt appropriate medical attention was lacking. There were also illnesses and lice outbreaks where I felt parents were not adequately or promptly informed.We experienced additional issues involving bullying, discipline, safety, and how concerns were handled. I am intentionally leaving out specific incidents and names because children are involved and their privacy deserves to be protected.Transferring my daughter after several years at Mann was not a decision I made lightly. Ultimately, I had to choose what I felt was best for her safety, health, comfort, and emotional well-being. Since leaving, I feel confident that transferring her was the right decision for our family.I hope Mann improves its communication and accountability and takes parents and children seriously when they raise concerns. Children deserve to feel safe and supported at school, and parents should be able to trust that clearly communicated boundaries involving their children will be respected.