Central Elementary Teacher in Banning Diagnosed with Smoldering Leukemia

A teacher at Central Elementary in Banning has been diagnosed with MDS, also known as smoldering leukemia, a disruption of the bone marrow, a co-worker said Thursday night at a school board meeting.

Kindergarten teacher Ray Alcala, also known as Mr. A, has been at Central Elementary the past four years and he has three children who attend school in Banning, Central teacher Elisa Barr said.

Alcala's treatment requires a bone marrow transplant and he recently found a donor match, Barr said.

Barr asked the Banning Unified School District board of trustees to help publicize an effort to register potential donors for the National Marrow Donor Program on March 24.

"On behalf of Mr. A, we are asking our community to come together to this life saving event," Barr said. "Even though there is already a potential match for him, we are asking for continued support for him through you.

"Please come to Central School on March 24th to have your cheek swabbed and fill out a very brief questionnaire. Wouldn't it be amazing if more lives could be saved through this event in Mr. A's life?"

The marrow registration drive is scheduled 10 a.m. to noon Saturday March 24 at , 295 N. San Gorgonio Ave. in Banning.

Alcala's last day at Central before he begins undergoing extensive treatment is Tuesday, Barr said. The school has scheduled an open house at 6 p.m. March 13 in the main building. For more information, call Central Elementary at (951) 922-0264.