[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6324315,"mediaKeyId","2338612-17bfdf53c203ea75d51ff7881ded3243","parentId",2338612,"title","Votes at a glance: Desert Sands Unified board actions, Feb. 18, 2025","audioSeconds",4931,"startMs",320000,"endMs",5251000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2338612-17bfdf53c203ea75d51ff7881ded3243&start=320&end=5251","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2338612-17bfdf53c203ea75d51ff7881ded3243/thumbnail_320000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6324315/California/Votes-at-a-glance-Desert-Sands-Unified-board-actions-Feb-18-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6324315-16798a6ae621deaf81e8bba25624e3b9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204770&Signature=mZbg1l3XOBbd8n~9~Qyg8NgjgL2UnaIXXKjOH4GPU3CKffpRiDVpr1WZWuH9PoMEyt3mbMlDIwZn7BDldro8mMSK3YEUE4mPVASlxZT6WmSuK9EjWOeU0WbPmSlB7S50W8wWFX~AMQN9p99TgxDq5I93A0jscYCYAEnFZZ8zmsqzsXumG-YZtVO79RQ9860AQtmrF95xyYlXpnjWyobvabuHVBPOgUbWqsMskSM0KdMGdXBBwHfEoqxpCSq35o1irYJkSzhKiivsMVwKY7JhJzhat-9oO~y-FIs6-p6D3GOUMAMzYetBlDfj1vQm5HBBrBMKIqqHFHsrEa6RwcKQ6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Desert Sands Unified School District","date","2025-02-03T16:36:36Z","article","At its Feb. 18 meeting the Desert Sands Unified School District Board of Education took the following formal votes (summary of actions recorded in the meeting minutes):

- Approval of the Feb. 4, 2025 minutes — motion carried 5-0.
- Approval of the Feb. 18, 2025 agenda — motion carried 5-0 (1 preferential vote noted).
- General functions, business services (grouped consent item) — motion carried 5-0.
- General functions, educational services (4 items taken as a group) — motion carried 5-0.
- General functions, personnel services (2 items taken as a group) — motion carried 5-0.
- General functions, student support services: motion to deny the Altus Charter petition (see separate story) — motion carried 5-0.
- CSBA delegate assembly votes: Board cast votes for six named candidates — motion carried 5-0.
- Closed-session action reported: approval of stipulated expulsion (case 20425-21) — motion carried 5-0 (reported in open session per statute).
- Multiple consent items across business services, educational services and student support services (counts noted in meeting): motions to approve grouped consent items carried 5-0.
- Personnel recognition and retirements: the board recognized a certificated employee retirement (Catherine Emery) and approved the recognition motion 5-0.

The meeting minutes show unanimous support for routine and grouped consent items; the most contested item of the night was the charter petition considered separately (board denied the petition 5-0).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Regular Board Meeting of February 18, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Several routine board items and grouped consent items were approved by unanimous votes; the board also approved a student expulsion and cast CSBA delegate votes. The charter petition denial is reported separately.","taxTitle","Desert Sands Unified, School Districts, California","taxId",14152,"location","California","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6324320,"Residents ask Desert Sands board not to renew TA Learning Services contract, citing DEI and conflict-of-interest concerns",435,1724000,2159000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2338612-17bfdf53c203ea75d51ff7881ded3243&start=1724&end=2159","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2338612-17bfdf53c203ea75d51ff7881ded3243/thumbnail_1724000.jpg","/articles/6324320/California/Residents-ask-Desert-Sands-board-not-to-renew-TA-Learning-Services-contract-citing-DEI-and-conflict-of-interest-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6324320-ea68124cd4730d7a287c578307d45cce/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204770&Signature=nuwJhoeJ9xFlZfPMp4va6~-TtONXcja8jup94-IAGRcmj-nl84rERmeqALeA9YEfKvlxJXrhsUB3vGKgIsfvnqquB1PDyphPbX2zIjOVDK2UN8aXRPrhhdIDqkw1DPjvDJ~K1HZVEfFNwMLNUUgTIg1q4MojrTO-HaizACGgozrxLz2HceHTr8omtEKyhvyUNakNk7wkO~KqIO4VaJvOC-P0C3YK9YUdSTeNXX81qNq83ppQxPW2Q1EskAI~f5xQyTfnPgyC3fM0f07ZFzh2caFqEFYH4DSrrMDL3VJkWBPAhNy9DBXDgS7VU2vdy9Ca0VSgQjZCR4zAE3w2N~xDWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Multiple speakers used the public-comment period at the Feb. 18 Desert Sands Unified board meeting to oppose renewal of a contract with TA Learning Services (agenda item 25.7), calling the program divisive, raising legal and funding concerns, and alleging conflicts of interest.

John Parker, who identified himself as addressing item 25.7, said he believed the program “singles out a group of people” and urged the board not to renew the contract. He noted the $30,000 contract amount and said that while the dollar figure was small in the district’s overall budget, he was concerned about the principle and potential similar future contracts.

Kenneth Snell told trustees he had documented materials and archived web pages he said linked the contractor to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) content; he referenced a California Globe article and urged the district to remove DEI-related materials before an alleged federal compliance deadline. He also said he had archived evidence and offered to assist the district’s review.

Dory O’Toole echoed earlier concerns and specifically asked the board not to vote on item 25.7 that night. She raised a conflict-of-interest concern: that a trustee’s outside activities could create bias in contractor selection. She also questioned why any program described as supporting boys would exclude girls and said that, in principle, the contract should not be renewed.

Speakers repeatedly framed their objections around DEI or “CRT” language and around the $30,000 contract figure; some suggested the matter risked federal funding if DEI materials ran afoul of federal guidance, a claim raised by public commenters and not accepted or verified by district staff in the record.

The transcript does not show the board taking a vote on agenda item 25.7 during this meeting; commenters were given the public comment period to make their views known.","Several members of the public urged the board not to renew a $30,000 TA Learning Services contract (agenda item 25.7), citing concerns about diversity/equity/inclusion material, alleged conflict-of-interest and potential federal funding risk; no board action on the contract is recorded in the meeting minutes.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6324324,"Desert Sands Unified presents midyear LCAP report; district cites third-grade reading gains and attendance initiatives",890,2420000,3310000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2338612-17bfdf53c203ea75d51ff7881ded3243&start=2420&end=3310","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2338612-17bfdf53c203ea75d51ff7881ded3243/thumbnail_2420000.jpg","/articles/6324324/California/Desert-Sands-Unified-presents-midyear-LCAP-report-district-cites-third-grade-reading-gains-and-attendance-initiatives","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6324324-84e5e794080e7bbc1bfed522d7cb85e9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204770&Signature=aqfR0lrbYEmvLLmaW0QZqE6v1Nm6xcUgj6CgfqIupPLIh0IG1lso-1oSA7tR~CKtRUIpa0KUXbGIIpo-XAkh-bq22DdATzDtYPLuJFy1OMv0oARTzB3dy32f~9HajNNqh75nrjuDZjh9Fw8XTF8oU7iXHlrLfUOxKvtTWxmfjQWMyzEmzC4A2N1lPSzuTxYuv-Z5c6BnmmQH2JCsuEA2GNi4J0ajUVcMVq3mf5gWpJVIlP8CNQ3lWVuQKrR5ew7XN7LI2JwKPYIFQMgeESl1bV8TSAHRbtie2lE9VwezIHsulVWnaVf3QIAMXw~xVDj67n9vsEsoM20MukvMnpehFg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Desert Sands Unified School District presented a midyear update on its Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) on Feb. 18, outlining progress, expenditures and planned actions for the remainder of the school year.

Gabby Yamas, the district’s LCAP coordinator, told the board the report shows areas of measurable progress and ongoing actions. “There’s a lot to celebrate,” Yamas said as she introduced the midyear findings and the district’s approach to community engagement.

The report highlighted these midyear items:

- A 23% growth in reading accuracy for third-grade students where new foundational planners were implemented.
- Average participation of 2,641 respondents in district community surveys this year, and growing use of the district data warehouse (about 4,000 dashboard views per month and 2,000 unique users in the last 90 days).
- Expansion of AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) programs, with Hoover Elementary added and La Quinta High School designated a demo school; AVID training was extended to special education staff.
- Continued CTE (career technical education) outcomes, including cosmetology students taking and passing licensing exams.
- Student assistance program counselors served about 207 students since August 2024, offering immediate resources (gift cards, backpacks, supplies) and connecting families to community supports.

Yamas walked trustees through budget-to-date notes for each of the LCAP goals, calling out instances where allocated funds were not yet spent and where internal staffing led to no external expenses. She said some allocations will be spent later in the year and that an invoice for the Desert Sands Leadership Academy (DSLA) had not yet been received.

Trustees asked follow-up questions about timelines, professional development for counselors and carryover rules for categorical funds. Yamas and other staff said much of the counselors’ professional development is conducted internally and through ongoing partnerships; staff agreed to provide trustees more detail on counselor training content.

The board did not take formal action on the LCAP report at this meeting; the presentation functioned as a midyear informational update and budget-expenditure review.","District staff reported midyear progress on the Local Control and Accountability Plan, highlighting a 23% improvement in third-grade reading accuracy, expanded AVID and CTE results, and ongoing attendance and foster-youth support work.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6324329,"Desert Sands Unified board denies Altus Schools Coachella Valley charter renewal, 5-0",1500,3600000,5100000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2338612-17bfdf53c203ea75d51ff7881ded3243&start=3600&end=5100","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2338612-17bfdf53c203ea75d51ff7881ded3243/thumbnail_3600000.jpg","/articles/6324329/California/Desert-Sands-Unified-board-denies-Altus-Schools-Coachella-Valley-charter-renewal-5-0","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6324329-22bf531ecd006d1beca75037d4013d12/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204770&Signature=RupCR7M1TcEEatjtoIdIPmcnUZxrh7pWb9S71NNBq4T1Stz7KOkjgtvdEI5~fuxWldjXua-dGYBmIczYnZJ3FHIbNZDl9G6uF6q6CxiWC-x3k3x~2XPDLgrPtt38kDJbkJgTDE8eEthnHpwG4QoTFMp61HNUaQ~Jds5yfqGZWfr179-aQ6DrfsRm7EAC1PVAG1VywcfpeBKPXCAcPGoatP7MjF6vfqKvOFLgtPmn7nOjhuN2KBn7IFc7QOMrEkdKhjzvdfgkqdut5Y2MQqhF2tZtvdI3L9AFWyGrmJG9qCEDW4OVc5MHkc6FKVCNEdXeocm5SpSWxbEWi75z~rePVw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Desert Sands Unified School District Board of Education voted 5-0 on Feb. 18 to deny a charter petition from Alta Schools Coachella Valley, a petition that sought to renew and convert a resource-center program operating in the district.

District counsel Sue Ann Evans presented staff’s recommendation to deny the petition, saying the document lacked key elements and that the petitioner was “demonstrably unlikely to successfully implement the program, and the petition does not contain a reasonably comprehensive description of all the Charter elements.” The board adopted the staff report as its statement of findings and then approved the motion to deny.

The staff report identified several concerns: unclear scope (the petition mixed corporation-level material with a single-site petition), missing or incomplete descriptions of the Dashboard Alternative Status (DOS) criteria the school would use, no clear demonstration that average daily attendance (ADA) and enrollment projections were reasonable, and a fiscal analysis that staff judged insufficient to show the charter could sustain operations. The report also said the petition overstated how many students had been redirected to district schools.

Petition representatives disputed staff findings during the public hearing. A petitioner representative said the resource center has operated under Hesperia Unified School District authorizing agreements and that Alta Schools Coachella Valley intended to continue those practices if authorized locally. The petitioner emphasized independent financial audits and said the program serves a high‑risk student population that benefits from nontraditional supports.

Alta Schools’ counsel Lee Rosenberg told the board the staff report contained “so many glaring misstatements and mischaracterizations” and urged trustees to approve the petition, saying the Palm Desert Resource Center had served local students since 2013 and that the petition sought approval for a single continuing charter school.

After questions and brief discussion, Trustee Forrest moved to deny the petition; Trustee Alvarez seconded. The motion passed 5-0.

The district’s staff report cited Education Code Section 47605 and recent Assembly bills addressing charter authorization and renewal (AB 1505 and AB 1507) when describing the board’s legal standards and the limits of its discretion. The petitioner noted that Mira Secondary — the charter’s authorizer in Hesperia — was recently renewed by that authorizer and that Alta sought to continue serving students at the Palm Desert resource center.

Board President called for the vote after concluding the public hearing and after both district staff and petitioner had presented their cases. The denial means petitioners may appeal the district’s decision to the County Office of Education and, if necessary, to the State Board of Education under the charter appeal process defined in state law.

The board took no further action on the petition beyond the denial vote at this meeting.","The Desert Sands Unified School District Board of Education voted 5-0 to deny a charter petition from Alta Schools Coachella Valley after staff raised concerns about scope, fiscal projections and enrollment. Petitioners disputed the staff findings and urged approval.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Desert Sands Unified board actions, Feb. 18, 2025

Residents ask Desert Sands board not to renew TA Learning Services contract, citing DEI and conflict-of-interest concerns

Desert Sands Unified presents midyear LCAP report; district cites third-grade reading gains and attendance initiatives

Desert Sands Unified board denies Altus Schools Coachella Valley charter renewal, 5-0