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Desert Sands board approves consent items, adopts two resolutions and confirms management hires
Summary
At its Sept. 16 meeting the Desert Sands Unified School District Board approved consent packages across multiple departments, adopted two resolutions on roll-call votes, accepted a closed-session settlement and approved two management appointments.
The Desert Sands Unified School District Board of Education approved a series of consent items across business, educational services, student support and personnel services at its Sept. 16 regular meeting, with votes on routine items carried in grouped motions and most passing unanimously.
Two educational-services resolutions (item 19.1 and 19.2) required roll-call votes and passed 5–0. Board members recorded “aye” votes from Ms. Pierce, Mr. Alvarez, Ms. Perez, Mr. Duran and Trustee Horace; the board president announced the motions carried 5–0.
During public comment on the pupil-textbook and instructional-materials compliance public hearing, Trina Gonzales Salici, president of the Desert Sands Teachers Association, praised the district’s adoption process and said it was designed to ensure inclusive materials and public input: “There is a significant process that Desert Sands uses to adopt its curriculum… I just want to make sure that Desert Sands follows the correct process to make sure that we adopt the curriculum that is appropriate for our students,” Gonzales Salici said.
In closed session the board reported it had accepted a settlement agreement with the California School Employees Association (CSEA) over an unfair-labor-practice grievance; the board announced the motion was made by Trustee Porras and seconded by Trustee Alvarez and was approved unanimously. Also in closed session, the board approved two management appointments: Bridal Lamas as principal of early childhood education (certificated management) and Paul Martinez as director of graphic services (classified management). The board noted it made no appointment to the assistant-principal position at Indio High School at this time.
The board also approved two reinstatement student matters (case numbers reported in the meeting minutes) on motions by Trustee Porras that passed 5–0. Multiple consent-item packages across business services, educational services and student-support services were taken as groups and approved by voice vote, each motion carrying 5–0.
There were no retirements or resignations announced in certificated personnel that night. Superintendent and cabinet announcements included travel and student-activity notices: several high-school teams and programs were approved to attend out‑of‑district events in Tucson, Anaheim and Honolulu later this school year.
Board members suggested future agenda items including a request for information on current special-education caseloads and a review of counselor pay structures and extra-duty assignments to examine equity across different salary schedules. The board adjourned the meeting at 8:25 p.m.
