Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Board Actions topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board appoints Cathedral City High principal, approves resolutions and consent items
Summary
The Palm Springs Unified Board of Education approved the employment agreement for Julia Barsh as principal at Cathedral City High School and adopted several resolutions (Day of the Teacher, Classified School Employee Week, Child Abuse Prevention Month), plus routine consent and personnel items; one purchase-order vote recorded a split tally.
At its April 8 meeting the Palm Springs Unified School District Board of Education approved an employment agreement naming Julia Barsh principal at Cathedral City High School, adopted several ceremonial resolutions and approved routine consent items, course descriptions and personnel transactions.
The key action: The board approved an employment agreement naming Julia Barsh as principal at Cathedral City High School, effective April 9, 2025. The personnel report presented Barsh’s record in the district (roughly 27–28 years at Cathedral City High School in multiple roles) and noted credentials; the board moved, seconded and voted to approve the employment agreement.
Votes at a glance (actions recorded in the meeting transcript):
- Employment agreement — Julia Barsh, principal, Cathedral City High School (salary schedule 2–3, column 8, Step 7; effective 04/09/2025). Outcome: approved (motion moved, seconded and approved during the meeting).
- Resolution No. 2024/2025‑27 — Declaring May 14, 2025, Day of the Teacher and May 11–17, 2025, Week of the Teacher. Outcome: adopted (voice vote recorded as "Aye").
- Resolution designating Classified School Employee Week (May 18–24, 2025). Outcome: adopted (voice vote recorded as "Aye").
- Resolution declaring April Child Abuse Prevention Month. Outcome: adopted (voice vote recorded as "Aye").
- Approval of purchase order report (Consent item 14B). Outcome: approved with a split tally recorded in the transcript; meeting record indicates 4 in favor, 1 abstention and at least 1 dissenting vote.
- Compromise and release agreement (A parent–district settlement, Agreement No. 24/25‑06, dated 03/19/2025). Outcome: approved (motion moved, seconded and approved).
- New course approvals for 2024–25 (middle/high school course descriptions including a drone/computer technology class housed initially at DLA for Cathedral City and Palm Springs High School students, hospitality and a medical-detective unit for middle grades). Outcome: approved (motion moved, seconded and approved).
Several other consent and personnel items, certificated and classified transactions, and the annual audit/financial compliance information were presented and approved during the meeting.
What board heard about finances and procurement: A district fiscal report reviewed compliance with the superintendent’s executive limitations for purchasing and financial controls. The presenter said the district’s independent audit (Eide Beiley) showed no findings for the audited year, that fund balances meet state minimums, and that purchasing and bidding practices were in compliance. The board was told that statewide informal/formal bidding thresholds will change (e.g., informal limits shifting to roughly $75,000 under updated state rules), and that no unauthorized long‑term obligations were approved for 2023–24.
Board procedure and next steps: Several items were approved as a block under superintendent consent (items 14A–I except 14B, which was pulled for separate vote). The board set its next regular meeting for April 22, 2025, at 6 p.m.
