The Coachella Valley Unified School District board announced on July 17 that it took several formal actions in closed session, approving settlement agreements and appointing multiple administrative positions effective July 18, 2025.

The board announced it approved an amendment to a settlement agreement tied to OAH case number 2024110491 and a separate 10‑day settlement offer and general release resolving OAH case number 270505050. The meeting clerk reported the first motion approving the amendment was "made by Trustee Arredondo, seconded by Trustee Garcia" and recorded the motion as carried unanimously.

In personnel actions the board approved appointments effective July 18, 2025 including: Ariana Feliz Dela Torre as Coordinator of Student Wellness and Attendance; Maria A. Castillo as Public Information Officer; Michael T. Williams as Fleet Services Coordinator; Anna Santa Maria as Coachella Valley High School principal; Alia Morales as Mountain Vista Elementary principal; Bruce Hamilton as Valle Del Sol Elementary principal; Brian Kennedy as John Kelly Elementary principal; Michael Martinez as Director of Transportation; Cindy Harrison as middle‑school principal of Cahuilla Desert Academy; and Melissa Mora as middle‑school principal for Toro Canyon Middle School. The clerk recorded motions for many of the appointments as made by Trustee Arredondo and seconded by Trustee Garcia or Trustee Vargas, with motions carried unanimously as announced.

Why it matters: these closed‑session approvals affect site leadership and district staffing just ahead of the new school year and include settlements of administrative hearings that remove pending disputes from public caseloads.

Discussion vs. decision: the board unanimously announced approvals for the listed settlements and appointments; a public speaker later asked why coordinators are now brought for board approval, prompting trustees to direct staff to return with the relevant board policy for clarification.

What happens next: the clerk recorded the appointments as effective July 18, 2025; trustees asked staff to bring back board policy language regarding which positions require board approval so future practice aligns with adopted policy.