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Desert Sands board approves consent packages, records retirements and appoints Madison principal after closed session
Summary
At its May 6 meeting the Desert Sands Unified School District Board approved bundled consent and personnel items, accepted multiple retirements, and in closed session appointed a new principal and authorized disciplinary notices including two stipulated expulsions.
The Desert Sands Unified School District Board of Education on May 6, 2025 approved a package of consent items and personnel actions and accepted a roster of retirements, then reported closed-session actions that included the appointment of a new elementary principal and authorization of a 30‑day dismissal notice for a certificated employee.
Board members voted to take multiple consent item bundles — business services, educational services, personnel services and student support services — as grouped motions; the motions passed without recorded opposition (roll calls reported as carrying 5‑0 for those open‑session consent bundles). The board also approved minutes and the meeting agenda by voice vote earlier in the session.
In open session Human Resources announcements, Dr. Hyde reported six certificated employees and ten classified employees who are retiring. The certificated retirees named were Mary Booth (Johnson Elementary), Robert Burdette (Palm Desert High), Carrie Hogan (Page Middle), Sharon Kulkowski (Shadow Hills High), Charles “Derek” Lawson and John Lienhart (Amistad High); staff presented an aggregate figure of about 174 combined certificated years of service. Classified retirements included Yvonne Alarcon, Jolene Sir, Samantha Hirsch, Patricia Kirk, Gail Lekington, Angelica Melagoza, Tony Payarath, Blanche Ramirez, Connie Vargas and Sandra Walker, with staff noting a combined total of about 241 classified years of service.
The board announced several formal closed‑session actions. According to the superintendent, in closed session the board accepted the recommendation of stipulated expulsion orders for two student cases (items 23.1 and 23.2); those motions were recorded as made by Trustee Porras and seconded by Trustee Alvarez and carried 4‑0. The board also approved the appointment of Leticia Hernandez to the position of principal at Madison Elementary School; that motion was recorded as made by Trustee Perez and seconded by Trustee Alvarez, and the vote was recorded as unanimous (4‑0). Finally, the board authorized the issuance of a 30‑day notice of dismissal for a certificated employee (certificated employee 2037210) pursuant to Education Code procedures and directed the superintendent to send required legal notices; that action was recorded as unanimous.
Discussion versus formal action is distinct in the meeting record: many items were approved as consent bundles with no substantive floor debate recorded; retirements were presented by staff and acknowledged by trustees; the disciplinary and appointment items were handled in closed session with only the resulting motions and votes reported in open session as required under board bylaws.
The board closed the meeting at 8:46 p.m. and announced its next regular meeting for May 20, 2025 at the District Education Center boardroom.
