Palm Springs Unified board approves hire, grants, contracts and a proclamation; multiple consent items pass
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Summary
At its Jan. 14 meeting the Palm Springs Unified Board approved an employment agreement for a facilities manager, multiple grants and procurement actions, a lease‑leaseback amendment, expulsions and a proclamation recognizing board members for January 2025.
The Palm Springs Unified School District Board of Education on Jan. 14 approved a slate of personnel actions, grant and facility items, and a proclamation recognizing January as School Board Recognition Month.
The board voted to approve an employment agreement for Elijio Villareal as manager of facilities and maintenance, effective Jan. 15, 2025. Clayton Hill made the recommendation and Villareal addressed the board before the vote. “I will work hard, keep our schools in great condition, and make sure that there is minimal downtime to the faculty and students,” Villareal said.
Other approved actions included adoption of resolution No. 2024/2025‑19 authorizing the district to file applications for a State Allocation Board administered program; approval of an amendment to a lease‑leaseback contract with Bernards for the James Warner Mirror school modernization project under Education Code 17406; approval of the Consolidated Application and Reporting System (CARS) for 2024–25; and approval of school programs and grant plans including the art, music and instructional material discretionary block grant plan for Cielo Vista Charter School.
The board also approved two expulsion recommendations (cases 2024/2025‑013 and 2024/2025‑014) with findings of fact and conclusions of law, and a series of consent items including acceptance of gifts, purchase orders, agreements under and over $10,000, and memoranda of understanding. The superintendent’s consent agenda (items 15a–15e) passed as a package.
Several personnel and facility items passed by voice vote with unanimous “Aye” responses; one facility policy revision vote was recorded as 4–0. The board approved minutes from its Dec. 10, 2024 meeting (with one abstention recorded) and received informational reports.
Why it matters: the actions authorize staffing, capital projects and state grant applications that shape district operations and capital planning.
Votes at a glance
- Employment agreement: Elijio Villareal, manager of facilities and maintenance (effective 01/15/2025). Motion moved and seconded; vote: unanimous “Aye”; outcome: approved.
- Item 14b: Approval of certified and classified employee transition. Motion moved and seconded; vote: unanimous “Aye”; outcome: approved.
- Item 14c: Proclamation — School Board Recognition Month, January 2025. Motion moved and seconded; vote: unanimous “Aye”; outcome: approved.
- Item 14d: Revisions to OE‑12 (facility). Motion moved and seconded; vote: 4–0; outcome: approved.
- Item 14e: Consolidated Application and Reporting System (CARS) 2024–25. Motion moved and seconded; vote: unanimous “Aye”; outcome: approved.
- Item 14f: World‑based learning business and community partner approvals. Motion moved and seconded; vote: unanimous “Aye”; outcome: approved.
- Item 14g: Art, Music and Instructional Material Discretionary Block Grant plan for Cielo Vista Charter School. Motion moved and seconded; vote: unanimous “Aye”; outcome: approved.
- Item 14h: Approval of facility storage session item and future projects (OE‑12/13). Motion moved and seconded; vote: unanimous “Aye”; outcome: approved.
- Item 14i: Adoption of Resolution No. 2024/2025‑19 authorizing filing for a State Allocation Board program. Motion moved and seconded; vote: unanimous “Aye”; outcome: approved.
- Item 14j: Amendment No. 2 to lease‑leaseback contract (Education Code 17406) with Bernards for the James Warner Mirror school modernization project. Motion moved and seconded; vote: unanimous “Aye”; outcome: approved.
- Items 14k–14l: Expulsion case approvals (2024/2025‑013; 2024/2025‑014). Motions moved and seconded; votes: unanimous “Aye”; outcome: approved (findings and conclusions recorded for each case).
- Superintendent consent items 15a–15e (gifts, purchase orders, agreements, MOUs): motion to approve package; vote: unanimous “Aye”; outcome: approved.
- Board consent: Minutes of Dec. 10, 2024 approved; recorded vote included one abstention and motion passed.
What was not decided: informational items received (17a–17c) were for review; no further action recorded.
Speakers and presenters for these actions included president Sergio Esparicoeta presiding, Clayton Hill presenting the facilities recommendation, Elijio Villareal speaking briefly after the recommendation, Tony Signore reading the proclamation text, and Superintendent Edwin Gomez providing administrative context.
