Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Board Actions topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Desert Sands Unified board honors staff and students, approves consent packages and personnel actions
Summary
At its Nov. 18 meeting, the Desert Sands Unified School District board recognized employees and student artists, introduced new administrators and approved grouped consent items and several closed‑session personnel actions including expulsions, settlements and administrative appointments.
The Desert Sands Unified School District board met Nov. 18 in La Quinta and spent much of the public session recognizing staff and students before taking a series of routine governance actions.
Board leadership opened the meeting with condolences for the recent deaths of two students, Alex Yang and Liam Cantu, and a grounds employee, Enrique Leon, and asked the room to observe a moment of silence. Miss Fisher introduced the student board member for the month, Noelia Vieda of Horizon School, saying, “I’m so happy to introduce her as our new student board member for this month.”
The board recognized three employees of the month — paraeducator Kayla Benavidez, project facilitator Courtney Franklin and Principal Dr. Daniel Martinez — and presented Common Sense Media School awards to 13 campuses for achievements in digital citizenship. Student assistance counselor Brian Boyd also announced three Desert Sands students whose art was selected among 12 countywide winners for the Red Ribbon Week poster contest; the district provided calendars featuring the winning artwork to the students and their families.
Administrators introduced two recently appointed managers: Al Percy Bennett, named director of child welfare and attendance, and Debbie Collier, newly assigned assistant principal at John Glenn Middle School. Both spoke briefly to welcome faculty and families and to thank the district for the opportunity to serve.
On consent and routine business, the board approved the minutes of the Oct. 21 meeting and adopted multiple grouped consent bundles across business services, educational services, personnel services and student support services. Several motions, including taking items 18.3–18.12 as a group and other grouped consent items, passed by recorded votes noted in the meeting as five‑zero with one preferential vote where applicable.
In closed‑session call‑outs, the board reported it had approved a stipulated expulsion order (case 20526‑07) and accepted two general release and settlement agreements (SSS‑042025‑2026 and SSS‑052025‑2026). The board also announced appointments from closed session: Michael Williams as assistant principal at Palm Desert High School, Craig Christiansen as principal at Desert Ridge Academy, and Molly Farren as program specialist for student support services. Separately, the board reported it dismissed a classified employee (nutrition services assistant, employee no. 297181) under progressive disciplinary procedures and directed staff to provide notice under the collective bargaining agreement. All reported closed‑session actions were described to have carried by majority vote.
The meeting concluded with a reminder that the next regular board meeting is scheduled for Dec. 16, 2025, at the District Education Center Boardroom in La Quinta. The session adjourned at 8:17 p.m.
