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SCHOOL BOARD RAISES MEAL COSTS, REVIEWS NEW PROGRAMS AND RULES

Business-wise, the June 30 meeting of the Morongo Unified School District Board of Education was a mop-up exercise. Reporter Dan Stork says that the focus of the meeting was a far-ranging and eye-opening presentation by a district staffer. Also, actions at the state level that will have local repercussions were passed along…

Director of Curriculum Amy Woods told the Morongo Unified School District Board of Education about current and planned programs to expand the options of students. She started by describing a field trip made by 72 high school students to Copper Mountain College for a full day of introductions to medical career paths. Next, she surveyed college acceptances for this year’s Yucca Valley and Twentynine Palms graduates: 72 students were accepted at four-year institutions, 159 to Copper Mountain College; seven graduates have enlisted in the military. Then she listed programs in career and technical education that she hopes to expand or implement, including the areas of medical care (such as nursing assistance and sports medicine), health office technology, pharmacy assistance, computer technicians and programming, fire, law enforcement, water, elementary education, hospitality, and business—with cooperation by Copper Mountain College expected in several areas. She finished by describing services and advice on testing and applications that will be offered, starting during the summer, to 2016 graduates who plan to attend college.

The single agenda item that raised much discussion was a proposal to raise meal costs by 15 cents per meal. Assistant Superintendent Sharon Flores explained that the federal government requires that students who pay for their meals must pay at least what the government reimburses the District for students who get free lunches; otherwise the federal support might be in jeopardy. That passed 4-1, with Board President Karalee Hargrove dissenting. Hargrove also cast the only other dissent of the evening, on the employment contract for Assistant Superintendent Douglas Weller.

Legislative liaison Ed Will previewed education legislation in progress in two areas: A tightening-up of Brown Act adherence for charter schools; and the formalization of closer connections between high school and community college programs

Superintendent Tom Baumgarten cited two things that have already come down from Sacramento. The governor signed legislation making it harder for parents to opt out of vaccination for children, and the California High School Exit Exam program has been suspended, perhaps for up to three years.

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