In addition to a change in its top staff position, the Morongo Unified School District Board of Education heard frequent reports on financial issues, and heard from several constituencies on hot-button issues. Here are some of the highlights of 2013…
In 2013:
- The Morongo Unified School District opened a replacement elementary school in Joshua Tree, and began using it for Board of Education meetings.
- The District experienced a small budget surplus, looked forward to the arrival of Prop 30 funds, and worked to understand the impact of the new Local Control Funding Formula instituted by the state.
- The District led San Bernardino County in improvements in standardized test results.
- State financial support continues to be jeopardized by declining enrollments in the District.
Public appeals at well-attended Board meetings included:
- Protests of the impending transfer of popular principal from Onaga Elementary School, which was subsequently cancelled;
- Parent and teacher protests over staffing levels at Condor Elementary, which were later improved somewhat;
- Repeated unhappiness with the perceived potential of a state law expanding the rights of students with unconventional gender preferences; and
- protests against the strict application of athletic eligibility rules at Twentynine Palms High School, which led to the revision and relaxation of policy.
