Gabriel Hart

Morongo Valley CSD looking to fill vacant board seat

June 26, 2023

Morongo Valley CSD Board Director declares resignation, once conditions are met

After the MVCSD have lost control of one of their board’s seats due to lack of quorum for over three months, The San Bernardino County Supervisors may consider an appointment to fill a vacancy on the board left by the resignation of President Jennifer Henning last April. Interested applicants must be a registered voter, 18 years of age or older, a resident of Morongo Valley and must submit their application by the July 6th filing deadline. Application materials are available at Clerk of the…

Free meals at MUSD schools may end due to COVID funding expiration

by Gabriel Hart

June 25, 2023

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON ON THE UP CLOSE SHOW FRIDAY

Morongo Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Patricio Vargas was the guest on last Friday’s Up-Close Show with Gary Daigneault, where he discussed economic challenges facing many students, what MUSD does to help, and challenges that the MUSD faces moving forward. Despite its popularity and high volume of year-long tourism, many forget or fail to realize many Morongo Basin residents struggle in poverty, which can equal greater challenges for our children who attend MUSD schools.…

Morongo Valley CSD faces uncertainty: Ad-hoc committee meeting recap

by Gabriel Hart

June 22, 2023

In lieu of last night’s canceled Morongo Valley Community Services District meeting, The Morongo Valley Community Relations Ad-Hoc Committee met at 6pm at Covington Park’s multi-purpose room, where two MVCSD board members and the general manager provided information and answered questions regarding the uncertain future of the Morongo CSD. Comprised of Park Commissioner Christina Gorke, Finance Director Johnny Tolbert, and General Manager and Fire Chief James Brakebill, The Morongo Valley…

Gorke and Tolbert hold ad hoc MVCSD Community Relations meeting tonight

by Gabriel Hart

June 21, 2023

Tonight’s Morongo Valley CSD meeting has been canceled, but something else will take its place. The Morongo Valley Community Services District Board of Directors canceled their regularly scheduled meeting for tonight, making this the third cancellation in three months, and potentially placing the Board, and the District itself, in legal peril for failing to meet. In place of the regularly scheduled meeting, two board Directors, Chrisina Gorke and Johnnie Tolbert, will be holding an ad hoc…

Morongo Valley CSD meeting canceled for 3rd time in a row

by Gabriel Hart

June 20, 2023

The Morongo Valley Community Services District meeting scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday, June 21st has been officially canceled. The lengthy agenda, which included filling of vacant director positions, finding new legal counsel, and urgent budgeting issues, will go unaddressed for the third month in a row. Both the board’s failure to convene and unaddressed board matters spell major trouble for Morongo Valley, as the board could face legal consequences. Assignment reporter Gabriel Hart joins us…

Sci-Fi legend Michael Butterworth at Art Queen(6/17)

by Gabriel Hart

June 17, 2023

Art Queen hosts new Introspective Exhibition Sept. 10th

This Saturday, June 17th Joshua Tree’s Art Queen gallery presents British science fiction legend Michael Butterworth’s new exhibit “Circularisation” in collaboration with our local Space Cowboy Bookshop. Assignment reporter Gabriel Hart has the details on this exclusive event. Joshua Tree’s Art Queen and Space Cowboy Books present “Circularisation,” the new exhibit by U.K. science fiction legend Michael Butterworth. On display from June through July with opening night this Saturday from…

Risks to MUSD budget reported at last night’s board meeting (6/13)

by Gabriel Hart

June 14, 2023

Morongo Unified School District sends out gun safety letter – AB 452

Last night’s MUSD meeting began with a special 5:30 study session, presenting the Local Control Funding Formula for Parents alongside the 2023-24 Preliminary Budget. The overview showed grim trends risking the district’s budget, including declining enrollment, ADA protection loss, expiring one-time funds, and compensation cost pressures. The study also reported a significant decrease in the Arts, Music, and Instructional Discretionary Block Grant due to the governor’s May budget revision. The…

MUSD Board holding study session for 2023-24 Preliminary Budget

by Gabriel Hart

June 13, 2023

Tonight, the Morongo Unified School District Board of Trustees will hold their regular 6pm meeting at Joshua Tree Elementary. Before the regular meeting at 6pm, MUSD Board of Trustees will hold an open study session at 5:30 presenting the Local Control Funding Formula’s Budget Overview for Parents, offering transparency of how much funding schools receive from various sources. This will be discussed in conjunction with MUSD’s 2023-24 Preliminary Budget. The Board will then hold three public…

MUSD Board of Trustees held their regular 6pm meeting at Joshua Tree Elementary, beginning with the 2023 Service Awards and Retiree Ceremony

by Gabriel Hart

May 24, 2023

For the first hour of last night’s MUSD meeting, Board of Trustees recognized honorees of the 2023 Service Awards and Retiree Ceremony. The red-carpet event was divided into listed portions honoring 20, 25, 30, and 35 Years of MUSD staff service, with retirees completing their tenures from the district. 29 Palms Junior High Special Ed teacher Geraldine Kenney embraced by Board President Cathy Nelson for 25 Years of Service at last night’s 2023 Service Awards and Retiree Ceremony at Joshua Tree…

Seattle Writer Justine Chan visits Joshua Tree to discuss her park ranger-inspired poetry book

by Gabriel Hart

May 22, 2023

Seattle Writer Justine Chan visits Joshua Tree to discuss her park ranger-inspired poetry book

The Desert Split Open reading series is hosting Seattle writer Justine Chan tomorrow (May 23) for an in-conversation mediated by local author Annie Connole at The Firehouse in Joshua Tree at 6pm. Chicago-born Seattle writer/poet Justine Chan visits Joshua Tree to present her new collection, Should You Lose All Reason(s) published by Chin Music Press. Justine will read a selection, followed by a brief conversation with fellow Chin Music author and hi-desert local Annie Connole. Afterward, Justine…

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