Gabriel Hart

MUSD Board of Trustees Agenda for meeting tonight, Jan. 24

January 24, 2023

For tonight’s MUSD meeting agenda, action items include: a request to authorize the district to “piggyback” on other public agency contracts to save time and provide lower pricing than a single agency; a request to approve Resolution 23-09 which increases Federal Micro-Purchase Threshold to $50,000; a request to approve and adopt Proposed Budget Calendar for 2023; and a request to approve tentative agreement between MUSD and California School Employees Associations and its Chapter 29.

MVCSD votes to acquire new legal council for the District

by Gabriel Hart

January 23, 2023

(Updated 1/26 to correct to CSD and not School District. Also clarified that while the District retained a new legal firm, they have always had counsel.) Determined to break through a tense and disruptive atmosphere caused primarily by one board member and his wife in attendance, the Morongo Valley Community Services District (MVCSD) voted in favor of acquiring new legal counsel after over a decade with their previous one. Moving forward, the district will retain the services of Best, Best, and…

MVCSD Board Members approve “Study Sessions” to supplement regular meetings

by Gabriel Hart

January 19, 2023

Last night’s MVCSD meeting ran for nearly three hours with little accomplished, moving multiple agenda items to February’s meeting to give board members more time to consider each item. Sgt. Scalise opened the meeting reporting two successful missing person cases in Morongo Valley; an update on Operation Dust Devil currently in its 5th week with 615 citizen contacts, dozens of citations written, and several off-road vehicles towed for various violations. Scalise also warned about a large spike…

MUSD proclaims January as School Board Recognition Month

by Gabriel Hart

January 11, 2023

Last night MUSD Board of Trustees held their first meeting of 2023 at Joshua Tree Elementary. Assignment reporter Gabriel Hart was in attendance and has the recap for us today. Last night’s MUSD board meeting began with special recognition for the district’s Instructional Media Specialist Mary Dean for her essential work in family tech support, and more recent work with the district librarian. Jessica Berry, of Nigro and Nigro Auditors, presented a clean and positive Annual Financial Audit…

MUSD Board of Trustees meeting tonight (1/10)

by Gabriel Hart

January 10, 2023

Listen here: Tonight's (January 10th) MUSD Board of Trustees will hold their regular 6pm meeting at Joshua Tree Elementary. Assignment reporter Gabriel Hart has tonight’s meeting’s agenda for us today. For tonight’s MUSD board meeting, action items include: The adoption of the 2023 Board meeting calendar; A request to approve County Form 1, which addresses delegation of authority; A request to approve Amendment 1 in the amount of $20,121.00 for DSA testing services for the 29 Palms High…

MVCSD votes in new President, Commission Titles

by Gabriel Hart

December 22, 2022

MVCSD votes in new President, Commission Titles

While last night’s MVCSD meeting lasted nearly two hours, it began with a vital lightning-round of shifting titles and new faces... starting with the board of directors honoring former Vice President Shawna Johnson for her end of term, awarding her with a plaque of appreciation. Next, new members Michael Emory and James Ronald Whitney were sworn in as directors alongside Jennifer Henning who was re-elected, then Henning was promptly voted as the new President of MVCSD with James Ronald Whitney…

MVCSD to swear in new Board Directors at tonight’s meeting (12/21)

by Gabriel Hart

December 21, 2022

Tonight (December 21st) the Morongo Valley Community Service District board will hold their regular meeting at Covington Park’s multi-purpose room at 6pm. For tonight’s agenda for the MVCSD board meeting, new board directors will be sworn in, and board directors will discuss appointment of President and Vice President and will also discuss titles. A contract with West Coast Arborists for regular maintenance on Covington Park’s trees is requested for approval, and the Board will review, discuss,…

A trip on Basin Transit from Yucca Valley, through Joshua Tree to 29 Palms

by Gabriel Hart

December 18, 2022

A trip on Basin Transit from Yucca Valley, through Joshua Tree to 29 Palms

Listen here: Basin Transit Driver Amboy Sharma The wide expanse of the high desert can often feel fragmented, our shifting destinations distant, inconvenient and even dangerous due to our extreme weather and pitch-black nights. With the option of a walking commute a rarity, it’s ironic we live in an area of such natural beauty yet spend most of our time confined to our automobiles; our eyes fixated on the road rather than the gorgeous panorama surrounding us.As a seven-year resident of the…

MUSD Board Member Hilary Slotta honored for end-of-term at board meeting

by Gabriel Hart

December 14, 2022

MUSD Board Member Hilary Slotta honored for end-of-term at board meeting

Last night’s MUSD board meeting began in open session at 5pm where returning board member Roberta Myers and newly elected member Christopher Claire were sworn in. At 5:35 the Board went into close session and returned to open session at 6:05 PM. Open session began by honoring long time board member Hilary Slotta, celebrating her end of term. Slotta led the pledge of Allegiance before board members gave personal tributes. Marine Corps representative gave a slide show presentation on the recent…

How to get to Palm Springs Airport for $5 and less stress this holiday travel season

by Gabriel Hart

December 11, 2022

How to get to Palm Springs Airport for $5 and less stress this holiday travel season

Listen here: Holiday travel is ramping up, and with high gas prices and scarcity of Uber and Lyft in the Morongo Basin, consider our overlooked public transit system. I was recently tasked with picking up my partner’s car at the Palm Springs Airport, and instead of transferring the burden to someone else driving me all the way to Riverside County, I took a chance on our own Basin Transit system for my first time. With a stop at the end of my street in front of Morongo Valley’s “Can-Do” Country…

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