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.
After a brief intermission, the board resumed open session where Certified Representative and MTA President Amber Hanson reported “bargaining going well,” with May 31st as the next bargaining day.
After their current positions were appointed at the last meeting, La Contenta Middle School Assistant Principal Sabrina McDavis, Landers Elementary Principal Alicia Perkins, and principal of PLUS program Andrea Gordon introduced themselves to the Board.
Public comment was comprised in solidarity by three speakers, all who expressed opposition to the divisive two-lunch program proposed to 29 Palms High School; Math teacher Terry Bergey and his wife Jamie Bergey, an English Language Development teacher, offered strong critique against the plan that would “divide campus culture”, as well as 29 Palms Freshman Vice President Sheyanne Pfister, who said separating students would increase ditching classes to attend lunches with their friends.
Pfister also cited the importance of student’s mental health. She said “Students only have two times to see their friends, lunch and passing periods. High school is a very stressful place, and friends make it a lot better. I think the two-lunch system will make a student’s mental health go down.” Pfister then presented a signed petition to the board in opposition to the two-lunch system.
