The Morongo Unified School District Board of Trustees stayed busy last night with two back-to-back meetings, starting with a special joint meeting with the Copper Mountain Community College District Board of Directors. Board members reviewed and discussed the dual enrollment agreement and the memorandum of understanding between the school district and the college, and went into detailed discussions on multiple subjects including online classes, sports programs, and ways to increase student motivation. Reporter Andrew Dieleman has more…
After the special joint meeting, the MUSD Board of Trustees attended its regular meeting, unanimously accepting a $100,000 grant as part of the National School Lunch Program.
During public comment, Yucca Valley High School track and cross country coach Jay Stepp, along with many students and parents of students, protested the district’s hiring of additional track and cross country coaches without Stepp’s approval. Stepp argued that he has always been able to select his own coaching staff. After the meeting, Superintendent Tom Baumgarten said that he could not elaborate on personnel matters, but stated that the school district will always do what it feels is best for students.
The board also approved the district’s English Learner Master Plan for the 2019-2020 academic year; held a second reading of numerous district policies, regulations, and bylaws; approved the 2020-2021 Sunshine Agreement with the Morongo Teachers Association; and boasted of the success of the English as a Second Language (ESL) class at Yucca Valley Elementary School.
