Student athletes in the Morongo Unified School District finally received approval from the board of education to begin phase 3 of the district’s athletics program. Reporter Andrew Dieleman has the details on the decision made at last night’s meeting…
Director of Secondary Curriculum Dustin Howard outlined in detail the district’s updated phase-3 plan to allow student athletes to take part in full-contact practice and competition. After brief discussion, the board voted 3-2 to proceed with phase 3. Trustees Kerri Condley and Cathy Nelson both voted no, citing major concerns over the potential of a new COVID-19 outbreak being created from person-to-person contact.
The board then heard a presentation from Assistant Superintendent Sharon Flores on the district’s second interim financial report. The report shows that, while the district is financially sound through 2023, struggles with COVID-19 expenses and increased retirement costs persist. Flores also warned that a predicted decline in student attendance could greatly impact the district’s budget, possibly leading to the cancelation of district programs as well as teacher and staff layoffs in the future.
The board also received a positive report on the district’s financial statements during their 2019-2020 financial audit report, approve the absence of President Hillary Slotta from the board’s February 9 and 23 meetings (President Slotta abstaining from the vote); and approved the 2021-2022 Sunshine proposal with the Morongo Teachers Association.
Assistant Superintendent Amy Woods delivered five presentations to the board: the past year’s activities from Landers Elementary School students, the Show Your Love drive-thru celebration at Friendly Hills Elementary School, Yucca Valley Elementary School’s sixth-grade passion projects, MUSD’s kindergarten registration “round-up,” and the Twentynine Palms High School’s mid-year WASC accreditation visit.
Lastly, the board went into closed session to continue public employment discussions on the district’s Superintendent position. There was no public report.
