Morongo Unified School District Superintendent Tom Baumgarten addressed school safety in his comments to the Yucca Valley Town Council at its meeting last night. He said the Sheriff’s Department has access to each school’s layout and video surveillance cameras from their patrol vehicles. Baumgarten also discussed the new Academy of College and Career Excellence, which has campuses in Twentynine Palms and Yucca Valley. The academy includes vocational classes, some of which are also open to adults. With details about the rest of last night’s town council meeting, here’s managing editor Tami Roleff…
The Yucca Valley Town Council started off the business portion of its meeting with a presentation by the demographer the council hired to guide it through the process of changing from at-large elections to by-district elections. The town has a Latino population estimated at only 18 percent, which is mostly concentrated along Highway 62 between Kickapoo and Grand Avenue. The demographer discussed keeping communities of interest, which could include business districts, parks, schools, or other natural or man-made boundaries.
During public comment, one speaker mentioned the possibility that three council members could possibly be residents of the same district. Council members stressed that even though they will now be elected by districts, they will each still represent all the residents of the town.
The town council will hold several public hearings about the proposed changes and districts, with the first one set for Monday, March 12, and a second one on Monday, March 26.
