Bulletin Board is a weekly summary of education news from the Coachella Valley and beyond.
New three-story academic building opens on COD campus in downtown Indio
On August 15, 2024, officials cut the ribbon on COD’s new Indio campus building.
It’s official: All three K-12 public school districts in the Coachella Valley have resumed classes for the 2024-25 school year. The College of the Desert and the Palm Desert campus of California State University, San Bernardino, will begin their academic semester on Monday, August 26.
COD students who wish to transfer to CSUSB for the spring semester are asked to attend Instant Admit Day on Wednesday, August 28. If eligible, students will receive an “immediate” admission for the semester.
Also in this week’s Education Brief: Palm Springs Unified School District continues to provide free meals to all students through the Community Eligibility Provision; Thomas Jefferson Middle School unveiled a state-of-the-art broadcast facility on the first day of school; Palm Springs High School also unveiled its new wellness center, the 13th in the PSUSD; the school district has extended its $5 textbook loan program through the fall semester and is warning students about potential financial aid scams circulating on social media; local health leaders are committing $2.9 million to expand the school district’s nursing program.
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More: The newly expanded campus of the College of the Desert Indio opens its doors
More: “I still have butterflies in my stomach”: Excitement and joy as Coachella Valley Unified starts the new year
More: “I call it home”: Principals and parents talk about Desert Sands Unified’s first day of school
More: Nervousness, fanfares and get-to-know-you events on the first day of school as Palm Springs Unified returns
California State University, San Bernardino, hosts an Instant Admit Day at College of the Desert
College of the Desert students who plan to transfer to California State University, San Bernardino for the spring semester may attend Instant Admit Day on Wednesday, August 28, from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Due to limited availability, students must schedule an appointment in advance.
CSUSB’s Instant Admit Day provides transfer students with a streamlined process to meet with CSUSB admissions counselors and reviewers to assess their readiness for the Spring 2025 semester. Students receive an immediate review of their coursework. Once deemed eligible, students receive a “Coyote Pass” that guarantees them pre-admission or a spot for the semester.
CSUSB and its Palm Desert Campus are now accepting undergraduate applications from freshmen, transfer students, and returning students for the spring 2025 semester through September 15. Students may apply for all unaffected majors, including pre-psychology and pre-criminal justice. However, nursing, kinesiology, health professions, and social work are still affected majors and are not currently accepting applications.
Several financial aid options are available, including a $1,000 grant for newly enrolled students in spring 2025. Spring classes begin in January.
For more information: Visit csusb.edu/outreach-student-recruitment/spring-2025-instant-admit-days
More: The outstanding graduate of CSUSB’s Palm Desert Campus shares his unique path to higher education
The Palm Springs Unified School District continues to offer free meals to all students under the Community Eligibility Provision
For nearly five years, Palm Springs Unified School District students have received free breakfast, lunch and dinner through the Community Eligibility Provision—a program that will continue through the 2024-25 school year.
CEP is a meal service option from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that allows schools and districts in low-income areas to provide free meals without families having to apply. Instead, schools that use CEP are compensated according to a formula based on the percentage of students who qualify for assistance programs.
“So we were able to offer free meals even before Universal Meals was implemented in California (in 2021),” said Sarah Phelps, the district’s nutrition services director. “Often families confuse the two terms, so we want to reiterate and encourage them to bring their students to meals: Everyone eats free.”
A reimbursable meal requires that students eat a complete meal. For example, at lunch, a student must choose at least a half cup of fruit or vegetable, plus two other components. If students don’t take certain items, districts can make the meal non-reimbursable but still provide the food.
“All the kids get free food no matter what. I think it makes the kids feel better when they come and eat and they don’t feel ashamed of their financial situation,” Phelps said. “That’s our big thing, you know? Putting food in the kids’ bellies.”
The Coachella Valley Unified School District also participates in the CEP program. Carlos Murta, director of nutrition, pointed out earlier this summer that school children and their families can benefit from SUN Bucks, a federal nutrition program that provides $120 per child during the summer. While eligible families usually have to apply, some families who moved, changed their address or enrolled their children in preschool last year may not have been automatically enrolled in the SUN Bucks program.
Families who need to enroll can get help by calling the SUN Bucks Helpline at 877-328-9677. Automated support is available 24/7, and live agents are available Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Families must apply for SUN Bucks benefits by Saturday, August 31.
Thomas Jefferson Middle School opens broadcast center with grand opening
The Desert Sands Unified School District celebrated the start of the school year with a back-to-school celebration on Tuesday, August 20, but students at Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Indio had another reason to celebrate: the unveiling of a state-of-the-art broadcasting facility designed to foster their passion for journalism and storytelling.
The Bianca Rae Foundation, in partnership with the Desert Sands Educational Foundation, led and largely funded the effort to upgrade a previously makeshift broadcast console with strong community support.
A video montage posted by the school on Instagram shows students touring their new space, smiling in awe. Bianca Rae, a former KESQ news anchor and reporter, and Superintendent Kelly May-Vollmar attended the grand opening on Tuesday, as did other public officials.
“By providing them with access to modern equipment and resources, we aim to inspire and empower them to pursue their interests in media and journalism,” said Francinni Zabata, director of DSEF, in a press release.
Palm Springs High School celebrates the opening of its wellness center
Thanks to a $25,000 donation from Eisenhower Health, the Foundation for Palm Springs Unified School District was able to open a new wellness center at Palm Springs High School. This space provides students with a tranquil environment where they can relax, find peace, and seek emotional support through professional counseling.
Last spring, Eisenhower Health also donated $25,000 to the Rancho Mirage High School Wellness Center. The new center is the 12th in the district, and the foundation continues its efforts to establish wellness centers at every school site.
More: Palm Springs student receives national recognition for philanthropic commitment
More: Help the PSUSD Foundation raise money for 2,500 pairs of shoes
College of the Desert expands its $5 textbook loan program
Last spring, COD launched its $5 textbook loan program, offering textbooks in campus bookstores. Since then, the COD Friends of the Library and the Lisa Wendel Foundation have made donations to continue the program through the fall semester.
Due to limited resources, textbooks are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The following textbooks are available for loan from the Palm Desert Campus Library:
- “The exceptional child: inclusion in early childhood education”
- “Discover Psychology”
- “Development throughout life”
- “Social statistics for a diverse society”
- “Think critically”
For more information: Visit collegeofthedesert.edu/students/textbook-rental.php
College of the Desert warns students about social media student finance scams
COD advises students to be cautious of financial aid advice from viral social media trends when seeking funding for their college education. Students with concerns or questions should contact COD’s Financial Aid Office.
“We want students to know that we are always here for them and should be their primary source of information about financial aid,” Kristin Milligan, director of financial aid, said in a press release.
Students who choose to enroll in a community college in California (including COD) have until Tuesday, September 3, to submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid to be eligible for federal and state financial aid.
For more information: Visit collegeofthedesert.edu/students/fin-aid
Healthcare leaders provide $2.9 million to expand nursing education programs at College of the Desert
Major healthcare employers, including Desert Care Network, Desert Healthcare District & Foundation, Eisenhower Health and Inland Empire Health Plan, will mark the expansion of COD’s registered nurse training program with a celebration on Tuesday, August 27, after receiving a $2.9 million commitment at OneFuture’s Healthcare Workforce Leadership Roundtable.
The joint investment will add 70 students to the 2024-2025 nursing class, cover program costs, expand the skills lab, fund student scholarships, and provide holistic support services to address the critical nursing shortage while nurturing homegrown talent and ensuring successful program completion and transition into the workforce.
Jennifer Cortez covers education in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at [email protected].
