Desert Sands Unified Abandons Brick Fundraiser

The Desert Sands Unified School District canceled a fundraising program this week, which would have featured memorial bricks at the new buildings on Palm Desert High School’s campus.

The move came after two women submitted Bible verses in their tributes.

Lou Ann Hart, of Palm Desert, and Sheryl Caronna, of Rancho Mirage, filed a court complaint in January against the district after school officials told them they weren’t allowed to place the Bible verses on bricks, which had raised $45,000 before the campaign’s cancelLation.

The bricks were designed to allow people or groups in the community to personalize a brick, which would be laid at one of the high school’s new buildings, set to open in the fall.

School district leaders decided to refund the money, according to a court filing last week with the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. They also agreed to provide a copy of guidelines, which would outline what would be acceptable in any future memorial brick campaigns.

No limitations were given at the time the bricks initially went on sale, according to the original court filing.

School district leaders have been silent on the issue, citing “pending litigation.” They had no comment on the latest court action.