INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – Low-income children in the Coachella Valley will receive free backpacks and school supplies through a donation drive in Indio hosted by the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission. The 15th annual Backpack Bonanza drive-thru event is scheduled for 7 a.m. Aug. 14 at 47470 Van Buren Street. Organizers aim to distribute school supply-filled
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 When kids returned to school after the pandemic, behavioral issues skyrocketed across the nation. Here in the Coachella Valley, parents and students reported a spike in altercations and sent News Channel 3 several videos of school fights. Now, years later, fights continue to be an issue at some schools, like a recent one at James Workman Middle
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LA QUINTA, Calif. (KESQ) – Desert Sands Unified School District is sharing that its free summer meal program is available weekdays for children and teens 18 and under. The program includes both breakfast and lunch, and is offered Monday through Friday at multiple schools throughout the district as well as at select locations of community
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UPDATE 06/10/2025: PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Palm Springs Unified School District Board of Education has named Dr. Marcus Funchess as the new PSUSD Superintendent. The PSUSD Board of Education will take action on Dr. Funchess’ contract at its upcoming June 24th meeting. Dr. Funchess will begin his employment on July 1st, following Dr.
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PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Palm Springs Public Library launched its six-week summer reading program today, aimed at inspiring and entertaining children while helping to prevent seasonal learning loss. Â Â The free “Level Up” program runs through July 18 at the library’s location at 300 S. Sunrise Way, at the corner of Sunrise Way
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INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – Local Republican State Assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez announced Wednesday the Joint Legislative Audit Committee has approved his request to consider an audit of the Coachella Valley Unified School District. “This has to do with right and wrong. And wrong is taking place and we want answers!” Gonzalez said. The announcement comes in
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DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The achievements of 22 local students were celebrated by the Desert Hot Springs Women’s Club Monday evening at their 2025-26 Scholarship Awards Night. The Desert Hot Springs Women’s Club provides thousands of dollars in scholarships each year to support students in the DHS area. This year, the scholarships totaled
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THERMAL, Calif. (KESQ) – The Coachella Valley Unified School District has been dealing with an ongoing mass layoff, hoping to aid its $50 million budget deficit. In the wake of these challenges, the district is recognizing its progress in new learning programs and student success. In the State of the District meeting, Superintendent Frances Esparza
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PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) –Â Â A nursing program at Cal State San Bernardino’s Palm Desert campus received just over $88,000 in grant funding aimed at improving access to medical services to unsheltered people throughout the Coachella Valley and to provide hands-on clinical training for nursing students, it was announced today. Â Â “We are proud to support
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PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – A salute to the Class of 2025 – Nearly 2,000 Roadrunners walked the stage at Acrisure Arena on Tuesday, moving on to take the next big step of their lives. The grads heard remarks from the Superintendent and President, as well as keynote speakers, who inspired the students along with
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At 8 a.m., the intersection of Landau Boulevard and McCallum Way was named in honor of Diego Jauregui. At 8:30 a.m., the intersection of Date Palm Drive and Dave Kelley Road was named after Kimberly Rodriguez Nunez. Rodriguez Nunez is an International Baccalaureate Diploma Program candidate, the ASB senior class president, and the Cathedral City
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PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – Owen Matas, a first-year English teacher at Palm Desert High School, has received the One Class at a Time Teacher award. Matas was recognized for reviving the school’s Cine-Arts Club, a once-thriving program from the 1990s, giving students a creative outlet to explore filmmaking. With a $777.77 donation from the
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PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – Some local families are voicing concerns to Desert Sands Unified School District regarding an altercation on a bus ride for a field trip on Wednesday. They say it temporarily stranded some third graders and chaperone parents as they returned from a trip to Legoland. A video from a parent shows
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MECCA, Calif. (KESQ) – Riverside County Office of Education announced on Thursday that Mecca Elementary teacher Marisa Gaytan is one of four teachers chosen as a 2026 Riverside County Teacher of the Year. Gaytan, a fourth grade dual-language teacher, was met by more than 100 students, along with family, colleagues, a drum line, cheerleaders, and
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PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A nonprofit group that recognizes youth for positive accomplishments, behavior and good deeds awarded $60,000 in scholarships to 47 graduating seniors across three Coachella Valley school districts. The Do the Right Thing program presented scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $1,500 to 47 students representing all 14 high schools in
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THERMAL, Calif. (KESQ) — The Coachella Valley Unified School District board voted Tuesday night to approve layoffs for 82 employees and reduce hours for 17 others, as part of a sweeping effort to address a multimillion-dollar budget shortfall. The decision follows a recommendation from an administrative law judge, who reviewed the district’s proposed reduction in force
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PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Connecting cultures through art and architecture. Students in Palm Springs participated in a cultural exchange with students from San Miguel de Allende in Mexico, which is Palm Springs’ sister city. The four-day cultural exchange involves bilingual students from Vista Del Monte Elementary in Palm Springs and students from Newland School
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PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – The College of the Desert Board of Trustees has chosen Val Martinez Garcia as its new superintendent/president. The board approved the hire with a 3-2 vote during a special meeting on Wednesday. School officials said contract details are still being finalized and will be presented for approval during a meeting
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PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Palm Springs Unified School District African American class of 2025 graduates were honored and presented with Kente Stoles Monday evening. The stoles will be worn during their graduation ceremonies. African American Parent Advisory Council Board Member Jarvis Crawford says the event represents a coming of age – a transition from
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DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and the Palm Springs Unified School District (PSUSD) is taking steps to support families and reduce the stigma around mental health. This Saturday, May 17th, Desert Springs Middle School will host a Mental Health Awareness Conference. The event, held in partnership with Riverside
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