PSUSD Makes Changes To Desert Hot Springs High School

A new principal will take over Desert Hot Springs High School at the end of the school year, according to Palm Springs Unified School District’s Superintendent’s Office.

Effective July 1, Dr. Anne Kalisek, currently principal of Alternative Education for the Palm Springs Unified School District, will be appointed Desert Hot Springs High School Principal.

Desert Hot Springs High School was one of 188 California public schools identified as a persistently low achieving school. As a result, the district was forced to implement changes.

“Despite the efforts already under way, the persistently lowest achieving designation comes with state and federal requirements,” said Superintendent Lorri McCune. “A state requirement is the replacement of the school’s principal.”

McCune says this year, several programs and practices were also implemented to change the direction of the school The school will move to a 6-period day instead of four; a Dean of Students was added to the campus to help with discipline issues; teachers will work in teams to evaluate student progress and refine teaching strategies.

The District has scheduled two public hearings for input from the community on this process. You are encouraged to attend one of these hearings, which will take place during the following Board meetings:

Tuesday, April 13th at 6:00 p.m. in the Palm Springs Unified School District Board Room, 980 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Suite #101, Palm Springs

Tuesday, April 27th at 6:00 p.m. at Desert Hot Springs High School, 65850 Pierson Blvd., Desert Hot Springs, in the Theater