College of the Desert votes to place interim Superintendent/President on administrative leave

College of the Desert's interim superintendent/president Laura Hope has been placed on administrative leave with pay, and the board of trustees voted on Friday.

The board also voted to appoint Val Martinez Garcia as the acting superintendent/president, effective immediately.

The board did not disclose exactly why Hope was placed on leave.

The school's search for a permanent superintendent/president was stopped earlier this month due to a breach of confidentiality.

In an earlier meeting on Friday, the board of trustees voted to restart the search. An updated timeline on the search will be further discussed during a meeting scheduled for January 17.

Statement from College of the Desert:

The Desert Community College District's Board of Trustees has appointed Val Martinez Garcia, Vice President of Student Services, as the Acting Superintendent/President of College of the Desert. The decision was made during today’s special meeting, and is effective immediately.

Val Martinez Garcia will serve in this capacity until the Board appoints a new leader and will work to ensure continuity during this transition. College of the Desert remains focused on our mission of serving students and advancing educational excellence throughout the community.

The Board also addressed the recruitment process for the permanent Superintendent/President earlier in the day during its regular meeting. Following the cancellation of the prior search, the Board approved a plan to restart the recruitment and selection process in partnership with the District’s identified search consultant. A proposed timeline and search committee structure will be reviewed at the Board’s January 17, 2025, meeting