Education Archives

Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians pledges a commitment of $9 million to tribal college initiative

May 26, 2022 10:01 AM Jeff Stahl

The Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians announced Thursday it was committing more than $9 million to support the California Indian Nations College. The educational effort aims to become the first stand-alone, fully accredited tribal college in California in decades, according to a statement issued by the tribe. Thursday’s announcement from the tribal chairman, Darrell Mike, said the primary mission is to build

School districts review security plans, local police promises ‘close patrols’ following mass shooting

May 25, 2022 4:10 PM KESQ News Team

The Palm Springs and Desert Hot Springs police departments said they will conduct close patrols of local schools until the end of the school year. The announcements via social media follow the tragic mass shooting that took the lives of nineteen students and two teachers in a Texas community. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said

Watch: College of the Desert Class of 2022 Commencement Ceremony

May 25, 2022 3:05 PM Jesus Reyes

College of the Desert’s largest graduation class will be celebrated during the 2022 commencement ceremony. The school will present more than 1,600 degrees and certificates. The ceremony will be held at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden for the first time since public gatherings were curtailed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Commencement was held virtually in 2020

Inspired PSUSD students learn Black history, tour HBCUs on free trip to D.C.

May 24, 2022 11:53 AM Jake Ingrassia

Students in Palm Springs Unified School District who were selected to attend a free trip to Washington D.C. earlier this year are making a presentation to the school board Tuesday night. The program was coordinated by the African American Parent Advisory Council of PSUSD. 24 students flew to the nation’s capital last month. They were

Salute to Coachella Valley 2022 graduates

May 24, 2022 5:24 AM Crystal Jimenez

Across the Coachella Valley, thousands of seniors are saying their goodbyes to their high schools and venturing out to start the rest of their life. This year News Channel 3 is highlighting some students and their achievements. https://youtu.be/ctmnlDUqdT0 Isabella Francisco – Desert Learning Academy Isabella Francisco had more than just her studies to worry about.

CVHS student with rare eye disorder celebrates upcoming graduation

May 23, 2022 8:46 PM Marco Revuelta, Jesus Reyes

Thousands of Coachella Valley students are less than a week away from graduating from high school, but it’s an extra special occasion for one local student. In a few days, Esmeralda Vargas will be the first in her family to receive her high school diploma. “I feel excited and proud of myself,” Vargas told Telemundo

College of the Desert & CSUSB Palm Desert graduation ceremony dates & livestream links

May 18, 2021 8:06 PM Jesus Reyes

Below is the schedule for the virtual commencement ceremonies for graduates of College of the Desert and Cal State University San Bernardino – Palm Desert Campus. CSUSB – Palm DesertDate – Saturday, May 228:00 am Social & Behavioral Sciences10:00 am Natural Sciences12:00 pm Arts & Letters + Education2:00 pm Business & Public Administration You can

College of the Desert’s Roadrunner Motors will now cost $37,400,000

May 19, 2022 8:30 PM Jeff Stahl, Jesus Reyes

Construction on College of the Desert’s Roadrunner Motors, an automotive repair and technology training center in Cathedral City, will cost nearly $3 million more than originally planned. The college’s Board of Trustees heard the latest update on the project during its board meeting Friday morning. Earlier COD budget reports pegged the total building cost at $18,800,000 dollars.

Protest at Palm Desert High School forces lockout on campus

May 12, 2022 11:55 AM Rich Tarpening

A call from the Palm Desert High School Assistant Principal went out around 11:30 am alerting parents that a student protest has forced school officials to call a lockout on campus. A lockout means no visitors on campus at this time. Desert Sand Unified Spokeswoman Mary Perry says “approximately 100 students peacefully walked to the

COD grads grab their tickets, cap & gowns ahead of 2022 commencement ceremony

May 5, 2022 8:28 PM Jesus Reyes

On Thursday, graduating students at College of the Desert had the chance to grab their tickets and pick-up their caps and gowns ahead of the 2022 commencement ceremony. More than 1,200 COD students will get their degrees and certificates on May 25. The college says it’s the largest graduating class in its history. Students say that they are

College of the Desert to award $20K in scholarships to students impacted by racism

April 28, 2022 2:33 PM City News Service, Jesus Reyes

The College of the Desert Foundation is awarding $20,000 in scholarships to students today in an effort to support students who were impacted by racism in March and February. “In February, the college held virtual events and during those virtual events, there were racial comments shared by community members,” said College of the Desert Public

Exclusive one-on-one interview with DSUSD’s new superintendent

April 13, 2022 8:00 PM Jesus Reyes

Part 2 of the Interview: On Tuesday, the Desert Sands Unified School District’s board of education voted unanimously to appoint Dr. Kelly May-Vollmar to serve as the next superintendent. After the vote came, a loud round of applause rang throughout the board chambers. “I couldn’t be more thrilled. I have literally grown up in Desert Sands,

Dr. Kelly May-Vollmar appointed as new DSUSD Superintendent

April 8, 2022 3:32 PM Jesus Reyes

The Desert Sands Unified School District officially has its next superintendent. On Tuesday, the DSUSD Board of Education voted to appoint longtime Desert Sands educator Dr. Kelly May-Vollmar as the new superintendent of the district. May-Vollmar’s contract will run until 2025 with a base salary of $282,000, however, it could be increased yearly, according to

Community members speak out at COD special meeting on automotive education facility

April 6, 2022 10:53 PM Marian Bouchot

The College of the Desert special board meeting was an in-depth review of the proposed sites for the Roadrunner Motors facility. Full board meeting: https://youtu.be/BMYlEPzwXkg There are three locations being considered. First, the original site next to the Cathedral City Auto Center, which is already owned by COD. Second, a different location in Cathedral City along

College of the Desert to make presentation at Thursday’s Palm Springs City Council meeting

April 4, 2022 3:05 PM Jesus Reyes

College of the Desert officials will provide an update on the Palm Springs campus at Thursday’s city council meeting. The project has been in the works since 2004 and almost $1 billion in taxes have been raised to fund construction. The project has faced numerous delays, prompting frustrations from city leaders and residents alike. College

CSU Scraps SAT, ACT tests in admissions process

March 23, 2022 1:04 PM City News Service

The Long Beach-based California State University system will abandon the use of SAT and ACT tests in its admission process, permanently adopting a policy today that was implemented on a temporary basis during the COVID-19 pandemic. The CSU Board of Trustees voted unanimously Wednesday to scrap the use of the standardized tests in admissions decisions,

College of the Desert’s Black Student Success Center is now open weekly

March 22, 2022 1:10 PM Jesus Reyes

The Black Student Success Center (BSSC) at College of the Desert is now open weekly. The center provides support, networking, and mentoring for those on campus and beyond. BSSC is accessible every Thursday from noon to 5 p.m. on the Palm Desert Campus, room 112, next to Beeps Café. According to the school, BSSC members

East Valley parents call for CVUSD to do more for students’ mental health wellness

March 18, 2022 9:10 PM Marco Revuelta, KESQ News Team

Some East Valley parents called for the Coachella Valley Unified School District to do more for their children’s mental health. Parents gathered at the Guadalupe Family Center in Mecca to raise their voices, calling for enforcement of an agreement adopted last year by the school board on the issue. “About mental health, specifically the ‘wellness

COD estimates Palm Springs campus could be built by at least 2026-27

March 16, 2022 5:39 PM Jesus Reyes

On Friday, the College of the Desert board of trustees will meet to discuss bond measures, as well as future projects such as the Palm Springs campus. COD’s Palm Springs campus has been in development since 2004 with almost $1 billion raised in tax revenue for construction, according to Palm Springs city spokeswoman Amy Blaisdell.

BNP Paribas & Bank of West award scholarships to Coachella Valley High School students

March 16, 2022 4:34 PM Jesus Reyes

Four Coachella Valley High School students received scholarships from BNP Paribas and Bank of West. On Wednesday, the banks hosted a special event at Coachella Valley High School in Thermal to award its 6th Annual BNP Paribas Open scholarships to Samantha Campos, Fernando Ruiz-Chavez, Justin Garnica, and Lydia Rodriguez. The students are part of CVHS’