Bulletin Board is a weekly roundup of education news from the Coachella Valley and beyond.
Jennifer CortezPalm Springs Desert Sun
It’s official: All three public K-12 school districts in the Coachella Valley have resumed classes for the 2024-25 school year. College of the Desert and California State University, San Bernardino’s Palm Desert Campus will start its academic terms on Monday, Aug. 26.
Students at COD planning to transfer to CSUSB for the spring semester are encouraged to attend Instant Admit Day on Wednesday, Aug. 28. If eligible, students will 'instantly' receive a seat for the semester.
Also in this week's education roundup: Palm Springs Unified School District continues to provide free meals to all students through the Community Eligibility Provision; Thomas Jefferson Middle School unveiled a state-of-the-art broadcast facility on the first day of school; Palm Springs High School also introduced its new wellness center, the 13th one at PSUSD; COD has expanded its $5 textbook rental program through the fall semester, warns students about potential financial aid scams circulating on social media; local healthcare leaders commit $2.9 million to expand COD's nursing program.
Did we miss a noteworthy education story?Raise your hand and send it my way:jennifer.cortez@desertsun.com.
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More: First day jitters, fanfare, ice breakers abound as Palm Springs Unified returns to school
California State University, San Bernardino to host an Instant Admit Day at College of the Desert
Students at College of the Desert who want to transfer to California State University, San Bernardino for the spring semester can attend Instant Admit Day from 9 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, Aug. 28 at COD. Students must schedule an appointment in advance due to limited availability.
CSUSB’s Instant Admit Day offers a streamlined process for transfer students to meet with admissions counselors and evaluators from CSUSB to assess their eligibility for the spring 2025 term. Students will receive an on-the-spot review of their coursework. Once they are deemed eligible, students will receive a "Coyote Pass," ensuring pre-approval or a seat for the semester.
CSUSB and its Palm Desert Campus are now accepting undergraduate applications from first-time, upper-division transfer and returning students for the spring 2025 semester through Sept. 15. Students can apply to any non-impacted major, including pre-psychology and pre-criminal justice. However, nursing, kinesiology, allied health and social work remain impacted majors and are not accepting applications at this time.
A range of financial aid options is available, including a $1,000 grant for newly enrolled students in spring 2025. Spring classes will start in January.
For more information: Visit csusb.edu/outreach-student-recruitment/spring-2025-instant-admit-days
More: CSUSB's Palm Desert Campus Outstanding Graduate shares his unique journey into higher ed
Palm Springs Unified School District to continue to offer free meals to all students through Community Eligibility Provision
For nearly five years, students at Palm Springs Unified School District have received free breakfast, lunch and supper through the Community Eligibility Provision — a program that will continue through the 2024-25 school year.
CEP is a meal service option from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that allows schools and districts in low-income areas to serve free meals without requiring families to submit applications. Instead, schools that CEP are reimbursed using a formula based on the percentage of students eligible for assistance programs.
"So we've been able to great free meals even before (California's Universal Meals) took place (in 2021)," said Sarah Phelps, the district's director of nutrition services. "Oftentimes, families will kind of get confused between the two, so that's why we want to reiterate and encourage them to bring their students in for the meals: everybody does eat for free."
A reimbursable meal requires students to take a complete meal. For example, a student at lunch must choose at least a half-cup of fruit or vegetables along with two other components. If students opt out of certain items, districts can’t claim the meal for reimbursem*nt, but they still provide the food.
"All the kids get to eat free, no matter what. I think it makes the kids feel better about coming and getting meals and not feeling maybe ashamed of what their financial status might be," Phelps said. "That's our big thing is, you know? Put food in kids' bellies."
Coachella Valley Unified School District also participates in the CEP program. Its director of nutrition services, Carlos Murta, noted earlier this summer that school-aged children and their families can benefit from SUN Bucks, a federal food program that provides $120 per child over the summer. While eligible families usually need to apply, some families who moved, changed addresses or enrolled their children in preschool last year might not have been automatically included in the SUN Bucks program.
Families needing to sign up can get assistance by calling the SUN Bucks helpline at 877-328-9677. Automated support is available 24/7, and live agents are available from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday. Families must apply for SUN Bucks benefits by Saturday, Aug. 31.
Thomas Jefferson Middle School unveils broadcast center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony
Desert Sands Unified School District marked the start of the school year with back-to-school celebrations on Tuesday, Aug. 20 for the first day of school, but students at Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Indio had an extra reason to cheer: the unveiling of a state-of-the-art broadcast facility designed to nurture their passion for journalism and storytelling.
The Bianca Rae Foundation led and largely funded the effort, in partnership with the Desert Sands Educational Foundation, to upgrade a previously jerry-rigged broadcast desk, with strong support from the community.
A video montage posted on Instagram by the school showed students touring their new space, smiling in awe throughout. Bianca Rae, a former KESQ news anchor and reporter, and Superintendent Kelly May-Vollmar attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, as did other public officials.
"By providing access to modern equipment and resources, we aim to inspire and empower them to pursue their interests in media and journalism," said Francinni Zabata, director of DSEF, in a press release.
Palm Springs High School celebrates grand opening of its wellness center
Thanks to a $25,000 donation from Eisenhower Health, the Foundation for Palm Springs Unified School District has opened a new wellness center at Palm Springs High School. This space offers students a calm environment to unwind, find quiet and seek emotional support with professional counseling.
Last spring, Eisenhower Health also donated $25,000 to the wellness center at Rancho Mirage High School. The new center is the 12th in the district, as the foundation continues its efforts to establish wellness centers at each school site.
More: Palm Springs student receives national recognition for philanthropic efforts
More: Help PSUSD Foundation raise funds for 2,500 pairs of shoes
College of the Desert expands its $5 textbook rental program
Last spring, COD launched its $5 textbook rental program, offering textbooks at its campus bookstores. Since then, the COD Friends of the Library and the Lisa Wendel Foundation have provided donations to extend the program through the fall semester.
Due to limited resources, textbooks are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The following textbooks are available for rent at the Palm Desert Campus library:
- "The Exceptional Child: Inclusion in Early Childhood Education"
- "Discovering Psychology"
- "Development Through the Lifespan"
- "Social Statistics for a Diverse Society"
- "Thinking Critically"
For more information: Visit collegeofthedesert.edu/students/textbook-rental.php
College of the Desert warns students of financial aid scams shared on social media
COD is urging students to be cautious about financial aid advice from viral social media trends while seeking ways to fund their education. Students with concerns or questions should contact COD's financial aid office.
"We want students to know we are always here to support them and should be their primary resource for financial aid information," said Kristin Milligan, director of financial aid, in a press release.
Students who choose to enroll at a California community college, including COD, have until Tuesday, Sept. 3 to submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid application to be eligible to federal and state financial aid.
For more information: Visit collegeofthedesert.edu/students/fin-aid
Healthcare industry leaders commit $2.9 million to expand nurse training programs at College of the Desert
Major healthcare employers including Desert Care Network, Desert Healthcare District & Foundation, Eisenhower Health and the Inland Empire Health Plan will mark the expansion of COD's registered nursing program with a celebration on Tuesday, Aug. 27, following a $2.9 million commitment as part of OneFuture's Healthcare Workforce Leadership Roundtable.
The co-investment will increase the 2024-25 nursing cohort by 70 students, cover program costs, expand the skills lab, fund student scholarships and provide holistic support services to address critical nursing shortages by developing homegrown talent and ensuring successful program completion and workforce transition.
Jennifer Cortez covers education in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at jennifer.cortez@desertsun.com.
