Desert Sands board elects officers, appoints principals and honors longtime staff
December 17, 2025 | Desert Sands Unified, School Districts, California
This article was created by AI summarizing key points discussed. AI makes mistakes, so for full details and context, please refer to the video of the full meeting. Please report any errors so we can fix them. Report an error »
The Desert Sands Unified School District Board held its annual organizational actions at the Dec. 16 meeting and approved several leadership and personnel items.
Trustee Alvarez was elected board president by unanimous vote. The board then approved Dr. Kelly Watson as vice president and Dr. Kelly May Volmer for secretary to the governing board; each motion was seconded and carried by recorded votes.
Superintendent and staff recognized employees of the month for December: Yanni Salehi (credential analyst, personnel services), Allison Brown (TK teacher, Lincoln Elementary), and Nicole Aguirre (principal, Page Middle School). The board also announced new management appointments: Craig Christiansen, principal at Desert Ridge Academy; Molly Farren, program specialist in student support services; and Dr. Michael Williams, assistant principal at Palm Desert High School.
In closed session the board approved the appointment of Meredith Greenwood as principal of Lincoln Elementary School, and it accepted an expulsion recommendation for case 25-526-6. Personnel announcements included several retirements: Dennis Chavez (28.5 years), Janine Hill (21.5 years), Hector Cisneros (31 years) and Cindy Thomas (39 years); the board expressed appreciation and approved the personnel actions.
No contested nominations or tied votes were recorded for the organizational slate; the board folded these personnel approvals into the consent and closed-session actions noted in the minutes.
Trustee Alvarez was elected board president by unanimous vote. The board then approved Dr. Kelly Watson as vice president and Dr. Kelly May Volmer for secretary to the governing board; each motion was seconded and carried by recorded votes.
Superintendent and staff recognized employees of the month for December: Yanni Salehi (credential analyst, personnel services), Allison Brown (TK teacher, Lincoln Elementary), and Nicole Aguirre (principal, Page Middle School). The board also announced new management appointments: Craig Christiansen, principal at Desert Ridge Academy; Molly Farren, program specialist in student support services; and Dr. Michael Williams, assistant principal at Palm Desert High School.
In closed session the board approved the appointment of Meredith Greenwood as principal of Lincoln Elementary School, and it accepted an expulsion recommendation for case 25-526-6. Personnel announcements included several retirements: Dennis Chavez (28.5 years), Janine Hill (21.5 years), Hector Cisneros (31 years) and Cindy Thomas (39 years); the board expressed appreciation and approved the personnel actions.
No contested nominations or tied votes were recorded for the organizational slate; the board folded these personnel approvals into the consent and closed-session actions noted in the minutes.
View the Full Meeting & All Its Details
This article offers just a summary. Unlock complete video, transcripts, and insights as a Founder Member.
✓
Watch full, unedited meeting videos
✓
Search every word spoken in unlimited transcripts
✓
AI summaries & real-time alerts (all government levels)
✓
Permanent access to expanding government content
30-day money-back guarantee
