Coachella Valley Trustees Shelve AI Contract, Send Plan Back to Policy

Coachella Valley Unified's board declined to hire a consultant for a district artificial intelligence plan on Oct. 8, 2026. A motion to approve the Designing Schools Inc. contract died without a second, and trustees voted 4-1 to route AI back through the board's policy process. In the same meeting, trustees rejected a virtual reality pilot and a contested personnel report.

• AI consultant contract stalls; plan sent to policy process on 4-1 vote

• Free RESCUE asthma inhaler program gains backing from the board president after advocates cite a yearlong delay

• Suspensions fall to 665, but trustees and parents press on bullying, disparities and restorative justice cuts

• Personnel report fails after a trustee alleges dual roles and the board president says the employee is his son

• Prisms Reality VR pilot fails 3-2 amid deficit and spending objections

AI Plan Hits the Brakes

The basics: Staff proposed a yearlong "human-centered AI readiness" plan with consultant Designing Schools Inc. The plan was tied to Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) Goals 1, 3 and 4. It would build a district AI policy through stakeholder "power circles" with public comment.

Why it matters: The board has gone on record against data centers. Staff are pushing AI literacy. Wednesday's vote keeps that tension inside the board's own policy committee rather than with a paid outside firm.

Where things stand: Director of MTSS Academics Elementary Tara Hinchin framed the effort around the district's vision and promised a progress report. "In June, we'll come back to you with our year 1 results and a plan for year 2," said Hinchin. When trustees asked about process, she stressed collaboration: "We're gonna develop it together." She added that Desert Sands Unified already works with the same firm.

Trustee Alena Callimanis argued that students will use AI regardless and need guardrails and critical-thinking skills. "I think it's really important to realize we're putting together an AI policy, and that's really important," said Callimanis. Other trustees asked how AI would square with the district's limits on phones.

The other side: Trustee Valerie Garcia, the board's vice president, opposed AI on environmental, job, mental health and cognitive grounds. She tied her opposition directly to the board's data center stance.

"I don't think anyone's water or environment is worth the use of AI," said Garcia. She later added, "I don't think in practice this is actually safe or healthy for our students at all," and cited Los Angeles Unified. Garcia also said the policy committee had already studied neighboring districts' policies.

Public commenter Ash urged the board to reject the initiative, citing environmental and cognitive harms and the board's position on data centers.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Callimanis moved to approve the agreement, but the motion died for lack of a second. Trustee Joey Acuña Jr. then moved to send the matter back to the policy process, seconded by Trustee Jocelyn Vargas. The motion passed (For: 4 — Tortez, Acuña, Callimanis, Vargas; Against: 1 — Garcia; Absent: 2 — Arredondo, Gonzalez). Garcia voted no because she opposes the AI plan outright.

The result delays any paid consultant engagement. Staff's June timeline is now uncertain, and policy authorship stays with trustees.

A related item moved forward. Two adult education AI courses, pulled from consent as item K2, passed (For: 3 — Tortez, Callimanis, Vargas; Against: 1 — Garcia). Adult education enrollment was cited as the reason for the courses. Acuña seconded the motion, but his vote was not recorded.

What's next: The AI question returns to the policy committee. No date was announced.

Asthma Advocates Push RESCUE Over the Line

Why it matters: The RESCUE program provides free albuterol inhalers, spacers and staff training. It reaches a region where speakers linked high asthma rates to Salton Sea dust and other pollution sources. Palm Springs Unified and Desert Sands Unified already use it.

Where things stand: John Luna, policy and program coordinator for the Foundation for Asthma and Allergy Impact, said implementation in Coachella Valley Unified has stalled for more than a year. The holdup is board approval of a health policy change. He asked for a clear timeline.

Cecilia Lemus, program coordinator with Coachella Incorporated, urged trustees to agendize and approve the program. She cited the Salton Sea, pesticides and Desert View Power.

During board reports, trustees picked up the call. "I think it's got to be brought to the agenda to us sooner rather than later," said Callimanis. Garcia also asked for the item to be agendized.

Board President Thomas Tortez went further. "And I agree, RESCUE is something that we are going to implement because air quality is bad here," said Tortez. He also offered tribal air-monitoring data.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: No vote was taken. The board president's statement and requests from two trustees signal that a policy change is likely coming. If approved, students with asthma and the school staff trained to respond would benefit, at no cost to the district.

What's next: Watch for the health policy change on an upcoming agenda.

Suspensions Drop, Pressure Points Remain

The basics: Director of Student Support Services Julissa Hernandez presented 2025-26 data. SARB refers to the School Attendance Review Board, which handles chronic absence cases.

Where things stand: Suspensions fell from 932 in 2021-22 to 665 last school year. Staff recommended 16 expulsions, and six were carried out. The district held 1,132 site attendance meetings, made 344 SARB referrals and 87 court referrals, and served 1,702 students with mental health supports.

Hernandez said state Education Code Section 48900 requires other means of correction before many suspensions. She was blunt about capacity. "A lot of what we had prepared and implemented unfortunately had to go away due to our financial situation," said Hernandez, referring to restorative practices. Three staff cohorts will be trained through a grant.

Trustee Vargas asked whether specific student groups are overrepresented in suspensions. Tortez cited dashboard rates for African American, American Indian and long-term English learner students.

Other trustee questions covered several gaps:
- Bullying reports: Trustees asked about non-anonymous reporting. Staff said the existing platform allows it.
- Homeless students: A trustee proposed pilot housing. Hernandez said housing is not a resource made available to the district.
- Partnerships: Trustees urged stronger college partnerships.

The other side: Public commenter Loretta Perez called for consequences beyond suspension. She urged in-school suspension, mental health access, and audits and documentation of incidents. Tortez said reported bullying may be undercounted.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: This was an informational item, so no vote was taken. Families of students who are bullied, along with groups flagged on the dashboard, have the most at stake. Bullying policy 5131.2 is under review.

Personnel Report Fails After Dual-Role Allegation

Where things stand: Garcia pulled item M2, a classified personnel report covering extra services. She said a July item lacked caveats and that one employee had served as both a paraeducator and a site lead in the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELO-P), the state-funded after-school program. "That sounds like fraud to me," said Garcia.

The other side: Staff and Superintendent Frances Esparza disputed the claim. They said the employee worked consecutive after-school shifts at two sites because a site lead position was vacant. They also said the CSEA contract requires the district to list eligible employees and offer work by seniority. The new timekeeping system flags overlapping pay.

Tortez then disclosed a personal stake. "This is my son they're talking about," said Tortez, who predicted continued no votes on the item.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The recorded tally showed four yes votes (Tortez, Acuña, Callimanis, Vargas), one no (Garcia) and two absent (Arredondo, Gonzalez). The chair nonetheless declared there was no majority and that the motion did not carry. The discrepancy is unexplained, and the official minutes should be checked.

The failure delays extra-service assignments for classified staff. It also raises questions about payroll oversight and conflict-of-interest handling.

Earlier, before the agenda was approved, Human Resources corrected omitted names and a sentence in the personnel reports. Garcia also flagged mismatched online versions. The agenda passed (For: 6; Against: 0; Absent: 1 — Gonzalez).

Tech Spending Under the Microscope

Where things stand: Garcia pulled item K6, an agreement with Prisms Reality for a VR headset pilot. "I just would prefer our money to go elsewhere," said Garcia.

Callimanis defended the pilot. "I've seen it in use with the students, and I've seen that it's really effective to help with critical thinking," she said.

The other side: Public commenters Ash and Perez urged denial, citing a $107,000 cost and needs such as air conditioning and Wi-Fi. "These headsets aren't an urgent need," said Ash.

Perez also raised broader spending concerns:
- Site council fees: She alleged school site councils are being told to pay $6,000 to Gary Soto and asked who directed it.
- Bus air conditioning: She said buses serving Oasis lack working AC in 105-110 degree October heat.
- Duplicate devices: She opposed buying Dell computers while Apple contracts exist.

No staff response to these claims was recorded. Tortez later said he would review how the budget is spent.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The VR pilot drew three yes votes (Tortez, Acuña, Callimanis) and two no votes (Garcia, Vargas), with Arredondo and Gonzalez absent. The chair declared the motion failed. A separate CDWG agreement for 2026-27 passed 5-0 with no recorded discussion.

Minor Items

• School Lunch Week: Resolution 2627-07 proclaims Oct. 12-16 National School Lunch Week (5-0). Garcia asked for easier menu access.

• Free meals: Nutrition Services Director Alex Pantoja said the district provides free breakfast and lunch to all students.

• Closed session: Trustees appointed three administrators, approved a settlement and denied late claims, reported as unanimous.

• Instructional materials: Resolution 2026-2703 certifying compliance passed 4-0; the consent calendar passed 5-0.

• Workload complaints: Instructional media assistant Diana Holguin and speaker Chris Carrera alleged overloaded staff and unanswered complaints. "Please see and hear your district librarians, please," said Holguin.

• Immigration concerns: Garcia described a mother detained near a school. Vargas thanked staff for sharing know-your-rights information.

Looking Ahead

The policy committee takes up AI, RESCUE awaits agendization, and bullying policy 5131.2 remains under review. Tortez urged residents to vote in the Nov. 3 election.