Did Gonzalez Turn Her Back on CVUSD Students?

Respected Music Educator Accuses Bea Gonzalez of Not Offering Appropriate After-school Classes to CVUSD Students

COACHELLA — An Indio business owner told Uken Report that he is considering a companion sign to a high-profile billboard targeting Bea Gonzalez that states, “Coachella Valley School District, ‘Get rid of her’ and ‘Why did she lie to us?’

A high-profile billboard on Indian Canyon currently bears a photo of College of the Desert Area 2 Trustee Gonzalez could soon have a fraternal twin. The original sign states, “Shame on you for voting against COD students!”

Jim Little, president and CEO of the Indio-based Music Educational Services, provides after-school programs and lessons in band, marching band, drumming, vocal and more. His company offers after-school programming in 12 elementary schools in the Desert Sands Unified School District and 10 elementary schools in the Hemet Unified School District. He used to offer programs for CVUSD students from roughly 2003 to until 2006 or 2007 when the District eliminated after-school programs.

“The past three years, we’ve probably had around 4,000 kids a year in our after-school grant programs,” Little said. “We’ve even done virtual classes up in Lamar, Calif.”

His business also helps with after-school programming at Boys and Girls Clubs.

Little said when CVUSD reintroduced after-school programming, he reached out to Gonzalez, Director of Expanded Learning. He said she would never return his phone calls despite CVUSD principals calling him to request his programs.

“She ghosted us,” Little said.

In the spring, he happened to run into Gonzalez at a hockey game and reminded her that she had never gotten back to him, Little said.

“Oh, no, no, no, no, it’s too late now, but let’s talk next month,” Little recalled her saying. “So, we could put some things together for the next year or maybe even the summer.”

He says he called and never got a response.

“How many times can you leave a message for her before they call the police on me for stalking or something?” Little asked rhetorically.

Superintendent Dr. Frances Esparza, who has been responsive and cooperative with Uken Report, said she has contacted Gonzalez to request information about the services offered. The proposal was considered but it was not in the best interest of the district at the time., Esparaza said,

“We do have an amazing Drumline Program offered by our EXLP Program,” she said. “The students are invited to participate in several events including holiday parades.”

“We just do a lot of different things, but our passion, of course, is our teaching,” Little said. “That’s what it’s all about for all of us. It’s not about the money for us, It’s about the kids. And we’ve just been so upset. I mean, we were even thinking, well, maybe we could lobby. We could go to a school board meeting, create a fuss, or whatever, and then we said, ‘No, it’s just not worth it.’ I mean, Bea Gonzalez is what it is.”

On Tuesday, when Little read that Gonzalez has rammed through an 11th-hour plan to spend a $10.1 million grant on reams of paper and thousands of pencils, Firebirds tickets and tickets to Knotts Berry Farm, he was irate.

“There is something strange going on,” said Little, who has operated his business for 25 years. “She turns around and buys paper clips and file folders,” he said. “What I don’t understand is how could their board buy into what she said that was for, how is that servicing and serving the kids in Expanded Learning Opportunities Program programs?”

Expanded Learning Opportunities (ELO) are academic and learning programs that exist outside of regular school hours, like after school and during summer. Examples of these programs include tutoring programs, after school clubs, and summer camp, to name a few.

Following are some video highlights from Music Educational Services after-school programs.