The Riverside Unified School District Board of Education on Oct. 16 approved a set of motions including a resolution renewing the district's participation in the State's District of Choice transfer program, adoption of a local ordinance, three agreements increasing the district's contribution to employee health benefits and a first reading of a new artificial intelligence board policy.

The board voted to certify 300 district-of-choice seats at each level (elementary, middle and high school) and open the November 1'January 9 transfer window. The district said the 2024'25 district-of-choice enrollment totaled about 1,172 students and that the new resolution establishes the number of spaces the district will accept for the coming year.

Board members also approved three separate agreements to increase the district's annual contribution toward employee health and welfare plans. The packages cover certificated employees represented by the Riverside City Teachers Association (RCTA), classified employees represented by California School Employees Association (CSEA) Chapter 506, and district management staff. The district told the board the combined ongoing fiscal impact is roughly $1.6 million annually, with portions listed as one-time in the public disclosure.

Trustees approved an ordinance (2025/26-01) following a second reading title and waived a full reading, and they approved as a first reading new board policy 0441 on artificial intelligence, establishing principles and a phased pilot for staff and, later, students.

Several items were on the consent calendar and were approved in a single motion after one item (consent item 2, revised policies) was pulled for separate discussion and then approved by the full board.

Votes at a glance
- District of Choice resolution (No. 252627): Motion carried (motion by Dr. Hernandez Alexander; second by Dr. Tweed). Board certified 300 spaces at elementary, middle and high school for the Nov. 1-Jan. 9 window. Outcome: approved.
- Board policy package (consent item 2): Revised board policies were approved after discussion; outcome: approved.
- Ordinance 2025/26-01 (second reading/adoption): Waived full reading and adopted (unanimous vote). Outcome: adopted.
- Artificial intelligence policy, BP 0441 (first reading/consideration for approval): Approved as a first reading; the policy directs phased pilot deployments, staff training and family webinars; outcome: approved (first reading).
- Health and welfare MOUs: District contribution increases approved for RCTA, CSEA Chapter 506, and management employees; outcome: approved (five-zero votes shown in the meeting).

What the board said
Presenters described the district-of-choice program history and data on transfers from neighboring districts and noted the program's statutory requirements. District staff also explained the AI policy aligns to California School Boards Association recommendations and described staff training (1,600+ staff completed asynchronous AI training) and planned student pilots beginning with high school in November.

Next steps
The district said it will run the district-of-choice application window Nov. 1-Jan. 9 and hold lotteries where applications exceed spaces. The AI policy will continue through pilot phases, with further board discussion expected when student access is expanded. Health-benefit changes will be processed through negotiated agreements and posted in disclosures provided to the county.

Ending
The board handled the set of routine and non-routine approvals in the meeting'part of the district's fall business cycle.