Riverside Unified staff presented an initial facilities‑optimization plan to the board on July 26 intended to rebalance student enrollment, create room for program expansion and respond to changing demographic patterns.

Assistant Superintendent for Facilities said the plan is a starting point designed to align attendance boundaries with current and projected enrollment, reduce reliance on portable classrooms at overcrowded sites, and create capacity for specialized program spaces such as music and arts. Staff emphasized no decisions have been made and that the presentation begins a public process that will include in‑person workshops, surveys, and stakeholder meetings.

Board members and public commenters raised concerns about the prospect of school closures, the impact on families who chose homes near a school, and transportation implications if attendance boundaries shift. A public speaker asked the board to be candid about the potential for closures when enrollment shifts occur; staff confirmed closure is among possible outcomes in some scenarios if capacity is significantly reduced across the district.

Staff outlined a proposed timeline for community engagement, including workshops and meetings in July, September and subsequent months, and said they will present refined proposals to the board after community input and additional analysis. The district recommended continued outreach, anonymous surveys and targeted meetings with affected school communities.

Board members said the timeline was ambitious but appropriate to allow adequate community review and reiterated that any boundary changes or closures would be brought back to the board for formal action after public engagement and analysis.