The Riverside Unified School District board voted June 26 to approve a one‑year second amendment to the district’s memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the City of Riverside covering school crossing‑guard services.

School staff explained the amendment sets a temporary cost‑share for the 2025–26 year at 45% city and 55% Riverside Unified; the district’s share was presented as about $753,000 and includes county locations rolled into the agreement. The amendment covers locations inside city boundaries plus two new schools and is intended to buy time for the district, the city and neighboring Alvord Unified to negotiate a longer agreement.

Presenter Miss DePriese summarized the 2019 phased cost‑sharing model (which moved from a city‑heavy share to a 50/50 split) and said the city had proposed several cost‑sharing scenarios. She said the city council adopted a short‑term arrangement to lower the proposed share and extend coverage for one year while the parties meet to pursue a longer‑term agreement.

Several trustees expressed reservations. Dr. Tweed said student safety is not negotiable but warned the district must resist taking on municipal responsibilities without clear justification: “Every dollar we spend on municipal responsibilities is a dollar we're not spending on our students,” he said. Trustee Kinnear and others urged continued negotiations and asked that the board participate directly in talks, with invitations to city council members so both sides can find longer‑term, mutual terms.

Public commenter Miss Saar told the board she had attended the city meeting and said the city’s eventual aim is to have school districts pay for all crossing guards; she urged the district to seek the best possible terms.

Board members voted to approve the one‑year second amendment to the MOU, with a motion from Trustee Kinnear and a second from Dr. Tweed. Staff said meetings are already scheduled for July, September and October to negotiate longer terms and return a recommended multi‑year agreement for board consideration.