The Riverside Unified School District board held a public hearing June 26 to accept comments on the preliminary environmental assessment (PEA) equivalent for the future Ofelia Valdez Yeager Eastside Elementary School and then approved related construction and right‑of‑way actions.

Tetra Tech principal geologist Jim Steele presented the PEA‑equivalent findings and the site history. Steele said PlaceWorks and Tetra Tech sampled the site in 2018–2024; combined studies included more than 205 sample locations and roughly 325 laboratory samples. The assessments identified potential concerns including organochlorine pesticides and termiticide residues in soils, lead from lead‑based paint in soils, incidental petroleum hydrocarbon releases from historical automotive uses, and possible polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) near pole‑mounted transformers.

Steele told the board that the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) is overseeing the assessment. The PEA‑equivalent is open for public review through July 2, and DTSC will review comments, identify any data gaps and, if necessary, require a supplemental site investigation. If remediation is required, the work will proceed under DTSC oversight; DTSC must issue a “no further action” letter before the California Department of Education can approve the site for development.

Separately, the board considered bids for early site work and approved a pulled consent item for the Ofelia Valdez Yeager Eastside Elementary (agenda item 11). Assistant Superintendent Orin Williams and facilities staff explained bids were higher than anticipated because the package included significant contingencies to address unknown subsurface conditions — including an eight‑foot grade differential, retaining walls, removal of a former cell‑tower foundation and multiple former structures across the campus. Facilities staff said rebidding could delay work and add roughly $850,000 per month in carrying costs, so they recommended awarding the bids and treating later bid packages with tighter alternates and contingencies.

The board also adopted a resolution authorizing dedication of street right‑of‑way and accepting vacated Park Avenue and adjacent alleys as part of the project, after staff said the city of Riverside collaborated on reconfiguring nearby streets and parking to support the campus and adjacent park.

No members of the public offered comments during the PEA hearing. The board closed the hearing, approved the bids and adopted the right‑of‑way resolution in roll‑call votes.