Union president questions Rialto Unified’s budgeting after speakers point to large reserves

Toby Brinker, identified at the meeting as president of the teachers’ union, told the Rialto Unified School District Board of Education on Feb. 12 that the district has accumulated large operating reserves and urged the board to explain spending choices and vacancies.

Brinker said, “El dinero que Realto recibe cada año tiene como intención de emplearlo a los estudiantes,” and asserted the district has “como 250000000 de dólares de sobrantes con un promedio de 25000000 de dólares al año.” He told the board that persistent budget surpluses over a decade merit scrutiny rather than repeated explanations that funds are unavailable for pay increases or filling vacancies.

At public comment Brinker also raised specific line-item concerns, saying the district had roughly “75000000 de dólares en libros y útiles” in inventory and contesting reported spending patterns. He said prior years’ allocations and unfilled vacancies — including special-education positions — warranted more detailed questioning by the board during closed-session budget discussions on negotiation strategy. Brinker said the money he described “is for the students who are studying here today.”

Other speakers complained about unstaffed positions and reliance on substitutes. Several urged the board to ask more detailed questions during the closed-session budget and negotiation discussion that followed public comment.

The board subsequently moved into closed session to address personnel and negotiation matters under state law. When the board returned to open session, it stated there was no reportable action from closed session.

The comments made at the Feb. 12 meeting reflect community concern about how district reserves are budgeted and used, and about whether funding is reaching classrooms and filling vacant positions.