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Board declines memorandum with Riverside University Health System after public concerns
Summary
The board voted 1–4 against approving a memorandum of understanding with Riverside University Health System (RUHS) intended to expand behavioral‑health services; trustees and community members raised concerns about scope, parental notification and overlaps with a prior declined grant.
The Temecula Valley Unified School District Board of Education voted Aug. 26 to reject a memorandum of understanding with Riverside University Health System (RUHS) that would have expanded on‑site behavioral‑health services for students.
What happened: Item 46, the proposed MOU with RUHS, was discussed at the consent‑items portion of the meeting after public comment raised questions about whether the MOU duplicated or re‑introduced services the board had previously declined when it rejected a Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI) grant. Several trustees and members of the public expressed concern about parental notification, whether students could self‑refer, and what services RUHS might provide beyond substance‑use prevention.
Board vote: The motion to approve the MOU was made and seconded during the consent vote. The board voted 1–4 against approval; the meeting transcript records one affirmative vote and four opposing votes, and the board chair announced the motion failed 4 to 1.
Public concerns and board discussion Commenters urged caution about any program that might allow students to self‑refer for services without parental notice. One public speaker, a long‑time community member, supported proactive drug‑abuse prevention but said the MOU needed clearer limits on who may refer students and what referrals could include. Trustee discussion identified inconsistencies between the MOU language and earlier board decisions to decline CYBHI funding; trustees said they wanted a narrower, more specific scope focused on substance‑use prevention rather than broader mental‑health services that could touch sensitive areas.
Next steps With the MOU defeated, district staff will not execute the RUHS agreement as presented. Board members asked staff to return revised materials if and when an agreement that addresses the specific parental‑notification and scope concerns is developed.
