Rialto board approves multiple contracts, technology purchases and interim budget report

At its meeting Thursday the Rialto Unified Board of Education approved a series of procurement and capital items, including contracts for construction work, technology acquisitions and software renewals, and it accepted the district's first interim financial report for fiscal year 2024–25.

Among the approved items were: awarding a concrete contract at Hugh Banks Elementary to Corners Construction Service for $900,000; authorization to use a state multiple-award contract (Converse One) to purchase Chromebooks and related services; renewal of SDL (Trados Studio) for district translation and interpretation work; and various amendments and change orders for ongoing campus projects including Eisenhower building construction and modular units for a healing garden project. District project staff said a large Eisenhower campus project remains under construction with projected increased costs and that some work already authorized was to reimburse previously incurred project costs.

Trustees pressed staff for clearer agenda language about specific technology items and for detailed cost breakdowns on larger capital amendments. On the budget front, finance staff presented the first interim financial report and noted that to meet a 3% reserve target the district would need to identify roughly $21 million in reductions unless state aid changes; final projections will be revisited in January and May.

All listed procurement and budget motions were approved by roll-call where recorded. Staff said purchases from state multiple-award contracts (CMAS) provide flexibility and pricing advantages, and that many capital projects are funded from general obligation bonds and capital funds described in the agenda.