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Parents and city leaders press Riverside Unified over UCR STEM center and Riverside STEM Academy facilities
Summary
Dozens of parents, advocacy groups and elected officials urged RUSD to fix aging facilities at Riverside STEM Academy and opposed a proposed STEM education center on UCR land near North High School; speakers cited Measure O priorities, CEQA concerns and asked the board for a public forum after legal processes conclude.
A broad group of parents, community advocates, elected officials and students used public comment at the April 17 Riverside Unified board meeting to demand upgrades at Riverside STEM Academy and to press the district over a proposed STEM education center on University of California, Riverside property.
Parents and community members described Riverside STEM Academy’s campus as lacking a gym, science labs, a library and adequate restrooms and commons space. “RSA does not have a gym. It does not have science labs. It does not have a library,” said Vanessa Rogers, who urged the board to add the campus to the district’s Measure O priority list and to address inequities between campuses.
Several speakers said the board’s handling of the optional ground lease and related agreements with UCR had lacked timely public discussion; some urged the board to rescind the option or halt the process. Councilmember Clarissa Cervantes and a representative for State Senator Sabrina Cervantes submitted letters opposing building on UCR property and urged the board to reconsider the project’s location and equity implications.
Board members said the item required care because UCR is the lead agency for the site and certain legal processes (including CEQA review) were ongoing; President Lee and Trustee Hernandez Alexander said they plan to hold a public discussion once those legal and administrative steps permit public consideration. The board reported a prior motion to terminate the option and lease discussions did not pass in closed session earlier in the afternoon.
Community groups signaled they will pursue further public and administrative appeals if the Regents or other agencies proceed without broader local input. The district did not take formal action on the project at this meeting.
What’s next: Trustees pledged a future open discussion tied to the state/regents timeline and said the public will have an opportunity to weigh in again; community groups signaled they will continue to mobilize publicly and to file written opposition.
