Rialto Unified board approves one-year auditing contract with Christy White after debate over RFP scoring

The Rialto Unified School District board on April 8 approved a one-year contract for district financial auditing services with Christy White Inc., amending a staff recommendation for a multi-year award so the item could be reviewed again next year.

Staff had solicited proposals and recommended Christy White Inc.; several board members questioned why a different, higher-scoring firm had not been chosen. Board member Dr. Lewis expressed concern that the district was moving to a firm that scored lower on the RFP than a national firm the district had used previously: “So how do we go with the lesser one when everybody else wants the best?” she asked during discussion, urging attention to capacity and continuity.

Superintendent Dr. Alejandra Alvarez and other board members replied that staff had vetted the proposals and recommended Christy White and that postponing selection risked the county naming an auditor for the district if the board missed the county deadline. “If we don’t hurry up and select somebody the county’s going to select for us,” Dr. Alvarez said.

To give the board time to review the RFP rubric and for staff to provide additional documentation about scoring and firm capacity, a motion to limit the award to a single fiscal year passed by roll call vote: Dr. Lewis voted no; Board Member Dominguez, Clerk Williams, Vice President Montes and Board President Martinez voted yes. The one-year contract covers 2025–26 at $60,000 to be paid from the general fund; staff said per-year pricing for subsequent years was included in the proposal but the board limited the initial award to one year to allow further review.

Next steps: staff will finalize the one-year contract with Christy White Inc., provide the board additional documentation about the RFP scoring and firm capacity, and return with a recommendation for subsequent years before extending the engagement.