Rialto USD board approves appointments, contract increases and multiple program renewals

The Rialto Unified School District Board of Education on Aug. 6 accepted two administrative appointments and approved a series of contracts and program renewals ahead of the Aug. 11 school year start.

The board announced the administrative appointment of Carl Henderson as assistant principal at Rialto High School and Michael Develin as support services manager, both effective Aug. 7, 2025; those actions were reported as unanimous during the meeting’s report out from closed session.

In open session the board approved Amendment No. 1 with John R. Virally Incorporated to provide geotechnical engineering, special inspections and materials testing for the International Healing Garden project. The amendment increases the original contract by $19,674.64 (from $44,137 to $63,811.64). District staff said the project has spent at least $6 million to date, funded in part by $1 million from Sen. Eloise Reyes (via the Department of Natural Resources) and about $2 million from the county supervisor’s office; staff estimated completion by the end of the month.

The board separately approved a package of renewals and program items, by roll call vote as recorded in the meeting: - A renewal with Autism Spectrum Intervention Services and Training (non‑public agency) to provide one‑on‑one and applied behavioral aids effective Aug. 7, 2025–June 30, 2026, not to exceed $800,000. Staff said the vendor rate is $58 per hour (a 40‑hour work week was used in board discussion for cost illustration). - A renewal with Prosolve to provide Quest enrichment across 19 elementary and five middle schools at a cost not to exceed $79,695. - A renewal with Open Arms, providing intensive case management, outreach and supportive housing services for Rialto Unified families, not to exceed $180,000. - A STEM services renewal to support K–16 healthcare pathway deliverables and nutrition study trips, not to exceed $75,000 from grant funds. - Acceptance of the 2025–26 Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education allocation of $269,916 to support CTE program improvements (no cost to the district). - Approval to pay registration fees for 52 teachers to enroll in the Reading and Literacy Authorization program provided by the University of Southern California, not to exceed $260,000.

On the consent calendar, the board approved the warrant/purchase order listing for June 25–July 25, 2025 (E3.1) with Board member Williams recorded as abstaining; the remaining members voted yes. The board also approved a renewal agreement with 365 Events to provide venue and related services for the CTE Gala 2026 at a cost not to exceed $20,000; staff confirmed the fee covers venue, food, decorations, a DJ and a photo booth.

The board adopted Resolution No. 252607 approving an agreement with a vendor listed in the agenda as "Carl's coils and crowns" to provide African‑American female student empowerment services pursuant to Gov. Code §53060, and approved expulsions/reinstatements for the case numbers listed in the agenda. The board recorded roll‑call votes for those actions as indicated in the meeting.

The board also reported personnel actions taken in closed session: approval of a 3‑day unpaid suspension for a classified employee, an unpaid leave for a classified employee (Aug. 25–Dec. 5, 2025), and placement of one classified employee on compulsory leave under Education Code §§45304 and 44940, with direction to staff to issue appropriate legal notices.

The board set its next regular meeting for Aug. 20, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. at the Dr. John Casaluna Educational Center.

Votes at a glance (as recorded during the meeting): - Appointments (Henderson, Develin): unanimous yes. - E3.1 (warrant listing): Williams abstain; Dominguez, Montes, Martinez and Board President Dr. Lewis recorded yes. - E3.7 (365 Events): unanimous yes. - Amendment with John R. Virally Inc. (International Healing Garden): unanimous yes. - Package of renewals and program approvals (Linda Mood Bell amendment; autism services; Prosolve; Open Arms; STEM; Perkins allocation; USC reading program): unanimous yes for each item noted. - F12 resolution and expulsions/reinstatements: unanimous yes.

What the board approved does not itself create immediate programming detail; several agreements reference future deliverables and external funding. The district posted supporting documentation and the warrant listing for public review and noted materials are available upon request from the superintendent’s office.