Rialto Unified Taps Dr. Alejandro Alvarez as Superintendent
Rialto, CA — Community pushback over the superintendent hiring process dominated the Rialto Unified SchoolDistrict Board of Education meeting on Nov. 12, where parents, activists and Bassett Unified community members urged the board to reject the proposed contract for incoming Superintendent Alejandro Alvarez.
The regular meeting, held at the Dr. John R. Kazalunas Education Center, moved through procedural items before an extended and, at times, heated public comment period that stretched across the evening session.
While the agenda included recognitions, student presentations and a slate of routine approvals, it was the consideration of an employment agreement for Alvarez that galvanized residents from inside and outside Rialto.
Board President Dr. Stephanie Lewis opened the meeting by calling the session to order followed by the board’s vote to enter closed session.
Speakers were invited to comment on closed-session items, and several immediately addressed concerns about the superintendent search process, claiming “a lack of transparency and accountability” and criticizing the timing of recent special meetings.
The criticism escalated as speakers questioned whether the district had properly vetted Alvarez.
Two speakers from Bassett Unified, where Alvarez previously served as superintendent, traveled to Rialto to oppose his appointment.
Samuel Vasquez, a Bassett community advocate, cited environmental and governance controversies he said occurred under Alvarez’s leadership.
He referenced high lead levels discovered at Van Wig Elementary School in La Puente. “This was a public health emergency involving preschool children,” Vasquez said. “A superintendent who cannot handle a lead contamination emergency is not a superintendent who can be trusted with the health and safety of Rialto’s almost 24,000 students.”
Vasquez also accused Alvarez of “stalling” and “stonewalling” during a fiscal health risk analysis process required by the Los Angeles County Office of Education, claiming that essential documents “simply did not exist.”
Another Bassett speaker said he had witnessed “a pattern of concealment,” adding that Alvarez “cut off parents frompublic comments during public meetings,” behavior he argued Rialto should reject as it “moves forward and moves our students into success and accountability.”
Rialto parents echoed those concerns.
One parent, Claudia, speaking through a district translator, said families felt excluded from the hiring process.
“Parents should be the ones given the opportunity to select the superintendent,” she said, adding that she was representing 18 parents who “do not feel appreciated” by the district.
She urged the board to delay any decision on the contract.
The tension stood in contrast with the celebratory student presentations earlier in the evening, including reports from the District Student Advisory Committee and performances in honor of Native American Heritage Month.
Students highlighted academic achievements, college readiness efforts and campus arts activities across RialtoHigh School, Eisenhower High School, Carter High School and Milor High School.
At Rialto High, ASB Vice President Levan Wikap reported that 162 students “qualified for the state seal of biliteracy,”while Eisenhower student Valeria Montes shared that seniors were “hard at work on their Cal State and UC applications.”
Despite the full agenda, many attendees remained focused on the superintendent vote.
The agenda indicated trustees would consider the contract after an oral summary of salary and benefits, as required by state law.
The meeting adjourned with the next regular board meeting scheduled for Dec. 10.
