For City Council Meeting October 14, 2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
APPROVAL: Tanya Williams, City Manager
FROM: Tim Sullivan, Assistant City Manager
Title
Request City Council to: (1) Approve an Affiliation Agreement with San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools and the East Valley Special Education Local Plan Area for a Transition Partnership Program, and (2) Authorize the City Manager or Their Designee to Execute all Related Documents.
Body
RECOMMENDED
Staff recommends the City Council:
1) Enter into an Agreement with San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools and the East Valley Special Education Local Plan Area for a Transition Partnership Program; and
2) Authorize the City Manager or their designee to execute all related documents.
BACKGROUND
The East Valley Special Education Local Plan Area (“SELPA”) co-sponsors the Transition Partnership Program (“TPP”) to assist students with disabilities in overcoming challenges as they transition from high school to post-secondary education or to gain meaningful employment. Each student in the TPP is assigned to a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor and Transition Case Technician to work alongside them until the student is successfully placed in employment. The TPP works closely alongside employers and monitors students within the program to match them with suitable job sites and provide support services to employers, ensuring a perfect employee fit.
Students in the TPP are from several local school districts, including the Rialto Unified School District, the Colton Joint Unified School District, and the Redlands Unified School District. The focus of this program is on helping high school juniors, seniors, and Adult Transition Program Participants to become successful employees.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION
The East Valley SELPA, together with the California State Department of Vocational Rehabilitation (DOR), assists students and young adults with disabilities to overcome barriers to, as well as obtain, meaningful employment. This program is funded and administered through the California Department of Education and works with employers to quickly fill any entry-level positions from their pool of qualified and eager participants. The TPP provides employees with up to 120 hours at no cost to the City.
On September 3, 2025, City Staff and Mayor Joe Baca met with the representatives from the East Valley SELPA as well as from the Rialto Unified School District to discuss the goals, outcomes, and parameters of this program. Students whose vocational interests and goals align with those of individual departments will be placed within the City of Rialto, undertaking project-based work or temporary assignments (up to 120 hours) that will contribute to their growth and development. The Transition Case Technician and Rehabilitation Counselor for each student will work closely with the City, as well as conduct frequent check-ins to ensure a perfect fit for all parties involved. The Agreement (Attachment 1) outlines the City’s responsibilities and those of the Superintendent’s office.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
This request is not a Project as defined by Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines. A “Project” means the whole of an action, which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. Pursuant to Section 15378 (b) (5) a project does not include organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY
This action is consistent with Guiding Principle 3A in the General Plan:
“Our City government will lead by example, and will operate in an open, transparent, and responsible manner that meets the needs of the citizens and is a good place to do business.”
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed the agreement and approved it as to form.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Operating Budget Impact
This program is fully funded through the California State Department of Vacational Rehabilitation Education, and as such, there is no impact to the Operating Budget.
Capital Budget Impact:
This action has no impact on the Capital Budget.