EL CHICANo Weekly
Vol 63, NO. 23
March 12, 2026
Best Buddies Prom for Students With Intellectual Disabilities Ends With Orange Show Ticket Sale Donation
IECN.com
Riverside Celebrates Being a Blue Zones Project Approved Worksite Pg. 3
PHOTO MANNY SANDOVAL Students from across San Bernardino County Schools walked through the NOS doors and beelined to the dance floor.
By Manny Sandoval
H
undreds of students with intellectual disabilities from across San Bernardino County filled the dance floor at the National Orange Show on March 6 as the annual Best Buddies Prom returned for a night centered on friendship, inclusion and belonging. The most emotional moment of the evening came when National Orange Show CEO Sheri Raborn stepped onto the stage
Preston Elementary’s David Yang Earns Statewide Honor for Excellence in Inclusive Leadership
and announced that the fairgrounds would donate every dollar from ticket sales back to Best Buddies’ Inland Empire chapter.
(who passed away in 2012)." Raborn also said the National Orange Show is committed to hosting the event for years to come.
"This year, the NOS is going to donate 100% of the Prom ticket revenue received to host the Prom at the National Orange Show back to the Best Buddies Inland Empire Chapter to use as they see fit.
The announcement drew cheers and tears from advisors, parents and students gathered inside the event hall — a powerful show of support for a program dedicated to building friendships between students with and without intellectual disabilities. Founded in 1987 by Anthony Kennedy
That's the least we can do for everything you've done to honor both Dan Jimenez (former NOS CEO) and his daughter Joy
Best Buddies Prom, Cont. on next pg.
Rialto Unified Pushes Students-First, Fiscal Stability, as Teachers Union Rejects a 3 Percent Raise By Manny Sandoval
A
s the largest employer in the City of Rialto, Rialto Unified School District, with over 3,787 employees responded to its teacher/classified unions, with a student-first approach, citing a three percent raise is sound judgment during challenging times to remain fiscally solvent; an approach that the District said will save all staff jobs without sacrificing student programs and keeping health benefits free for its employees.
Pg. 4
Gov. Candidate Betty Yee: Public Health Emergency Declaration Needed in Inland Empire Pg. 5
Inland Empire Community Newspapers Office: (909) 381-9898 Editorial: iecn1@mac.com Advertising: iecn1@mac.com Legals : iecnlegals@gmail.com
PHOTO MANNY SANDOVAL The prom was held from 6 - 10 PM and the dancefloor was full the entire time, except a 30-minute window where students enjoyed meals prepared by the Corner Bakery, who donated 800 meals.
PHOTO MANNY SANDOVAL Rialto Unified School District is located at 182 East Walnut Ave., Rialto.
The District’s top officials responded after a paid editorial by the Rialto Education Association (REA, teachers’ union) was published on last week’s front page of the Rialto Record and shared on social media. The one-and-a-halfpage editorial supplied thoughts from Tobin Brinker, REA president, with the assistance of California School Employees Association (CSEA) classified union president Christina Acosta. The classified union is asking for 3.75 percent, while the district holds at 3 percent for both bar-
gaining units. The sponsored editorial piece reflecting the union’s perspective during negotiations, which has now, according to REA, reached impasse. Brinker stated, “We have been negotiating with the school district for our contract for almost a year now. Since we first sunshined our proposals, the district has drawn a hard line at a 3% salary increase. We believe teachers should be paid 5%.”... He added, “When districts get money, it's meant to be for the kids who are here right now. What we’ve discovered is that Rialto is not using that money on the kids who are here right now.” The District’s Deputy Superintendent Rhea McIver Gibbs, who has been in the district for 32 years, refuted Brinker's claims. “The district resources are being used to support students every day through instruction, programs, and services. We have no-cost programs, which is a testament to our commitment to our students. RUSD Raise, cont. next pg.