W e e k l y RIALTO RECORD
Vol 24, NO. 25
January 22, 2026
Rialto USD Welcomes Superintendent Alejandro Álvarez as 150 Pack Meet-And-Greet Led by Students and Civic Leaders
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San Bernardino County Library, First 5 Expand “1000 Books Before Kinder” to Boost Early Literacy Countywide Pg. 3
PHOTOS MANNY SANDOVAL Superintendent Dr. Alejandro Álvarez and the RUSD Board of Education recognize Rialto High School Culinary Arts students for their vital role in the Jan. 14 Superintendent Meet & Greet at the Bistro Cafe. Each student was awarded a commemorative pin by Dr. Álvarez to celebrate the high-caliber hospitality and vocational training being mastered under the guidance of Chef Melissa Calvanico.
By Manny Sandoval
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miles, handshakes, and hopeful conversations filled the Bistro Cafe as Rialto Unified School District families, staff, and local and regional civic and business leaders gathered to welcome the District’s new Superintendent, Dr. Alejandro Álvarez, at the official Superintendent Meet and Greet. Spearheaded and hosted by the District’s
Board of Education, the event brought together families, students, staff, and community leaders for an evening of connection and celebration. On January 14, more than 150 attendees filled the Bistro Cafe at the Cesar Chavez/Dolores Huerta Center for Education on Palm Avenue, eager to introduce themselves, share their ideas and hopes for the District, and begin building relationships with Rialto USD’s new school
leader. Board members formally introduced Dr. Álvarez to the community, expressing their enthusiasm and confidence in his leadership. They shared that, after an extensive search process, Dr. Álvarez stood out as the clear top choice for the District. Each offered remarks underscoring the District’s commitment to student success and the collaborative spirit that guided the superintendent search. Rialto USD cont. on next pg.
San Bernardino Council Receives Navigation Center Update; City With 40% of County Homeless Faces Dec. 31 Deadline
HPV Testing Via Easy Self-Collection Now Available to Patients at Planned Parenthood San Bernardino Pg. 5
PHOTOS MANNY SANDOVAL (Left) An unsheltered man sits beside a tent during San Bernardino County’s point-in-time count; (right) the San Bernardino City Council meets Jan. 15 to review plans and costs for the 200-bed SB HOPE Campus Navigation Center.
Riverside Rejects $20.1M Homekey+ Grant, Halting 114Unit Permanent Supportive Housing Project Pg. 8 Inland Empire Community Newspapers Office: (909) 381-9898 Editorial: iecn1@mac.com Advertising: iecn1@mac.com Legals : iecnlegals@gmail.com
By Manny Sandoval
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t a special San Bernardino City Council meeting on Jan. 15, Deputy Director of Housing & Homelessness Cassandra Searcy walked councilmembers through what she called the city’s “current homeless landscape,” then outlined next steps for the 200-bed SB HOPE Campus Navigation Center and a slate of city-funded initiatives intended to move people from street outreach to interim shelter and, ultimately, housing. “Not to sound redundant, but our city does continue to have the highest concen-
tration of homeless people in the county,” Searcy said. “We have nearly 40% of the county’s homeless that reside in our streets.” Searcy cited the 2025 point-in-time count showing 1,535 unhoused people in San Bernardino, up from 1,417 in 2024 — an 8% increase — but warned the tally does not reflect what staff and residents see daily. “You can drive around the street and see that that number is not accurate,” she said. “Experts will tell you you should probably take your point in time count number and double, if not triple it if you want a more accurate reflection.”
The point-in-time count still matters, Searcy told the council, because it is tied to funding and compliance. “It’s something that is required with our federal funds, some of our state funds, and it serves an overall purpose,” she said, adding that the city uses the number to apply for grants and for auditing. Searcy’s presentation described a response pipeline that begins with outreach and encampment resolution, relies heavily on interim stabilization — including a motel voucher program — and aims to feed into navigation centers and housing programs. Navigation Center, cont. next pg.