Riverside Unified board names Sonia Llamas superintendent; approves four-year employment agreement
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The Riverside Unified School District Board of Education on July 26 unanimously appointed Dr. Sonia Llamas as the district’s next superintendent and approved a four-year employment agreement for the district’s incoming superintendent.
Board members said the appointment was made in closed session by a unanimous 5-0 vote; the board then invited Dr. Llamas to introduce herself in open session. Dr. Llamas told the board she is “honored” to serve, described more than 35 years in education and said she will lead “with equity, excellence and opportunities for all.”
The board later took public action to approve an employment agreement for the district’s incoming superintendent with a four‑year term that runs through June 30, 2030, and includes an annual base salary of $375,000 beginning July 1, 2026, with annual performance-based increases described in the agreement. The motion to approve the contract carried and the board recorded its approval.
Members of the public and board members offered welcome remarks to Dr. Llamas and thanked outgoing Superintendent Hill for years of service. Several speakers introduced themselves and family members and described Hill’s leadership and community ties.
The board’s oral summary of the employment agreement also detailed additional contract provisions included in the agenda materials: standard retirement participation, eligibility for post‑retirement health benefits per district policy if eligibility requirements are met, accrual and payout of unused leave under the contract terms, and district‑provided life insurance and administrative support allowances. The agenda packet contains the full contract language.
The board did not provide a separate vote count tied to individual board members in the public record beyond indicating the motion passed. The board did not resolve, during public session, any conflicting start-date language that appears in different agenda items and public remarks; the meeting record contains a closed‑session statement that the board named the new superintendent effective July 14 and a later public action that sets contract salary terms starting July 1, 2026.
Members and staff said the district will publish the full finalized contract and related onboarding details in the administrative record. Any implementation dates or salary payments will follow the contract language and applicable district policy.
The board plans to publish the signed agreement and related personnel actions in the district’s public records as required by law.
Board members said the appointment was made in closed session by a unanimous 5-0 vote; the board then invited Dr. Llamas to introduce herself in open session. Dr. Llamas told the board she is “honored” to serve, described more than 35 years in education and said she will lead “with equity, excellence and opportunities for all.”
The board later took public action to approve an employment agreement for the district’s incoming superintendent with a four‑year term that runs through June 30, 2030, and includes an annual base salary of $375,000 beginning July 1, 2026, with annual performance-based increases described in the agreement. The motion to approve the contract carried and the board recorded its approval.
Members of the public and board members offered welcome remarks to Dr. Llamas and thanked outgoing Superintendent Hill for years of service. Several speakers introduced themselves and family members and described Hill’s leadership and community ties.
The board’s oral summary of the employment agreement also detailed additional contract provisions included in the agenda materials: standard retirement participation, eligibility for post‑retirement health benefits per district policy if eligibility requirements are met, accrual and payout of unused leave under the contract terms, and district‑provided life insurance and administrative support allowances. The agenda packet contains the full contract language.
The board did not provide a separate vote count tied to individual board members in the public record beyond indicating the motion passed. The board did not resolve, during public session, any conflicting start-date language that appears in different agenda items and public remarks; the meeting record contains a closed‑session statement that the board named the new superintendent effective July 14 and a later public action that sets contract salary terms starting July 1, 2026.
Members and staff said the district will publish the full finalized contract and related onboarding details in the administrative record. Any implementation dates or salary payments will follow the contract language and applicable district policy.
The board plans to publish the signed agreement and related personnel actions in the district’s public records as required by law.
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