The Board of Supervisors Tuesday authorized the Riverside County Sheriff’s and Fire departments to renew a contract with the Riverside Community College District, obligating the agencies to continue providing criminal justice and firefighting courses at the Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center for another five years.
In a 5-0 vote without comment, the board approved terms and conditions established by the agencies and RCCD, assuring course work will remain on track from July 1 of this year to June 30, 2031.
The value of the agreement is $3.22 million. RCCD will compensate the two agencies for costs incurred.
The previous compact between the parties was approved in 2022 and was due to expire next year. The new contract supersedes the prior one.
The law enforcement and firefighting academies are offered through Moreno Valley College, which is one of three campuses under the RCCD umbrella.
Students enrolled in curricula for either career track receive instruction at Ben Clark, which is located just west of Interstate 215, near March Air Reserve Base, on the south end of Riverside.
Enrollees are able to receive college credit that can be applied to Fire Technology and Administration of Justice degrees, as well as elevate their prospects of being hired by public safety agencies regionally.
The time required for each course of study varies.
The college-level programs at Ben Clark date back to the 1990s.