Central Unified approves Project Stealth mentorship contract after board debate over $50,000 fee and oversight

The Central Unified Board of Trustees on Aug. 26 approved a contract with Project Stealth, a Fresno‑area mentorship program, to provide mentoring, counseling and intervention services at Pershing Continuation High School and Pathway Community Day School for the 2025–26 school year.

Area administrator Garrett presented the contract and said the partnership is intended to offer “targeted assist, guidance, academic encouragement, and personal development support” for students. The board voted 6–1 to approve the contract; Trustee Thomascast the lone no vote.

Board members who spoke during the item expressed support for supplemental services but also pushed administration for clearer accounting and long‑term plans. “It seemed to me that a lot of what this contract does, my expectation is that we should be doing in house,” Trustee Correa said during the discussion. Correa said she would support the contract now but would expect the district to develop a sustainable plan before any future renewal.

Trustee Kirk asked whether a reported $50,000 “set up” fee was a one‑time cost or could decline if the district extended the contract. Garrett said some portion of that funding supported family events, materials and incentives and that how the money was used could be renegotiated if the contract returned next year. Trustee Carrillo sought clarification about whether any of the $50,000 functioned as a donation; administration said the contract does not use the word donation and described an “up to” amount to support program needs and events, but agreed to provide a clearer accounting if the contract is extended.

Trustee Thomas explained his no vote: “the pilot didn't prove enough compelling data. And the investment was just too much money for too few students served,” he said, adding that he supports students and supplemental services but was not convinced by the pilot results.

Trustees who supported the contract acknowledged student testimonials and pilot data presented at earlier meetings and said administration committed to returning with utilization details if the contract is renewed. Administration also agreed it could provide an accounting of how the $50,000 was allocated during the year if trustees request that when bringing a renewal forward.

No amendments were adopted at the meeting. The contract covers the full 2025–26 school year and administration said it will collect the same data points used during the pilot to evaluate impact before recommending any future renewal.

Votes at the meeting were taken orally; the board recorded the motion as carried 6–1.

The audience included Pershing student Kira Lopez and Principal Joe Young, who were noted as being present in support of the program.

The board placed no additional conditions on the contract at the time of approval and directed administration to track program outcomes and provide accounting of expenditures if the contract is brought back for consideration.