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Merced City School District awarded $20.56 million to implement community‑schools model
Summary
The Merced City School District will receive roughly $20.56 million from the California Community Schools Partnership Program over five years to expand counselors, campus liaisons and community partnerships at 15 eligible sites; trustees pressed staff for measures of success and sustainability plans.
The Merced City School District on May 27 told the board it had won a five‑year implementation award from the California Department of Education—s Community Schools Partnership Program totaling approximately $20,562,500.
"This 5 year grant provides over $20,000,000 to support MCSD's 15 eligible sites," said Rick Herr, the district—s coordinator of pupil services, after the board learned Merced was among the larger awards in the state.
The presentation said the funding will support integrated student supports, expanded family and community engagement, collaborative leadership and extended learning time. District staff said planned uses include a pupil services coordinator to run the program, continued funding for campus security liaisons and four new counselors (bringing the counseling team to 23), behavioral health technicians and partnerships with community groups such as Restorative Justice League.
Board members asked staff how the district will measure program effectiveness and sustain services if one‑time grant dollars decline. Superintendent Stocking and principal Rick Herr said the district had taken baseline social‑emotional screening data and planned to contract with an evaluator to report outcomes to the board.
"We did take baseline data with one of the companies," Herr said, promising regular reporting to the board on discipline rates and other outcomes.
Trustee questions focused on transparency and continuation: several trustees and public commenters urged clear metrics and an explicit plan for absorbing positions if grant funding decreases. Social worker Jackie Ganias urged stronger family engagement, saying the grant's pillar on family partnerships must be honored in practice.
District staff said the CCSPP approval is the first step and that subsequent board meetings will include requests to approve contracts or positions tied to the award. The board did not take an immediate action to appropriate the CCSPP funds at the May 27 meeting; staff said those items will come back to the board for formal approval.
