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Trustees press district for outcome data as staff preview 35 contract renewals; multiple summer program contracts approved
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Summary
Assistant Superintendent Sergio Mendez previewed 35 proposed educational-service contracts for 2026–27 and trustees asked for stronger performance narratives and vendor diversity data. The board approved several consent calendar contracts for summer programs and the revised 2026–27 district calendar; the Expanded Learning Opportunities Plan staffing proposal was held pending additional salary/expenditure detail.
Assistant Superintendent Sergio Mendez presented a preview of the district’s proposed educational-services contracts for 2026–27, describing a package of 35 proposals (31 renewals and several new partnerships) intended to support literacy, relationships and safety. Mendez said the package includes renewals for proven supports and new additions such as Skyrocket Reading and CoreLearn, as well as partnerships with tutoring and enrichment providers including UC Merced tutors, Mathnasium and TreeHouse Learning.
Mendez cited quantitative indicators—95 UC Merced tutors supporting highest-need learners, more than 1,000 students using Learning Ally, and 340,000+ books accessed through MyON and Follett—as evidence of reach. He also said the district has seen declines in aggressive incidents (a 6% drop, 103 fewer fights and 40 fewer bullying incidents) that staff attribute in part to partnerships.
Trustees pressed staff for more rigorous, comparative evidence before renewing contracts en masse. Trustee Jeong and others asked for final narratives explaining what worked, what did not, and disaggregated outcomes so trustees could evaluate whether to renew high-dollar contracts. Trustees also raised the need to diversify vendors and ensure community-visible partners are included. Staff said they would provide more detailed narratives and prior presentations that break down program outcomes by vendor and site.
On the consent calendar trustees approved multiple summer-program contracts and other routine items by motion and voice vote, including Harvest Park Educational Center (2026 summer program), Walk By Faith STARS (2026 program), City of Merced Parks & Recreation contract (with staff noting possible shelf-stable food options), Students Today Learn Leaders Tomorrow summer program, a Bali Learning Centers contract amendment (payments through May 31), and Merced College for Kids summer program. The board also approved the revised 2026–27 district calendar reflecting sixth graders moving to middle schools.
Trustees asked for additional detail on the Expanded Learning Opportunities Plan (ELOP) staffing additions (a proposed director and a secretary funded from ELOP). Several trustees said they wanted a clearer accounting of district-level salary expenditures and asked staff to provide the requested data. Because of those outstanding questions, the board conducted a roll-call and did not finalize approval of the new ELOP positions at the meeting; trustees asked staff to return with the requested financial breakdown in a weekly organizational briefing.
Staff told trustees that more detailed performance narratives and prior presentation slides on program outcomes were available and that they would re-share those materials. Trustees agreed to continue deliberations and suggested convening partners together to share best practices and coordinate efforts across programs.
