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Board approves ELOP-funded engagement center despite concerns about staff cuts
Summary
The Merced City School District board approved a contract for a new engagement center largely funded by ELOP dollars (88% of project costs) after trustees debated whether smaller district funds could be used to retain about 40 at-risk employees.
Merced City School District trustees on March 10 voted 3–2 to approve a construction contract for a district engagement center largely financed with Expanded Learning Opportunity Program (ELOP) funds, drawing sharp questions from some trustees about whether the project’s non-ELOP portion could be used to avoid proposed staff reductions.
The board heard that the contract before them was for roughly $7.97 million for the current construction package while the total project since its start is about $11.8 million. Administration said approximately 88% of the project’s dollars are ELOP funds and the remaining 12% (about $1.4 million) would come from district facilities/LCAP funds.
Trustees asked whether the $1.4 million could instead keep about 40 employees who were listed as potentially being cut because of declining enrollment. A trustee asked directly, “Could that $1,400,000 be used to retain any of the 40 employees that we’re looking at having to let go within the next two years?” Administration responded that program rules and planned staffing of the ELOP program meant most costs would rightfully be charged to ELOP and that staff were actively seeking other funding sources to sustain positions.
Bridal Bain, speaking for facilities/administration, explained the funding breakdown and calculation method used to apportion ELOP hours and staff to the site and said the 88% ELOP share was derived from those program-hour and staffing estimates. Bain also said the project’s larger budget (the $11.8 million figure) reflects the full program and work approved since the project’s inception.
Trustees who voted against the contract said they were uncomfortable authorizing a one-time facilities investment while staff reductions remained on the table; trustees supporting the contract said ELOP money is restricted, unused funds must be returned to the state, and the new center would expand high‑impact after-school programming.
The motion to approve the contract was made and seconded and carried by roll call vote (motion passes with 3 yeas and 2 noes). The board directed staff to continue exploring alternate funds to sustain positions and to report back as feasible.
What happens next: The contract will proceed as approved; administration said it will continue identifying funding sources to mitigate potential staffing cuts and will discuss related equity questions in upcoming workshops.
