Board approves submission of 13 CTE grant applications and several calendar and program items

At its meeting at Buhack Colony High School, the Merced Union High School District Board of Trustees approved a slate of action items including authorization to submit 13 career technical education (CTE) facilities grant applications to the California Department of Education and other routine calendar and program items.

Mrs. McCauley told the board the state—s CTE facilities program (Proposition 2) allows applications for new construction (up to $3 million per industry sector) and modernization (up to $1.5 million) and requires an LEA match. She outlined a multi-step deadline process: the district must request an application link and submit initial materials by December 1 to the California Department of Education, clear a rubric threshold ("105") and then, if eligible, submit full applications to the Office of Public School Construction by late June; DSA review could extend certain timelines by another year.

"So, I am here asking for approval of 13 grants that we plan to submit in the next couple weeks," Mrs. McCauley said. She described site-specific projects across the district: new classrooms and labs for healthcare simulation, a small animal/rabbitry shed for the animal science pathway, HVAC upgrades for wood shops, instructional space separation between shops at Merced High, manufacturing and HVAC investments near the railroad property, and modernization of Buhack Colony—s theater (seating, carpet, HVAC and lighting). McCauley said industry partners, advisory committees and architects are helping to shape schematic plans and budgets.

The superintendent recommended board approval; members moved, seconded and approved the submission plan on a voice vote. The motion passed with trustees indicating "aye"; individual roll-call tallies were not specified on the record.

Other action items approved during the meeting included the CSBA delegate nomination for subregion 8D (Trustee Coleman accepted the nomination), proposed board meeting dates for 2026, and the 2026 summer-school calendar (in-person special education and migrant program instruction at Golden Valley and Livingston High Schools; independent-study models for other students). Each item was moved, seconded and approved.

Board members asked clarifying questions about timelines and sites; the superintendent and staff agreed to follow up with details about matching funds, site schematics and next steps in the grant process. The board also received routine reports from the superintendent and principals, including a principal—s report about CCAP enrollment and a facilities update on a new stadium opening in December.