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Trustees approve multiple after‑school vendor contracts amid public questions about cost breakdowns
Summary
The board approved contracts with Restorative Justice League, Playhouse Merced and Valley Harvest Educational Center for 2025–26, but public commenters and trustees flagged inconsistent vendor cost detail and asked staff to provide clearer procurement breakdowns going forward.
The Merced City School District Board of Education on Aug. 12 approved a slate of vendor contracts for the 2025–26 school year — including agreements with the Restorative Justice League, Playhouse Merced and Valley Harvest Educational Center — while public commenters urged more rigorous procurement documentation.
Dr. Ken Cooper presented the Restorative Justice League proposal, which the board approved after a motion by Trustee Brooks and a second by Trustee McCutchen; the vote passed unanimously with Trustee Jang absent. “It is recommended that the board of education approve the contract with Restorative Justice League for the 2025–26 school year,” Dr. Cooper said.
The board also approved a contract renewal with Playhouse Merced. A board member recused themself from that item because of a personal connection; Clerk Delgado moved the item and Trustee McCutchen seconded. The motion passed with three yeas, one abstention (Trustee Brooks) and one absence recorded.
Public comment on several items raised procurement concerns. Singup Paul, who identified himself as a local city council member from outside Merced, said he reviewed contract tables and flagged what he described as an apparent drop in hourly rates while enrollment doubled for one provider. “It looks like the HPE contract that is up for approval tonight, we doubled enrollment, but we ended up reducing total costs,” he said, noting a change he characterized as a drop from $57 to $26 per hour and urging the district to require more detailed vendor cost breakdowns and staffing line items.
Board members acknowledged the concern and asked staff to provide more detailed cost information in future contract packets. Trustee Delgado framed the contracts as investments to reduce long‑term costs associated with poor outcomes for students, saying the district should balance fiscal oversight with the goal of preventing student disengagement.
The motions to approve the Restorative Justice League, Playhouse Merced and Valley Harvest Educational Center contracts were carried by roll call votes as recorded in the meeting minutes; several trustees asked for better cost transparency on future vendor proposals.
