Merced school board says endorsement photo was superintendent’s personal action, not a district endorsement

A Merced resident raised an allegation during public comment that a photo showing the superintendent alongside a candidate for Merced County Office of Education was used to promote that candidate on district social media and amounted to a campaign violation.

The commenter said the image circulated on Thursday and claimed it showed a superintendent endorsement and the distribution of campaign materials “during working hours” and using district resources. He asked the board to investigate and report back with remedial steps.

After the board’s closed session, President Lacaretti read a statement to the meeting: the board said the photo, the tag and any endorsement were “solely that of the candidate and our superintendent as an individual and not on behalf of the board or the district.” The statement said the candidate was asked to remove the tag referencing MCSD and that the superintendent had confirmed no district resources were used, no campaign activities occurred on district property or during working hours, and that the image may have been altered or created with artificial intelligence.

The board did not announce any formal personnel action during the meeting. The board’s statement said it asked the candidate to remove the tag and that the superintendent had affirmed no use of district resources. The public commenter said staff and other community members had contacted him expressing concern and asked that the board remedy any violation.

What happens next: the board’s statement described the board’s present understanding. The public record from the meeting shows the allegation was raised at the podium and the board issued a public statement. The board did not announce a formal investigative outcome on the floor; if the community or board requests a formal independent review, that process would be subject to separate board action.