Stockton board approves Improve Your Tomorrow contract after amending funding so it is braided across sources

Stockton Unified School District trustees voted Tuesday to approve a consultant agreement with Improve Your Tomorrow (IYT) to operate a mentoring and college‑access academy at legacy sites, after amending the funding plan to use braided sources rather than relying solely on LCAP Goal 6.

The board heard a presentation from Brian Beerman, the district’s director of educational services, who said the program has reported a high recruitment rate and retention (Beerman cited roughly 86% retention and thousands of student contacts) and that sites have reported GPA increases for students who stay in the program. Jesusrad, introduced to the board as the executive director of Improve Your Tomorrow, said the organization can provide detailed demographic rosters and offered to supply exact counts of African‑American male participants that were not in the presentation packet.

Several trustees pressed staff and IYT on funding and equity. Vice President Shauna Priest said LCAP Goal 6 is targeted to African‑American student outcomes and asked why the district would use Goal 6 funding if a significant share of participants are not from that subgroup. Trustees asked for clarity about whether program rosters at the proposed sites have majority African‑American enrollment and requested a proportional funding approach if non‑target students are served.

Trustees and staff agreed to an amended motion: approve the IYT agreement for the 2026–27 school year while changing the funding structure to “braided funding” — a mix of partial Goal 6 funds for students who fit that target and learning‑recovery or other allowable sources for other enrolled students. The board took a roll‑call vote after the amendment; the motion passed 6–0 with Trustee Patrick Martin absent.

IYT staff and several mentors and site principals addressed the board before the vote. A first‑year mentor, Fabian, described his pathway from Delta College to mentoring and said the program offers students a route to college and enrichment such as college tours and scholarship support. A Rio Calaveras principal who attended said her school saw suspensions decline among boys who participated in the program.

The board asked staff to supply the missing demographic breakdowns and to document the braided funding math — how much will come from LCAP Goal 6, how much from learning recovery and any other district sources — before program implementation. Superintendent Dr. Michelle Rodriguez and Beerman signaled willingness to use learning‑recovery funds proportionately for non‑Goal‑6 students.

The contract approved by the board covers legacy IYT sites and includes a roster cap as presented; staff said sites may later request site‑funded expansions that would be brought back to the board for approval.

The board’s action leaves the district with a contract for mentoring services with a funding plan trustees requested be made explicit and proportionate to who is served.