Merced City School District board approves CSEA contract, adopts budget and LCAP

Merced — The Merced City School District Board of Trustees on June 23 approved several major governance items and heard end‑of‑year academic reports as it closed out the 2025–26 school year.

The board voted to approve a three‑year collective bargaining agreement between the district and the California School Employees Association (Merced Chapter 530) covering July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2028. Chief Business Officer Linda Parker introduced the public hearing and presentation; after no public comments the board approved the contract by roll call (four yeses, one absent).

In other formal action, trustees adopted the district’s 2026–27 Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) and the 2026–27 budget. Mr. Alexander, presenting the LCAP and budget materials, said the LCAP is a “living document” aligning local priorities with state requirements and includes stakeholder feedback on pages trustees were urged to review. Trustees asked for a concise executive summary for public distribution. The budget was adopted after trustees confirmed that existing intervention teacher positions are sustained for 2026–27; the budget vote passed with a three‑to‑one tally (one nay, one absent).

The board also approved a set of routine items on the consent agenda, corrected and approved the 2027–28 school calendar (item Q), adopted Resolution H‑05 to align a Lincoln’s Birthday observance on the consolidated 2027–28 calendar, and approved a new job description for an Expanded Learning Opportunities Program Coordinator 2.

Director Goa brought forward Resolution F‑11 designating certain general funds as committed fund balance. Trustees discussed line‑item priorities, including a $10 million allocation for a digital adoption category; the resolution passed 3–1–1 (Trustee Delgado recorded the lone no vote).

Board members heard three major reports in the meeting’s first half. Assistant Superintendent Mendes highlighted district gains: an 8% increase in students meeting reading benchmarks on a district screener and a 9% increase in Read 180 diagnostic outcomes for grades 7–8. He reported a 92.4% average daily attendance, a 6.9% suspension rate and a 23.9% chronic absenteeism rate, and described preschool expansion (nearly 500 children) and special education results (zero unaffirmed IEPs). “Our commitment to the nearly 11,000 students who walk through our doors remains resolute,” Mendes said during his overview.

Crystal Russell, family and student engagement coordinator, presented results for the district’s lowest‑performing students and contracted after‑school services, reporting a 23.5 average‑point gain on the district progress assessment for students participating in contracted programs versus a 15.5 point gain districtwide. Russell said contracted programs have an average daily attendance of roughly 95% and fewer suspension incidents than district averages.

Trustees pressed staff for more granular vendor and participation data — asking how many unique students were served by each program, how dollars align with attendance and outcomes, and whether vendor materials (photos, attendance logs) could be provided in advance of contract renewals. Staff agreed to return more detailed executive summaries and attendance metrics before final contract approvals.

A discussion item drew sustained attention later in the meeting: Assembly Bill 1390, effective Jan. 1, 2026, raises the statutory ceiling for monthly trustee stipends based on district ADA. Merced’s ADA places the district in a band that could permit a stipend up to $2,000 per month. Trustees were sharply divided. Trustee Delgado said, “I don't think this is the time for the board to consider giving it … we have employees who've put in decades who are still making minimum wage.” Trustee Jeang responded that the stipend is optional and noted rising costs of living and committee time spent on district work. The board took no vote on a stipend level and agreed to continue the conversation at a later date.

Superintendent Stocking closed the meeting by noting the district’s response to a public records acknowledgement and highlighting summer programs (about 1,500 students attending), Mong language and culture programming, UC Merced professional development partnerships, free summer meals and an Aug. 4 school wellness fair and back‑to‑school drive. The meeting adjourned at 9:01 p.m.

Votes at a glance: CSEA contract — approved (4 yes, 1 absent); LCAP — approved (4 yes, 1 absent); Budget adoption — approved (3 yes, 1 no, 1 absent); Resolution F‑11 — approved (3 yes, 1 no, 1 absent); Consent agenda and calendar corrections — approved (4 yes, 1 absent).