Merced school board votes to place $80 million facilities bond measure on November ballot
The Merced City School District School Board voted to place an $80 million school bond on the ballot in the November election.
The board voted 4-0 on the ballot measure during a board meeting on Tuesday.
“It has been 10 years since we asked our community to approve a school facilities bond, which they overwhelmingly supported,” said board president Allen Brooks. “In order to protect our investment in our school facilities, we must continue to invest in upgrading and improving our schools to make sure all students have access to high-quality facilities.”
The bond will need 55% yes votes to pass in the Nov. 5 election.
The district will complete final projects funded by Measure M in 2025. Measure M was a $60-million school facilities bond passed by voters in 2014. The district was also able to leverage the local bond money with an additional $19 million in state school facilities funds.
Measure M helped fund upgrades and modernization of schools throughout the district.
The district just released it’s long-range facilities masters plan, which includes potential improvements and upgrades to all 18 schools and other facilities in the district with a price tag over $868 million which the district helps will accommodate students in the next decade.
“This bond will help achieve some of that $800 million,” said Brooks. “A lot that we’re still going to have to come up with on our own, but it would help classrooms update with technology. It’s making sure our (air conditioning) units have the right filters. It’s going to help modernize our schools and it’s very important for the next phase of our district.”
The Merced City School District includes 11,500 students and about 1,400 staff and 18 schools.
During the spring, district officials gathered input from community members regarding school facilities needs during community meetings and an online survey, according to the district.
Overcrowding at some district schools has become an issue. Schools on the north side of Merced had enrollments approaching 700 or more students this past school year, like Rivera Elementary, Chenoweth, Peterson and Burbank. Rivera Elementary has had to use Rivera Middle School classrooms this year.
“Many of the MCSD schools were built in the 1950s and 1960s, requiring continuous upgrades and modernizations to ensure all students have access to the best learning environment,” said MCSD communications director Dominique Zuniga in a release.
“The new proposed bond will fund improvement projects that address safety and security, classroom environment, alleviate overcrowding, as well as technology and air quality.”
Earlier this month the MCSD school board appointed Julianna Stocking as the new superintendent. The district had been operating without a permanent leader in place since the board fired former superintendent Diana Jimenez during a special board meeting on April 25, 2023. Jimenez was terminated after less than a year serving as superintendent in the district.
Stocking will be the fifth person to fill the role of superintendent since January of 2020.
