Merced City School Board confirms principals, honors employees and students; several contracts and plans approved

The Merced City School District Board of Education on May 26 confirmed a slate of administrative appointments, presented employee and student recognitions and approved several vendor contracts and program plans.

In presentations before the vote the board honored winners from the district speech festival, STEM fair and the MC Cup soccer championship and named Yvonne Villegas, Ryan Cromar and Julie Revard employees of the year. Several appointees addressed the board after their approvals and thanked trustees and staff.

Appointments and votes at a glance: the board approved the appointment of Marsha Marie Rawson as principal (vote recorded as 5–0); approved Ryan Cromar as learning director (5–0); approved Randy Sharp as director of maintenance, operations and transportation (5–0); approved other administrative appointments with recorded tallies shown below. One principal appointment, Marla Samson for Josephine Elementary School, passed 3–2 with Trustees Delgado and McCutcheon recorded as voting no.

The board also took a series of consent and contract actions by roll call. Notable approvals included a four‑year contract with Nucleus for a sixth‑grade career‑exploration curriculum, the Students With Aspiring Goals (SWAG) expanded‑learning contract (not to exceed $520,950), and a University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI) professional‑development contract for $57,700 (funded by state reading‑screener funds). The board approved school plans for student achievement (SPSA) and the district’s expanded‑learning opportunities program plan update for 2026–27.

Several items were informational or first readings: the administration presented two pay options for certificated administrator substitutes and a proposal to add a 199‑day supervision option to the preschool site supervisor job description to aid recruitment; these matters were discussed but not finalized at tonight’s meeting.

The meeting concluded with routine board reports and the chair adjourned the meeting at 10:00 p.m.

Votes at a glance
• Appointment of Marsha Marie Rawson (Hoover Middle School) — approved, recorded 5–0.
• Appointment of Marla Samson (Josephine Elementary) — approved, recorded 3–2 (Trustees Delgado and McCutcheon recorded as no).
• Appointment of Ryan Cromar (Learning Director) — approved, recorded 5–0.
• Appointment of Randy Sharp (Director of Maintenance/Operations/Transportation) — approved, recorded 5–0.
• Consent agenda — approved by roll call, recorded 4 yes, 1 absent.
• Nucleus curriculum contract (4‑year) — approved, recorded 4 yes, 1 absent.
• SWAG contract (expanded learning) — approved, recorded 4 yes, 1 absent, not to exceed $520,950.
• UFLI literacy professional development — approved, recorded 4 yes, 1 absent; amount $57,700 (state reading screener funds).
• SPSA 2026–27 plans — approved, recorded 4 yes, 1 absent.
• ELOP plan update 2026–27 — approved, recorded 4 yes, 1 absent.
• Declaration of Need for Fully Qualified Educators — approved, recorded 4 yes, 1 absent.
• Public hearing date for 2026–27 budget set for 06/09/2026 — approved, recorded 4 yes, 1 absent.
• Gifts and grants for employee appreciation events — approved.
• Resolution S‑12 proclaiming June 2026 LGBTQIA+ Pride Month — adopted, recorded 4 yes, 1 absent.

The board indicated several items will return for further action at future meetings, and invited public feedback before final votes on compensation and schedule changes.