FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
dazuniga@mcsd.k12.ca.us
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 23, 2024
Contact: Dominique Zuniga
dazuniga@mcsd.k12.ca.us
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 16, 2023
Contact: Amy Collier Carroll
Golden Valley Health Centers
acarroll@gvhc.org
Dominique Zuniga
Merced City School District
dazuniga@mercedcsd.org
Ribbon Cutting Celebration, August 7, for School-Based Health Center at Stefani Elementary School
Next month, Merced City School District (MCSD) and Golden Valley Health Centers (GVHC) will host a Children’s Health Day and ribbon cutting ceremony at Ranchero Health Center. This is GVHC’s first school-based health center in Merced County. It is located adjacent to Joe Stefani Elementary School.
The new health center will provide an array of services including Pediatrics and Family Medicine, Dental Care, and Behavioral Health. Equipped with six exam rooms, three large dental operatory rooms, and a spacious waiting room, this clinic boasts over 4,000 square feet.
Ranchero Health Center will be the sixth school campus health center under the Golden Valley Health Centers umbrella of clinics. Currently, the organization operates five other school-based health centers: two in Modesto, one in Empire, one in Westley, and one in Riverbank. These centers provide health education and medical services to students and community members living in the vicinity of the school. School-based clinics are a convenient option for many students and families, especially those with transportation barriers that make it difficult to visit a clinic.
GVHC is proud to partner with Merced City School District on the project to better serve the healthcare needs of students and Merced residents. “We are pleased to see this project taking shape after years of planning,” said Golden Valley Health Centers’ Chief Executive Officer, David Quackenbush. “We understand the critical need for medical services in rural areas and this is truly our mission, to ensure high-quality health care is accessible to everyone.”
GVHC serves more than 145,000 patients each year throughout Merced, Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties, playing a vital role in building healthy communities. School-based health centers are unique in that they provide an important point of access for students, by bringing healthcare, dental care and counseling directly to where students and families already spend much of their time, at school.
“What a great opportunity it is to have a partnership with GVHC, and the ability to offer families of Franklin and Stefani Elementaries healthcare services within walking distance from school and home,” said Superintendent, Julianna Stocking.
A Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Children’s Health Day celebration will be held on August 7 from 8-11 am at the Ranchero Clinic, 2752 Ranchero Lane, Merced. This event is open to the public and will feature community resources, a backpack giveaway, prizes, entertainment, snacks and refreshments, as well as clinic tours.
The expected open date for the clinic is September 13, 2024. Hours of operation will be Monday through Friday, 8:00 am – 12:00 and 1:00 pm – 5.
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The M.A.R.S. Program is MCSD’s after school program that serves TK and Kindergarten students only. Please see the flyer for more information.
dazuniga@mcsd.k12.ca.us
Merced City Schools Board places $80M school facilities bond on November ballot
Merced, CA – The Merced City School District’s Board of Education voted 4-0 at their regularly scheduled meeting on June 25 to place a $80 million school facilities bond to improve and upgrade existing schools on the November 5, 2024 ballot.
“It has been 10 years since we asked our community to approve a school facilities bond, which they overwhelmingly supported,” said Allen Brooks, MCSD board president. “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.”
In the spring, the district gathered input from community members regarding school facilities needs during several community meetings and an online survey. An assessment was also conducted of all MCSD schools to identify specific facilities needs at each school to ensure they meet standards. The assessment data and input from the community contributed to the district’s updated Facilities Master Plan, that was approved by the board on June 25, 2024.
The Merced City Schools community overwhelmingly supported Measure M in 2014 – a $60 million school facilities bond to address the needs of aging schools. The district was able to leverage these local bond funds with an additional $19 million in state school facilities funds to make local taxpayer dollars go farther. In 2025, the District will complete the final projects funded by Measure M.
Many 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. The new proposed bond will fund improvement projects that address safety and security, classroom environment, illeviate overcrowding, as well as technology and air quality.
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