Local Planning Council
Mission Statement
The Merced County Child Care & Development Local Planning Council is a forum which supports planning and actions county wide to promote a quality child care system that meets the needs of all the children and families of Merced County.
Responsibilities of the Local Planning Council
When legislation does not identify specific target population or geographic areas to be served in allocating expansion funds, the State Child Development Division will use the local child care planning council priorities for the purpose of allocating new state and federal funds with Merced County. In accordance with Education Code Section 8499.5 (a), the State Child Development Division will annually notify the local child care and development planning council in each county of the amount to be allocated within the county and the time line for the allocations.
Upon approval by the Merced County Board of Supervisors and the County Superintendent of Schools, each LPC shall submit to the California Department of Education and the local priorities it has identified. The priorities shall be identified in a manner that ensures that all child care needs in the county are met to the greatest extent possible.
Get involved!
The Local Planning Council welcomes citizens of Merced County to get involved and attend Local Planning Council and Task Team meetings. For a schedule of meetings, check the calendar on this website!
- Meetings are every third Tuesday of the month. With the exception of July and December
- March 16, 2010 6:30 p.m.
- April 20, 2010 12:30 p.m.
- May 18, 2010 6:30 p.m.
- June 15, 2010 12:30 p.m.
- No meeting in July
- August 17, 2010 12:30 p.m.
- September 21, 2010 6:30 p.m.
- October 19, 2010 12:30 p.m.
- No meeting in November
- No meeting in December
- Merced County Local Child Care Planning Council Members
- Linda Kaercher – Head Start/Child Development
- Regina DeMelo – Alternate for Linda Kaercher
- Maria Williams – Child Care Provider
- Helena Torrez - Child Care Provider
- Regina Wolf – Bear Country Pre-School
- Marian Fritzemeier - Merced College
- Stacey Roduner - Alternate for Marian Fritzemeier
- Terri Amarante - Our Lady of Miracles School, Director
- Loraine Dores - Alternate for Terri Amarante
- Barbara Weaver - OLJW Center
- Marvin Patton - Consumer
- Jennifer Mockus - Consumer
- Corinne Britt - Consumer
- Nicholas Moreno - PACEAPP Merced/Madera, Regional Director
- Iris Tejeda - Alternate for Nicolas Moreno
- Melanie Cole - Merced City School District, Coordinator
- Erika Pryor - Alternate for Melanie Cole
- Kathy Wyman - Merced County ROP
- Mary Whited - Alternate for Kathy Wyman
- Marilyn Scorby - Merced College Child Development Center, Director
- Pearlene Reese - Central California Child Development Services, Executive Director
- Rhonda Freitas - Alternate for Pearlene Reese
- Valerie Campos – A.C.C.E.S.S. Alternative Payment
- Eric Sonnenfeld – Alternate for Valerie Campos
- Vicky Lopes– Human Services Agency
- Appointing Agencies and Clerical Support
- Christie Hendricks – Merced County Office of Education
- Rebecca Johnson - Local Child Care Planning Council Secretary
- Lee Andersen - Superintendent, Merced County Office of Education
- Gaye Riggs - Assistant Superintendent of Early Care and Education, Merced County Office of Education