In November, voters across Butte County will have the chance to vote on a series of bond measures that would support local schools. Districts in Chico, Paradise, Durham, Biggs and Oroville all have bond measures on the ballot. If passed, the measures would provide funding for districts to construct new buildings and repair aging infrastructure.
Measure C would generate funds for Chico Unified School District
Chico Voters will see Measure C on their ballot — the initiative would issue $239 million in bonds. Much of the revenue would go to Rosedale, Chapman, and Parkview elementary schools to upgrade buildings that haven't been renovated in decades.
"Doors don't fit flush in door jambs anymore. Mosquitoes are getting in, HVAC systems don't work efficiently anymore," said Lauren Inouye, a co-chair for the Measure C campaign. Inouye is also a Rosedale Elementary parent.
"With buildings that are that old, it's difficult to retrofit them for the technology that students and staff are expected to utilize on a daily basis in the classrooms," Inouye said.
Measure A would fund a new gym and classrooms for Biggs students
In Biggs, voters will decide on Measure A. If passed, funds would go to constructing a gymnasium for the district's elementary school and permanent classrooms to replace mobile ones at the middle school.
Doug Kaelin, Biggs Unified School District Superintendent, said the presidential election is a factor in the appearance of multiple school bond measures on this year's ballot.
"Historically, when there's a presidential election, more people turn out to vote," Kaelin said. "So placing a bond on a year where there is a presidential election, you're probably going to get a better voter turnout to have a chance to pass those bonds."
Measure G in Paradise would help build a new elementary school
In Paradise, voters will decide on Measure G. If passed, funds would go to help build a new elementary school building.
In the years since the Camp Fire, elementary school enrollment rates in the district have risen. Paradise Ridge Elementary School has grown from around 250 students following the fire to now having around 500 students.
Paradise Unified School District Superintendent Tom Taylor said the school has already had to make changes to accommodate the rise in students after the old Paradise Elementary school building burned down.
"We actually had to add some portable [classrooms] to accommodate short term," Taylor said. "Measure G is the bond to come back and build another elementary school in Paradise. It would be at the same site that Paradise Elementary was over on Pearson road."
Local bonds are required to have citizen oversight committees to monitor how revenue is spent. No argument against the school bond measures were filed with the Butte County Clerk's Office.
