Chico Unified presents $239 million Measure C plan and backs state facilities bond

Chico Unified School District officials on Sept. 18 outlined plans tied to Measure C, a $239 million local bond on the Nov. 5 ballot, and voted to send a resolution of support for the statewide facilities bond (Proposition 2) to state legislators.

Julie Kissle, who led the board's Measure C update, reviewed the district's bond history dating to 1988 and said Measure C would fund phase‑five projects including full renovations, transitional kindergarten classrooms and site work. The district is midway through McManis Elementary renovations and has several design projects under way at Citrus, Marigold and other schools. Kissle said the district estimates about $1 billion in facility needs overall but emphasized that the $239 million Measure C request is the next step in a phased plan.

Kissle described how local bond dollars are typically leveraged with state facility grants; she cited a figure on her slides showing about $121 million in leveraged state funds to date. She said state matching funds improve the district's purchasing power but that Measure C is not contingent on state approval: "We are not counting on those dollars in the master plan, but we hope they come," she told the board.

Board members asked timing questions about the Inspire project, which Kissle said is DSA and CDE approved and could begin as early as summer 2026 with occupancy in fall 2026 if Measure C passes and modular builders are available. She noted schedule risks tied to builder availability and grant timelines.

The board then moved to approve Resolution No. 1660-24 expressing support for Proposition 2 so the district's need and plan will be visible to state legislators; the resolution carried on the board's recorded vote (four in favor, one opposed).