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Chico Unified board approves curriculum, fees, construction change orders and summer projects in unanimous votes
Summary
At a regular meeting the Chico Unified School District board approved junior‑high math adoption, a CDE waiver for sixth graders at Academy for Change, developer‑fee updates, a change order for playground accessibility, summer projects, calendar updates and budget commitments; the consent and action items passed 4–0.
The Chico Unified School District Board of Education approved a set of consent and action items during a regularly scheduled meeting, with unanimous (4–0) votes on multiple resolutions and agenda items.
Curriculum adoption: After a two‑year review and pilot process, junior‑high math teachers recommended adopting the Imagine I Am curriculum. Presenters Melanie Perrin and Chris Palmer described teacher piloting and classroom fit; the board approved the recommended adoption (agenda item 8A1). Perrin said teachers narrowed options to Carnegie and "mid school math" before selecting Imagine I Am and that teacher feedback in piloting produced a unanimous preference.
Waiver for Academy for Change (8A2): The board approved a California Department of Education waiver to allow sixth‑grade students to attend the Academy for Change Community Day School. Staff noted the waiver had come before the board previously and that this approval is expected to be the last required board step.
Construction and facilities: The board passed a resolution declaring futility of public bidding (8B1) to award a change‑order accessibility contract for Marigold Elementary's TK playground to the on‑site contractor (United Building Contractors) in the amount presented ($686,550.61). Facilities staff also presented the 2026 summer projects list — asphalt repairs, roofing, regrading jogging tracks and various site projects — and the board approved the summer projects list after members requested an added column showing timing and prior expenditures for greater oversight.
Developer fees and finance: Consultant Lynn Gruber presented a fee justification study supporting the district's resolution to adopt updated statutory developer fees consistent with new state caps ($5.38 per square foot residential; $0.87 per square foot commercial). The study projected approximately 3,600 new residential units in the district and estimated a fee difference of roughly $329 per average new unit (based on an average unit size cited during the presentation). The board approved the fee resolution after the required public hearing.
Budget resolution: Finance staff presented a resolution to commit fund balances for the 2026–27 budget cycle, explaining legal requirements to assign purposes for fund balances above 10% and noting planned uses tied to textbook adoption and anticipated deficit spending; the board adopted the resolution 4–0.
Calendars and policy items: The board adopted minor updates to the 2026–27 and 2027–28 student calendars (changes to minimum days and addition of non‑student days) and accepted an informational charter‑visit report. The board also received a first reading of six updated board policies and voted to bring a minutes‑amendment consideration forward at a future meeting.
The meeting closed after additional presentations, including a North Coast State Carpenters Union briefing on apprenticeship pathways and contractor prequalification concerns. Several motions from the evening will require staff follow‑up reports or procurement steps; the board requested supplemental details (project timing, retention/contract specifics, and implementation plans) where appropriate.
