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Paradise school leaders outline $43 million Measure G to rebuild Paradise Elementary amid rapid enrollment growth
Summary
Paradise Unified officials briefed the town on $150M+ in post‑Camp Fire school construction and proposed Measure G, a $43 million bond package to rebuild Paradise Elementary and support charter facilities; officials estimated a cost about $50 per $1,000 of assessed value (roughly $220/year on a $420,000 home).
School officials told the Paradise Town Council on Oct. 9 they are proposing Measure G, a $43 million bond measure that would fund rebuilding Paradise Elementary and support charter school facilities as the district experiences rapid enrollment growth.
Superintendent Tom Taylor and Assistant Superintendent David McCre reviewed the district’s spending since the Camp Fire, saying roughly $150–$155 million in construction has been completed or is under way across Paradise schools. McCre summarized funding sources: bond proceeds from a previously authorized $61 million bond (about $30 million issued so far), state construction matching funds (Fund 35), insurance proceeds and PG settlement funds, and state “hold harmless” funding used after the fire. McCre cited specific disbursements: $77.6 million from Travelers Insurance to date, $21.3 million in PG settlement funds and roughly $20.4 million in hold‑harmless funds.
Taylor framed the new bond as a response to district growth: after the fire enrollment fell to about 43% of pre‑fire levels and has since climbed to roughly 1,742 students districtwide; some schools (for example, Paradise Ridge Elementary) now operate at capacity following recent reconstruction. The proposed Measure G bond, Taylor said, would cost owners about $50 per $1,000 of assessed value for roughly 25 years — about $220 a year on a median sale price of $420,000 as presented in the meeting.
McCre and Taylor walked through the capital priorities that the bond would support, including a proposed Paradise Elementary design (cost savings through reuse of existing modular designs), modernization of classrooms, and support for charter school removable assets. The presenters said the district can also pursue state matching funds if a relevant state measure passes.
Councilors asked for clarity on local contractor participation; Taylor said local general contractors and former students are already working on district sites and staff try to prioritize local hiring when feasible. The council did not take a bond‑authorization vote; presenters said Measure G would go on the November 2024 ballot and, if the bond fails, the district would pursue temporary options (portables, reassignment of grades) though those would be less desirable.
Next steps: district staff will continue outreach and finalize Measure G ballot language and project lists for voters.
