Passage of another school bond measure on fall ballot ‘feasible,’ Modesto district told
Modesto City Schools again is exploring putting a bond measure before voters to repair and upgrade schools. It would be the fourth measure in six years, following the approval of Measures D and E in 2018 for K-8 facilities improvements and Measure L in 2022 for high schools.
At its meeting Monday night, the district Board of Trustees heard a report on a survey conducted last month to gauge voter support for a new elementary school bond measure.
Consulting firm TeamCiviX contacted 531 district residents through cell phone calls, texts, emails and interviews. Around 70% of those surveyed said the district needs additional funds. From this survey, Modesto City Schools learned there are 44,000 voters likely to approve the bond measure — a number that would make passage feasible.
The report to the school board looked at two potential scenarios moving forward.
The first option is bond measure that would cost property owners around $29 per $100,000 in assessed value per year based on purchase price of the home. This gives the district $85 million in funding.
This option would upgrade elementary and junior high school cafeterias as Measures D and E did, and also repair restrooms and replace aged roofing. From the survey, around 65% were in support of this so-called Cafeteria/Multi-Use Focus.
The other option would upgrade classrooms and science labs, again similar to Measures D and E, but also would upgrade multipurpose rooms and cafeterias. In addition, this option would look to create space for performing arts, create areas for healthy food prep, replace aged roofing, improve heating and cooling systems, and repair restrooms.
Around 64% of survey respondents supported this so-called Broad Focus option, according to the survey.
The survey also looked at support for a lower assessment of $19 per $100,000, giving the district $73 million instead of $85 million. The Cafeteria/Multi-Use Focus at this lower rate had nearly 66% support, while the Broad Focus got the lowest level of support: less than 63% .
Charles Heath, a representative from TeamCiviX who helped conduct the survey, said there’s a high probability of the bond passing if the district communicates with voters as it did in prior election to help get them to understand the needs and importance of the district.
“The most basic question we’re trying to answer with this survey is ‘Is it feasible?’ and our answer to that question is yes,” he said to the trustees.
The district will have to adopt the bond resolution by June 18.
Prior to this bond measure, the district has had Measures D and E, which affected elementary and junior high schools, and Measure L, which affected high schools.
Passed in 2018, bond Measures D and E brought multiple construction projects for Modesto City Schools’ elementary and junior high school campuses, mainly to improve their cafeterias, science lab rooms and tracks.
According to the district, only nine of the 22 elementary schools were approved for major facilities improvements through Measures D and E.
Bond Measure L which affected high schools passed in 2022. Some planning and construction has already started for this bond. Some of this construction includes: establishing perimeter gates and solar panel parking lots. In addition, the district plans on revamping Modesto High School campus so all instruction will be in one area on-campus.
Modesto City Schools’ $198 million bond measure to fund high school facilities improvements needed 55% of the vote to pass. After early results had it hanging on with just 55.05%, Measure L ended up with 56.4% support.
This story was originally published January 17, 2024 at 5:30 PM.
