Modesto elementary schools to receive new cafeterias and more with Measure X funds

Modesto City Schools is still determining which schools and other facilities will receive Measure X funds for improvements. Thus far, MCS has decided to use the funds for new cafeterias and multipurpose rooms at district elementary schools.

The first project is set to begin with Marshall Elementary School’s new cafeteria and multipurpose room by early summer 2026, according to district spokesperson Linda Mumma Solorio.

Measure X was approved by 68.5% of voters in 2024. It gives the district $85 million in bonds at legal rates, which would amount to around $4.5 million annually. The purpose of the measure is to fund facility improvements and infrastructure changes at elementary and junior high schools.

“Many of our schools are decades old and face recurring facility challenges,” Mumma Solorio said in a statement to The Bee. “Campuses without updated multipurpose rooms or cafeterias are working with undersized or outdated spaces that cannot comfortably accommodate students for meals, assemblies, performances, gatherings, or indoor activities.”

The specific sites for facility improvements are determined by “facility assessments, input from school leaders, and approval by the board,” according to Mumma Solorio.

Measure X came on the heels of Measures D and E, which voters approved in 2018 for facility improvements in the district’s K-8 schools, though only nine of the district’s 22 elementary schools received funding for improvements.

“From the outset, we knew another measure would be necessary to bring improvements to additional deserving school sites,” Mumma Solorio continued. “Measure X allows us to continue that work so all students have access to safe, modern learning environments.”

The district is still in the early stages of deciding which other facility improvements will be funded by the latest bond measure. In addition to paying for roof repairs and plumbing issues, the funding could be used to create spaces for music, art, science and technology across the district’s K-8 schools.

“The improvements will enhance safety, functionality, and the overall learning environment. At the four schools receiving new cafeterias and multipurpose rooms, students will benefit from efficient meal service, reduced crowding, and flexible spaces for schoolwide events and activities,” Mumma Solorio said. “These upgrades not only support nutrition and wellness but also strengthen school culture by providing each campus with a central hub for learning and community.”

Other district elementary schools slated to get new cafeterias and multipurpose rooms include Martone, Everett and Enslen.

This story was originally published September 16, 2025 at 3:32 PM.