Fresno Unified to go out for $225 million school bond
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Officials with Fresno Unified School District are preparing to go out for another bond measure six years after Measure Q was approved by voters.
Fresno Unified is in the process of using the last $30 million of Measure Q. Now, the district is hoping voters will approve another $225 million bond to improve aging facilities and it seems many people in the district are supportive of it.
Measure Q dollars are currently being put to work at Bullard High School, where crews are constructing a brand new student quad, administration building, and more classrooms. This year, students got to enjoy a new math and science building that also serves students with special needs. The high-tech upgrades are part of what administrators say they're hoping to do at many other schools in the district.
Fresno Unified's Chief Operations Officer Karen Temple says, "Our needs are great. A study we did in 2009 showed we have about $1 billion worth of need throughout the district so Measure Q was a great start but we still have much to do."
With the $280 million from Measure Q the district has built new pools at Hoover and Edison High schools, constructed a brand new high school that specializes in entrepreneurship and added classroom buildings at a number of campuses across the district.
Now, Fresno Unified is hoping to continue the current increased tax rate from Measure Q for another bond measure that will tally up to $225 million.
Officials want to repair gas lines, update electrical and cooling systems plus continue to upgrade the district's high schools.
Temple says, "Theaters, and upgraded science labs and more career technical education labs."
To find out whether voters would even support another bond measure in November, the district hired a firm to help them survey constituents.
Temple says, "Overwhelmingly 74% said Yes, we will support a bond and so that was very encouraging."
Parents we talked to say they support continuing the upgrades. Jason King, a parent, says "That way the kids in the generation coming up have a modernized school rather than the way it was back then. I think it's a good thing all the way around."
The new bond measure would also pay for an elementary school in Southeast Fresno.
The district's school board gave preliminary approval for the purchase of a 32-acres property at Church and Peach streets. The land is right next to Storey Elementary School.
Officials say the surrounding area is growing at a rapid pace and in order to accommodate overcrowding they need to build a new school.
Administrators say it's possible the elementary school could turn into a specialty high school in the future.
