Chico >> The Chico Unified School District board unanimously voted to move forward with a new $152 million bond measure for the November 2016 ballot at a Wednesday night meeting.

The board voted after a presentation from Assistant Superintendant of Business Services Kevin Bultema and several consultants who conducted a phone study surveying how potential voters would feel about the bond measure. According to a study done by EMC Research earlier this month, almost 60 percent of those surveyed said they would vote in favor of a bond at $152 million or $72 million.

“It’s actually great news, we think a bond is very possible,” consultant Ruth Bernstein said. “Voters are aware of the need.”

Funding from the bond would go toward advancing the district’s Facilities Master Plan, which identifies more than $300 million of needs at schools throughout the district. The money would primarily go toward modernizing and updating elementary schools, according to Bultema. The bond is intended to supplement the Measure E bond of 2012, which authorized the school board to borrow $78 million to improve existing schools by extending the term of an existing bond. Unlike Measure E, the new bond would result in a tax rate increase.

“We are looking at a new bond to fill the gap,” Bultema said.

Following the presentation, board member Linda Hovey and members of the public brought up concerns about adequate representation of charter school families, particularly that charter schools would not benefit from the bond.

“There’s not one mention of charters in that document,” parent Steve Lucas said of the district’s Facilities Master Plan. “You have to actually reach out and show that the district is willing to cooperate and complement what the charters are doing.”

Prior to voting, board president Elizabeth Griffin stated that all stakeholders, including charter schools, would be consulted.

The tax rate increase, ballot language and specific priorities will be finalized before the bond measure goes on the ballot in November 2016.