Districts pursuing bond vote: MJUSD, WUHSD bond measures could fund new schools, facilities

Michaela Harris, Appeal-Democrat, Marysville, Calif.
·4 min read

Nov. 16—Marysville Joint Unified School District and Wheatland Union High School District will pursue bond measures in the upcoming March 5, 2024, primary election in the hopes of funding new schools and various upgrades to current facilities.

A bond measure for Marysville Joint Unified was approved by the Board of Trustees on Tuesday in a 4-2 vote with board members Doug Criddle and Seth Stemen voting against. A measure for Wheatland Union was approved on Wednesday.

The districts' push for bond elections follow the planned construction of Plumas Lake High School and the expressed need for a new middle school in Marysville Joint Unified.

Wheatland Union High School District Superintendent Nicole Newman previously explained that Plumas Lake High School is the product of over 10 years of planning and development. In 2012, the district purchased a property along River Oaks Boulevard for a possible school site, knowing that there would eventually be a need for an additional high school.

Wheatland Union High School takes in a significant number of students from both the Wheatland Elementary School District and Plumas Lake Elementary School District. As of now, the high school district serves over 1,100 students in the area.

"Based on current enrollment projections, we will be maxed out at WUHS by 2030 and will need the high school completed to serve the growing community," Newman said previously.

If approved by voters in the March election, the $20-million bond measure will help continue construction of the new high school and provide up-to-date furniture, facilities and technology.

District officials plan to serve a least 1,200 students at Plumas Lake High School, and the district will engage the community as partners in the planning process, the Appeal previously reported.

Wheatland Union will also pursue a separate bond measure of $8.7 million to fund modernization and renovation projects for Wheatland Union High School. The district plans on repairing and replacing aging roofs, classrooms and facilities, including a new multipurpose room and cafeteria. The district also plans to upgrade aging utility systems including gas, water, sewage and ventilation systems.

"In this upcoming March ballot, our community has a pivotal opportunity to shape the future of education in both Wheatland and Plumas Lake. The bond for Wheatland Union High School seeks vital funds to construct a multipurpose room and cafeteria for the high school, addressing our urgent need for more space to accommodate and nourish our growing student body," Newman said in an email. "This space isn't just a building; it's a commitment to our children's well-being and a resource for the community outside school hours. Meanwhile, the Plumas Lake bond is another step towards the development and construction of the new high school, marking a significant milestone in our commitment to providing top-tier educational facilities. These bonds represent more than just infrastructure; they are a testament to our dedication to the next generation's education and well-being."

Addressing the district's need for additional facilities as well as a new middle school, Marysville Joint Unified School District will pursue a $97-million bond measure in the upcoming election. Facilities upgrades for all school sites has been a priority for the district in recent years with some projects being funded by previous bond measures. Marysville Joint Unified School District Superintendent Fal Asrani also previously expressed the district's need for an additional middle school to serve students in south Yuba County.

Marysville Joint Unified is unique in that it covers the majority of Yuba County, serving families as far north as Challenge and down to Arboga. South of the Yuba River, there are nearly 5,000 TK-5 students living in the district's boundaries who will most likely later attend Yuba Gardens Intermediate School, the primary middle school servicing this area. Arboga Elementary School also recently completed an expansion project allowing for seventh and eighth grade students to join.

However, district officials believe there is an inequity between the northern and southern parts of the district as some schools could struggle to accommodate the growing number of incoming students that coincide with housing developments in south Yuba County. While sixth grade has been added to some elementary campuses, district officials believe another middle school is necessary to address the growing student population in the long-term.

This bond measure will help finance the land acquisition and construction of a new middle school and related facilities, designed to address student housing needs and reduce school overcrowding. Districtwide, the bond measure will also fund other facilities projects such as new gyms at Foothill Intermediate School and Lindhurst High School along with various maintenance and modernization projects.

Moving forward, all bond measures for both districts will need to pass with 55% approval from voters. Marysville Joint Unified officials estimate that the highest tax levied tax rate would be around $45 per $100,000 for properties within district boundaries, should the bond measure pass. For Wheatland Union, officials estimate rates of $30 and $27 per $100,000 for each bond.