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A majority of Portland Public Schools board members back a plan to ask voters in May to support a construction bond valued between $745 million and $790 million.

All board members earlier this week attended a bond work session where options were discussed, and all appeared to support floating the bond in May, as opposed to November.

PPS’ previous bond measure, passed by voters in November 2012, was for $482 million. Prior to that, a bond measure in May 2011 failed.

The board recently wrapped up listening sessions with the public. Two options remain: one covering $745 million of work, and the other covering $790 million.

A consultant contracted by PPS confirmed that two options are being considered.

With enrollment growing, the district’s facilities are at crowding levels. Deferred maintenance is another issue. PPS has only two buildings younger than 50 years old. Some are older than 100. The average age is 76.

But the district’s first priority is to upgrade its high schools.

Under all plans now being considered, a new Lincoln High School would be built. Benson Polytechnic High School would get a total remodel. Madison High School would receive considerable remodels to separate sections of campus.

Much of the bond total would go toward efforts to address health and safety issues. Lead found in PPS schools’ fixtures has been a major issue, and ultimately led to the resignation of former board president Carole Smith.

Lead paint, radon and asbestos have been found at all PPS schools. Many facilities require seismic remediation. The bond money also would cover improvements tied to the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Several questions remain, and their answers will affect which option the board eventually selects. The district is considering re-drawing school boundaries, in which case it may need to reopen the shuttered Kellogg Middle School. The school would require considerable upgrades, partly due to sitting idle with a leaky roof for more than a decade. It’s also possible that the district would opt to build a new middle school, which would cost around $47 million.

A May ballot measure has the board’s support.

鈥淲e need to get at the health safety piece,鈥� board member Steve Buel said. 鈥淲e need to fix the lead in the water. We need to get at the lead paint. We need to get at the radon. We need to take care of the asbestos. We need to do it 鈥� it’d be great to do all that tomorrow.鈥�

A public survey closed Friday afternoon. The board will hold a work session Monday to consider its remaining options.