Manteca Unified voters on March 3 are being asked to approve a $260 million bond known as Measure R.

It is the third bond the district has sought in 16 years. Measure R is designed to tackle part of the $427 million in unfunded school facility needs that are strictly related to existing facilities, infrastructure, and grounds to address primarily safety, structural and modernization needs.

The 2004 bond known as Measure M has been spent. More than $35 million of the $66 million went to projects in Lathrop including the building of Lathrop High that opened in 2008. Some $23 million of the bond issue that was wedded with Mello-Roos and growth fees to construct the high school. Another $10.4 million helped build Mossdale School and $684,000 toward a new Lathrop Elementary Gym.

Among other projects that combined Measure M bond proceeds with other money were the Stella Brockman Annex at $3,418,852; Shasta School’s joint-use gym at $1,380,578; East Union High’s gym and shops at $1,174,360; and, East Union’s swimming pool at $1,024,192.

Other schools that benefited from the Measure M funds are New Haven Elementary (library and six classrooms), Weston Ranch High (joint-use library), Stella Brockman (joint-use gym), Nile Garden (library and classroom), Manteca High (field house), East Union (boys locker room, phase one), French Camp School (library and classroom), New Haven (parking lot), Lincoln School (HVAC multi-purpose room), Sierra High (faculty conversion), East Union (boys locker room, phase two), East Union (band room conversion), Sequoia Elementary (multi-purpose room), and American Disability improvements.
The $159 million Measure G bond passed in 2014 focused on modernization and safety.
Work using Measure G proceeds have been completed at the first six schools — Lincoln, Lathrop, Shasta, Golden West, Neil Hafley and Sequoia. The six schools represent $60.5 million worth of Measure G projects.

Construction is in progress using Measure G funds on three other schools. It includes $15 million in bond receipts combined with growth fees, and RDA funds for an overall $41 million project that will include a new large gym, swimming pool, classroom construction, and modernization and safety improvements throughout the campus.

Some $7 million in bond provides are going to an overall $16.1 million project at Nile Garden School that includes a new multipurpose room.

There are $13.1 million in Measure G projects now under way that includes modernization of existing classrooms and improved drop-off for students.

There are additional projects targeted for the remaining Measure G receipts.

The three up next are New Haven, French Camp, and McParland elementary schools.

Like most other Measure G projects, the school district only has enough bond money left to address just part of the identified needs.

New Haven School will receive $6.1 million in Measure G bonds for top priority work leaving $5.9 million in projects unfunded. There are $23 million in facility needs at French Camp School with Measure G funds being available to knock down only $7 million worth of projects. McParland School has funding set aside for $9.7 million worth of work with Measure G covering $8.5 million of that amount and growth fees the rest. That will leave $3.4 million in unfunded work at McParland.

After Measure G funds are exhausted, there are still structural and maintenance needs to meet basic safety and operational standards such as electrical wiring for tech heavy 21st century classrooms as well as making sure the taxpayers’ investment in school facilities is protected at all 32 Manteca Unified school sites. Overall the current need to upgrade classrooms and support facilities such as gyms, locker rooms, libraries, cafeterias, and restrooms comes in at $427 million.

The $260 million bond, if approved, will address a large chunk of identified deficiencies. The money will not add additional space but instead will make sure the $1 billion plus taxpayer investment represented by the 2.6 million square feet of various education facilities spread across 32 campuses is protected.

The school in the biggest need is Manteca High with $62 million worth of work left to be done after the current $41 million combo Measure G and growth fee funded project is done. Close behind is East Union High with $49 million in identified work that needs to be done beyond the $11 million plus being addressed with Measure G funds.

In Lathrop the biggest issues are at Joseph Widmer School built in 2001 that is in need of $10.7 million worth of work.

Measure R requires 55 percent of votes cast to be in the affirmative to be approved. It will impose a tax of $60 per $100,000 of assessed value. That means if your home has an assessed value under Proposition 13 of $300,000, you would pay an additional $180 a year in taxes.