Lathrop’s second high school is targeted to be open by 2022.
The campus will be built on the western portion of the 4,800-acre planned River Islands community.
An informational meeting is taking place Thursday, Nov. 1, at 6:30 p.m. in the gym of the River Islands Technology Academy.
The timeline for the new campus isn’t likely to be impacted by funding as Cambay Group is expected to step up and advance the money as they did for the initial River Islands school that cost $25 million and was up and running before the first home as even sold in the 11,000-home development. Cambay Group also bankrolled an $8 million campus for the River Islands Tech Academy where the informational meeting will take place.
River Islands is currently part of the Banta School District as well as the Tracy Union High School District.
Cambay Group Project Manager Susan Dell’Osso said Banta is now looking at becoming a unified district that could mean ultimately they would oversee and run all public schools in River Islands.
There are already 1,094 homes sold with 847 families moved in as of Monday. If current trends continue, River islands could have more than 2,500 homes sold by then with 2,000 families living in the planned community.
River Islands residents will be asked at the meeting whether they would want to see the new high school operate as a charter high school or a traditional high school. Questions such as how robust of a sports program the community would like to see will be asked.
Dell’Osso noted some area schools including in Tracy are now struggling to have enough players to support three levels of play — freshmen, junior varsity, and varsity. She pointed out football stadiums take a significant expense to build. If ultimately enough support isn’t for football it might not be offered.
The meeting will also touch on whether the campus should open initially with 9th and 10th graders.
The targeted initial enrollment is 1,600 students with the campus ultimately accommodating 2,000 students.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
