Manteca Unified — for the second time in its history — is taking steps to open three new elementary campuses basically at the same time.
The school board last week awarded contracts that will result in two new elementary campuses south of the 120 Bypass — one northwest of McKinley and Woodward avenues and the other on Tinnin Road — along with the Ethel Allen School in Lathrop being completed in 2027.
The last time three schools started construction concurrently and opened at roughly the same time was in 1988-1990 with the Brock Elliott, Stella Brockman, and George McParland campuses.
The three new transitional kindergarten through eighth grade campuses are being funded with $80 million in community facilities district bonds with matching state funds from the $10 billion statewide school bond approved in November.
The two bonds will provide the district with $130 million for new school construction.
The three elementary campuses are expected to cost the district $125 million to build.
The cost would have been higher if the district hadn’t taken steps years ago to secure the three sites.
Based on today’s land prices, of the district had to buy the property now it could have pushed the cost up to $140 million.
Whatever is left of the $150 million, will be tapped to help fund other new school facilities.
Possible identified projects include additional classrooms at Sierra High as well as Lincoln and Sequoia elementary schools.
The new school construction is separate from the $260 million Measure A bond work now underway.
The bond was approved by voters in 2020 for the purpose of modernizing and improving safety at existing campuses.
Manteca Unified was formed in 1966.
It’s is currently closing in on 26,000 students at campuses in Manteca, Lathrop, Weston Ranch in Stockton, and French Camp.
By the time the three elementary campuses are completed, the district is likely to be well on its way to 27,000 students.
To put that in perspective that’s almost 9,000 additional students or roughly close to a 50 percent increase over the Manteca Unified enrollment of 18,729 in 2000.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
