Manteca Unified expects to reach an enrollment of 24,971 students in the upcoming school year.
That is part of the premise that was used to build the $303.6 million budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1.

It reflects a 300 student enrollment increase over the school year that ended in May.

The budget adopted earlier this month reflects staffing — including vacancies yet to be filled – of 2,596 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees

That’s an increase of 76 FTE positions.

There are 1,330 certified staff — teachers primarily as well as counselors and such.

The district will have 991 classified workers.

The rest of the workforce is spread out between 126 school support and accountability positions, 57 classed supervisors, and 92 certificated administrators.

All of that makes Manteca Unified the largest employer — public or private – in South San Joaquim County that incudes Tracy, Lathrop, Ripon, Escalon, and Manteca.

Budget factors include

*A projected cost of living increase of 8.22 percent from the state.

*A 3 percent reserve for economic uncertainties of $12.1 million.

*Cash reserves of $17.4 million equal to 75% of one month’s cash flow.

*Projected restricted balance: of $44.1 million.

* Facility upgrades/deferred maintenance balance of $7 million.

*Instructional materials balance (Lottery funds) of $2.6 million.

The 2023-24 budget includes appropriations for the final year of millions in federal and state pandemic funds with a focus on student emotional assistance and instructional supports for learning recovery.

The district is strategically spending down one-time funds received by leveraging all resources to remove identified learning barriers for  students from the impacts of the pandemic and once again reaching a balanced zero-sum budget by the 2025-26 projection year.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com