Climate activist were dismayed with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s decision to veto Senate Bill 394 heralded by its backers as a way to safeguard student health and learning.

The measure would have directed state agencies to create a master plan for healthy, sustainable and climate-resilient schools.

It’s an idea that Manteca Unified embraced more than seven years ago when it fashioned a facilities needs assessment that identified more than $600 million in work needed in the coming years to make sure long-range maintenance of classrooms and support facilities are addressed and done so in a manner that reflect changing needs.

The roll out of the first outdoor classroom at Neil Hafley School in  2020 is an example.

The need for an outside shade structure for students to use during recesses and lunch breaks morphed into an idea of creating space that  could also be used for learning.

Future outdoor classrooms that could do double duty as shade structures are part of the mix the district is pursuing to maximize facility dollars — bond money and whatever the state will distribute for school construction — to reflect modern leaning needs while also working to reduce the heat island effect.

Manteca Unified was among the first districts to go solar back in 2013.

As such it has a track record of working toward a goal of the legislation that Newsom rejected as too costly. And that is to cut fossil fuel pollution by upgrading schools with clean energy technologies that can provide cooling and clean air in classrooms.

The proceeds being undertaken with the $260 million Measure A bond receipts including placing infrastructure  in place to add additional solar panels on roofs as opposed to the current parking lot canopies. The new gym at Manteca High, for example, is ready to have solar installed.

The bond work also includes ways of employing trees and such to reduce the heat asphalt generates while at the same time making sure they are not the type of trees that  can severely damage concrete and asphalt.

The district, in using federal COVID money to buy portable air purifiers for every classroom, did so with the idea it would help reduce absenteeism for colds and flu as well as address air quality concerns from wildfires such as those occurring in recent weeks.

The district also is using COVID receipts to upgrade HVAC systems with more efficient units that also filter air more effectively.

“On any given afternoon in California, more than one million children are on school campuses looking for shade,” said Klein, co-founder of UndauntedK12 and California parent, in response to Newsom’s veto. “ Classrooms with antiquated HVAC systems are regularly sweltering and children's learning suffers.”

Newsom vetoed the bill based on projected costs.           

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com

 Climate activist were dismayed with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s decision to veto Senate Bill 394 heralded by its backers as a way to safeguard student health and learning.

The measure would have directed state agencies to create a master plan for healthy, sustainable and climate-resilient schools.

It’s an idea that Manteca Unified embraced more than seven years ago when it fashioned a facilities needs assessment that identified more than $600 million in work needed in the coming years to make sure long-range maintenance of classrooms and support facilities are addressed and done so in a manner that reflect changing needs.

The roll out of the first outdoor classroom at Neil Hafley School in  2020 is an example.

The need for an outside shade structure for students to use during recesses and lunch breaks morphed into an idea of creating space that  could also be used for learning.

Future outdoor classrooms that could do double duty as shade structures are part of the mix the district is pursuing to maximize facility dollars — bond money and whatever the state will distribute for school construction — to reflect modern leaning needs while also working to reduce the heat island effect.

Manteca Unified was among the first districts to go solar back in 2013.

As such it has a track record of working toward a goal of the legislation that Newsom rejected as too costly. And that is to cut fossil fuel pollution by upgrading schools with clean energy technologies that can provide cooling and clean air in classrooms.

The proceeds being undertaken with the $260 million Measure A bond receipts including placing infrastructure  in place to add additional solar panels on roofs as opposed to the current parking lot canopies. The new gym at Manteca High, for example, is ready to have solar installed.

The bond work also includes ways of employing trees and such to reduce the heat asphalt generates while at the same time making sure they are not the type of trees that  can severely damage concrete and asphalt.

The district, in using federal COVID money to buy portable air purifiers for every classroom, did so with the idea it would help reduce absenteeism for colds and flu as well as address air quality concerns from wildfires such as those occurring in recent weeks.

The district also is using COVID receipts to upgrade HVAC systems with more efficient units that also filter air more effectively.

“On any given afternoon in California, more than one million children are on school campuses looking for shade,” said Klein, co-founder of UndauntedK12 and California parent, in response to Newsom’s veto. “ Classrooms with antiquated HVAC systems are regularly sweltering and children's learning suffers.”

Newsom vetoed the bill based on projected costs.           

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com