Approval of Proposition 2 — the $10 billion bond measure for modernizing public school facilities on the Nov. 5 ballot — would likely mean at least $68 million to further improve Manteca Unified campuses.
That’s because Manteca Unified has a number of approved projects on a waiting list eligible for “reimbursement” from the $4 billion portion of the bond set aside for modernization.
The $68 million actually represents the state’s share of completed projects — and endeavors underway to modernize facilities funded with two local bond measures.
They are the $159 million Measure G bonds voters approved in 2014 and the $260 million Measure A bonds voters approved in 2020.
Local bond receipts were used to cover the state’s share of eligible construction projects while waiting on the promise of being reimbursed.
As of June 20, the school district has received $22.7 million from the state toward Measure G work such as what was done at Golden West, Lincoln, Sequoia, and Lathrop elementary schools to name a few.
The “reimbursement” is essential in order for the district to have funds to tackle the third and fourth phases of the modernization endeavors at the 104 year-old Manteca High campus and the 58 year-old East Union High campus as well as work at the 16 year-old L:athrp High campus.
Manteca Unified has been methodical in first advancing bond projects that qualified for state matching fund to take advantage of the dwindling pool of available funds in Sacramento.
At the same time, doing so has put them in the queue for state funds when there is money available to cover additional projects such as most of the $68 million tied to projects that Sacramento has already approved for reimbursement.
Further reimbursement than what the district has already received is contingent on the state having the money to do so. Proposition 2 will help cover the tab.
Manteca Unified has other Measure A projects that may qualify for state funding yet to be approved by Sacramento.
The approach the district took means the combined $419 million between the two local bonds could in reality cover the cost of at least $509 million in facility upgrades when state funding is provided.
A districtwide assessment five years ago identified just over $550 million of modernization need in constant 2019 dollars.
As schools continue to age and construction inflation eats into funding, there will be a shortfall of tackling all the needs identified in the facility master plan.
That said, the district — when all is said and done — will have been able to tackle a vast majority of the facility modernization and upgrades they set out to tackle with the two bond measures.
They have stretched local bond dollars further by taking advantage of restricted funds to address some projects listed in the facilities master plan.
The biggest item is the replacement of aging HVAC systems that the state made a priority and provided funds for — during the pandemic.
That money freed up bond money that would have gone toward HVAC replacement.
Given there are more than 1,600 classrooms in addition to support facilities districtwide, the HVAC work represents a substantial cost savings in bond expenditures.
It should be noted state school bonds are secured by the state’s general fund and not property tax as in the case of local school bonds.
Proposition 2 also includes $3.3 billion for new construction.
The bulk of that is likely to go to build new facilities for state mandate transitional kindergarten classes.
Manteca Unified is pursuing an early education campus on Tinnin Road for kindergarten and transitional kindergarten that would be eligible for funding from that portion of Proposition 2.
Proposition 2 also includes $115 million for lead in water testing and remediation, $600 million for career technical education, and $600 million for charter schools.
The district, which received state funding for the CTE complex recently built at East Union, is also seeking funding for a new CTE faciality at Manteca a High.
As such, that part of the bond could relieve local property taxpayers of costs connected with building a CTE complex at Manteca High.
California’s public schools serve more than 6 million students at 10,000-plus schools in more than 300,000 classrooms — 70% of which are more than 25 years old.
Schools statewide are projected to need about $117 billion for facilities. About 69% of that amount is needed for school maintenance and modernization— updating science labs and adding computers, for example — while only 10% is needed to keep pace with enrollment or address overcrowding.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
