Manteca Unified students — and taxpayers — scored big in Tuesday’s election.

That is because passage of the $10 billion statewide bond measure known as Proposition 2 could end up sending $170 million to Manteca Unified for school modernization and new school construction.

And that will mean stepped up modernization projects, especially at the Manteca and East Union campuses, plus the start of new school construction.

It could result in school construction projects constantly taking place well into the next decade.

Manteca Unified is in a strong position to make that happen thanks to:

*local voter passage of the $159 million Measure G bonds in 2014 for school modernization.

*local voter passage of the $260 million Measure A bonds in 2020 for school modernization. 

*plans to accelerate the issuance of the already approved Measure A bonds

*a school board decision in August to authorize spending $1.2 million for the initial design for seven potential new construction projects, a critical component in applications for state bond money.

*trustees moving forward with the building of early education centers for transitional kindergarten and kindergarten at the Tinnin Road school site in south Manteca and the Ethel Allen school site in Lathrop.

*extensive tracking of foster kids, homeless kids, and low income kids that the district serves given state bond language weighs such factors in determining what schools get money for construction projects.

*the decision to issue $80 million in community facilities district bonds for CFDs in south Manteca and Lathrop that will provide the needed local match to secure funds for new construction.

The CFD bonds, coupled with any growth fees for facilities as well as additional CFD bonding capacity that remains, is essential to secure new school funding from the state.

The state bond language requires local contributions secured by property taxes to receive any money.

The same is true for modernization funds.

District Chief Business and Public Information Officer Victoria Brunn noted the state basically requires local school districts to build new schools or complete modernization projects first and then they can be reimbursed for the state’s share if bond funds are available.

The district has already been reimbursed for the state’s share of $22.7 million in Measure G modernization projects.

Another $96.1 million of state funding is already approved and waiting in the queue for funding in Sacramento.

And if the district does just $80 million in new school construction and is cleared for state reimbursement that could mean another $70 million for growth projects.

All in all, between the three bonds — two general obligation and the CFD issuance — as well as potential state reimbursement if it is all funded, MUSD could ended up with more than $600 million in completed modernization and new school projects.

Among the new school facility projects the MUSD board will be able to consider are:

*The building of a new elementary school in southwest Manteca on the site known as Tara Park.

*Expansion of Sierra High classrooms into the storm basin area along Winters Drive.

*Adding to the early education center campus (transitional kindergarten and kindergarten) on Tinnin Road in South Manteca to turn the site into a full elementary school, a high school, or both.

 *Adding classrooms to Lincoln School.

*Adding classrooms to Sequoia School.

*Adding classrooms to Nile Garden School on 8 acres the district recently purchased that extends the campus to Union Road.

*Adding to the early education center campus (transitional kindergarten and kindergarten) on the Ethel Allen school site in Lathrop Road to turn the site into a full elementary school.

The board, in starting the ball rolling in August on initial architectural design work, made it clear they were not dictating any particular order of facilities for the new school funding process.

Not all of the projects can be funded.

What ends up moving forward will be based on enrollment growth patterns, facility costs, and available funding.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com