Four elementary schools —  Brock Elliott, Stella Brockman, Joshua Cowell and August Knodt — are part of the next wave of Manteca Unified modernization projects.

Upwards of $35.1 million may be spent on the proposed laundry list of projects.

The biggest overall ticket item is removing and replacing a number of the 47 portable classrooms across the four campuses.

 The Manteca Unified school board Tuesday authorized spending $500,000 on preliminary design work needed to move modernization work forward.

The four schools were built between 30 and 35 years ago. All but August Knodt are within Manteca’s city limits. August Knodt is in the Weston Ranch portion of Stockton.

While the biggest funding source is Measure A — the $260 million bond voters approved in November of 2020 — other funding that can legally be used will be spent first.

An example is replacing HVAC system with state-of-the-art units that more effectively remove viruses and ither particles from the air could be funded with pass through federal COVID relief funds.

That way the more restrictive  money is spent first freeing up the bond funds — which have the least amount of spending restrictions for facility upgrades — to maximize taxpayer investment.

Projects besides portable classroom removal and replace being considered at the campuses include:

*JOSHUA COWELL: Constructing a new multi-use room, carpet replacement, irrigation and landscaping repairs, asphalt replacement, upgrade the kitchen, roof repairs, energy-related upgrades of the HVAC system and lighting, new toilets, playground replacement, parking lot replacement, asphalt replacement where trees are buckling road, video surveillance improvements, and fire alarms.

*STELLA BROCKMAN: Replacing surveillance cameras that aren’t working, concrete replacement where cracks are creating a safety issue, roof repairs, renovate kitchen, carpet replacement, field improvements, HVAC system and lighting energy efficiency upgrades, and playground replacement.

*BROCK ELLIOTT: Curbing, playground replacement, renovate kitchen, carpet replacement, replacing sidewalks in front, play yard asphalt repair, construct new multi-use room, replace tile/linoleum, energy upgrades for HVAC and lighting, and video surveillance improvements.

*AUGUST KNODT: Playground asphalt repair, concrete replacement, carpet replacement, roof repairs, flooding control near the old cafeteria, renovate kitchen, replace student gardens, field improvements where old portables were located, video surveillance improvements, replace playground, and energy-replate HVAC and lighting upgrades.

To contact Dennis Wyatt email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com