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Board buys land for French Camp site
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FRENCH CAMP ­— Jason Messer calls it “shovel-ready” stimulus money.

According to the superintendent of the Manteca Unified School District, the funding source that’s being used to help purchase some additional land adjacent to French Camp School is different to that of the one-time stimulus package earmarked for education due anytime from the federal government.

“These are contingency dollars used to cover the amount on this project and others,” Messer said at last Tuesday’s school board meeting.

Trustees gave their OK on the purchase of 2.754 acres on Ash Street between the school site and the French Camp Mission of the Good Shepherd.

Their approval came with the caveat that Manteca Unified and the Catholic diocese hammer out an agreement that’s feasible to both parties.

Not too long ago, the board approved the construction of multi-purpose facility planned at the site of the outdoor amphitheater used for the eighth-grade promotion ceremonies and assemblies.

“I think we really needed that additional acreage,” said board member Manuel Medeiros, who helped broker the deal.

As for cost, the additional land was made possible by the voter-approved Measure M money, general obligation bond, the afore mentioned stimulus funds, and $2,986 from the general fund.

The appraised value of the property is $99.474 per acre, tallying $275,900, with the total cost of the project, including survey, closing costs, preliminary title report and other fees, at $547,487.

The district plans to make use of the additional land for either more classrooms or playground area.