Manteca Unified is eliminating one of the two deputy superintendent positions.

The position has been vacant for almost a year after Clark Burke was named interim and then permanent superintendent following the resignation of Jason Messer last year.

Messer justified the second deputy superintendent position several years ago based on administrative workload.

The school board when they meet Tuesday will also consider eliminating:

*one 8-hour administrative assistant in the Education Services Department.

*four 7-hour Site Kitchen Operators in the Nutrition Education Department.

*one 5-hour Nutrition Service Assistant in the Nutrition Education Department.

*three 3.75-hour Nutrition Service Assistants in the Nutrition Education Department.

*four 2.75-hour Nutrition Service Assistants in the Nutrition Education Department.

*two 2.5-hour Nutrition Service Assistants in the Nutrition Education Department.

*one2-hour Nutrition Service Assistant in the Nutrition Education Department.

*one 1.5-hour Nutrition Service Assistant in the Nutrition Education Department.

*one 1.25-hour Nutrition Service Assistant in the Nutrition Education Department.

*one 1-hour, Nutrition Service Assistant in the Nutrition Education Department.

In addition 12 classified positions are having their hours reduced primarily in Nutritional Services.

The eliminating of positions and cutback of hours reflect efforts by the district to keep nutritional services in line with revenue and expenses as well as to avoid tapping into general fund money that would take away from classroom funding. A budget advisory committee consisting of board members, certificated and classified staff as well as California School Employee Association representatives made the recommendations.

The result will be the elimination of early breakfast at Manteca, East Union, Sierra, Lathrop, and Weston Ranch high schools although the later breakfast known as brunch that has the same menu will be retained. The 7 a.m. breakfasts at each high school typically serve 10 to 15 students. Brunch, that takes place at 9 a.m., usually serves 300 to 400 students at each comprehensive campus.

Meal periods will be consolidated from two to one at the comprehensive high schools except for Manteca High as that campus’ cafeteria is too small for such a move. The district is also consolidating 11 production kitchens into six locations.

 There has been a drop-off in students buying school lunches while at the same time the district is struggling to recover 100 percent of its lunch charges.

Reduced federal funding for Title I impacting augment student instruction required the elimination of positions as well. The district, however, was able to move the impacted certificated employees into other positions due to attrition and enrollment growth.

Elimination of one of the two deputy superintendent position frees up roughly $200,000 in the budget to address financial challenges the district in facing in order to meet state law requiring balanced budgets for three years going forward.

The board on Tuesday will also consider:

*awarding a $257,000 bid to F&H Construction to control access to the center courtyard from the surrounding parking lot at Lathrop High to enhance campus safety and security.

*awarding a $249,000 bid to VSS International for a slurry seal and striping of the Stella Brockman School play court.

*awarding a $287,000 bid to Diede Construction to convert a general education classroom to a home economics classroom at Lathrop High. The work is being funded by a Career Technical Education Incentive Grant.

*a proposal crafted by student board representatives that worked on a committee regarding decorating high school graduation caps.

The school board meets at Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the district office, 2271 W. Louise Ave.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com