Lancer Lake is no more.

Measure G — the $159 million bond issue approved by Manteca Unified voters in November 2014 — is delivering on its promise.

A number of projects including at East Union High have chipped away at grading and other drainage issues at a number of the district’s nearly 40 campuses.

Victoria Brunn, the district’s chief business and information officer, confirmed the series of storms moving through Manteca and Lathrop has created only minor issues at MUSD campuses.

That include some leaks at school locations where needed roof work has yet to be done.

One wing at Neil Hafley School did lose power for over 30 minutes. The impacted students were moved to other available classroom space.

The district office also experienced some water damage. The structure is on the list of upcoming projects that will be addressed in the next several years.

Brunn also noted the district in advance of the series of storms stocked up on non-perishable food items in the event power outages impacted food service.

Manteca Unified did not close schools as neighboring Stockton Unified did for several days during the most severe weather. That decision dovetails with district policy that many students — who have parents that work — are safer in school than they would be at home in an event such as the series of severe storms.

The fact Manteca is flat and can easily be swamped in heavy rains was the reason the East Union High campus had a large flooded area every winter by the faculty parking lot that was dubbed Lancer Lake the year the campus opened 55 years ago. The school deployed pallets at that time as well.
An early yearbook photo has students in a small boat crossing Lancer Lake.
In recent years flooding became an issue on the East Union quad requiring the use of pallets. The problem was caused by a growing tree that had shifted sidewalks creating drainage issues.

The district previously estimated as much as 30 percent of improvements made possible by the Measure G bond wouldn’t be visible or readily obvious  to the public

That includes infrastructure such as electrical wiring and plumbing, grading, plus pavement and sidewalk replacement.

MUISD is preparing this near to start physical work on campus improvements that are funded with the $260 million Measure A bond voters approved in November 2020.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com