There will be no functional difference within three years between elementary schools inside Manteca’s city limits whether it is the oldest (Lincoln School) built in 1952 or the newest (Veritas School) built in 2007 and those in between.
That’s when the Manteca Unified School District will have completed building multipurpose rooms at all elementary schools as part of its modernization and upgrade efforts.
It is the direct result of the school board putting in motion an initiative led by Facilities Director Aaron Bowers to assure that bond funds approved by voters make sure students — regardless of where their school is located or the year it was built — have equitable access to educational opportunities made possible by having the same facilities in terms of functionality.
On Tuesday, the board moved forward with another wave of school facility projects.
It includes two projects — one at Cowell School and one at New Haven School — that will include new multipurpose rooms.
When completed all elementary schools will have comparable multiple purpose rooms in terms of function.
District Superintendent Clark noted that besides assuring equity in terms of programs that can be offered, the upgrade projects also help instill school pride as well as have a positive impact on home values.
The district effort to make sure all elementary campuses have multipurpose rooms that can serve as cafeterias, handle school assemblies, and encompass physical education, and sports programs started 20 years ago.
That’s when the district joined up with the City of Manteca to take advantage of a state program that funded community gyms when cities and school districts use them as joint facilities.
The first to be built were at Golden West and Shasta schools.
The $159 million Measure G bond passed in 2014 has helped fund most of the remaining new multipurpose room projects.
The $260 million Measure A bonds approved in 2020 are now funding projects at East Union and Manteca high schools. They will also be used to continue modernization and other efforts at elementary campuses and the other district highs schools.
Burke pointed out bond money will end up doing as promised, which is essentially have an impact on school facilities throughout the district.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com