Two more homes are being purchased along Mikesell Avenue by Manteca Unified that will be torn down to help make way for new classrooms at Manteca High.

The school board is expected to approve the purchase of 554 and 558 Mikesell Avenue with $830,000 of the district’s share of redevelopment agency funds when they meet tonight at 7 p.m.

That will leave one remaining property to acquire along Mikesell needed to clear the way for an expansion of the 102 year-old campus.

The classrooms that are expected to number around 20 will be built as the first phase of Measure A bond projects. They will be built near the 10 classrooms funded with Measure G bond proceeds that were completed last September adjacent to where the new bus drop-off zone was constructed on Mikesell Avenue where it turns into Garfield Avenue near the Winter Gym.

The district may also build a new woodshop along with the classrooms. They are seeking a career technical education grant from the state as they did to fund the new ag education complex at East Union High.

The first phase work would then make it possible to build a two-story classroom building backing up to Sherman Avenue.

The phased approach eliminates the need to bring portable classrooms onto the campus to house students during construction.

Once the 20 classrooms are completed plans call for demolishing 29 classrooms with the option to keep Wing 20 during the phase for an additional four useable classrooms.

The new 2-story building along Sherman Avenue will include 32 classrooms connected with a new media center.

It will be similar to the 2-story classroom structure being built at East Union High with some adjustments made. That will allow the district to reduce the cost of construction plans.

It should be noted the district is constantly evaluating options to maximum the expenditure of bond money and provide the most optimum facilities for education programing.

As an example, plans had called for portables to be placed for interim housing while the two-story classroom structure was built at Manteca High. Reviewing options, the current plan now calls for permanent classrooms to be built first thanks to the acquisition of residential property to reduce costs.

 Earlier this summer the district completed the purchase of the Pacific Motel along Moffat Boulevard to expand the student parking lot.

The additional parking was needed to accommodate a campus that is being expanded from 1,750 student capacity to 2,250 to accommodate growth.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com