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Manteca Adult School classes start Monday
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The first day back for most students earlier this month in the Manteca Unified School District was a bit different this year for Brad Harrison.

Instead of being greeted by a student body of about 1,500 or so, he was inside the Manteca Adult School with familiar faces.

Harrison is the new principal at the Manteca Adult School, taking over from Diane Medeiros.

“I’ve known Brad since I started working (at MUSD) 28 years ago,” said office manager Terese Rieb on Monday.

Back then, they were both at the old Lindbergh School site under then-principal Howard Holtzman. 

For the past eight years, Harrison was an administrator at Weston Ranch High. Prior to that, he was at East Union.

“I’ve worked in high schools for so many years,” he said. “This is different.”

Rather than having students in the classrooms, Harrison’s program had adults of all ages registering for classes for the upcoming year.

Included are the free English Language Learners or English as a Second Language classes – as needed to prepare for citizenship – or Adult Basic Education, High School Equivalency and High School Diploma courses for the 2019-20 school year.

Not offered is a General Education Diploma or GED. The Manteca Adult School can help those finish their diploma via High School and / or High School Equivalency preparatory classes.

“An adult school diploma is not necessarily better than a high school diploma,” said MUSD lead counselor Larry Machado. “(Counselors) spend quite a bit of time asking on the type of diploma they need and the time frame.”

Most, he added, are high school-educated adults in need some sort of documentation required for their work.

The Manteca Adult School can provide new job skills.

Included are welding classes, which, according to Maker Space / Manufacturing Tech Ryan Costa, are offered three days a week.

For a fee, Career Technical Education – part of the Manteca Adult School – offers courses in Commercial Driving Fundamentals, Basic Forklift Operations, Intro to Computers, Timed Typing Certification, Keyboard Basics, Microsoft Excel & Word, Makers’ Space Fabrication & Manufacturing Basics, Entrepreneurship and Intro to Business, to name a few.

“We’re in the process of revamping our computer application for work force development, using Microsoft applications,” Costa said.

Classes begin Monday. Registration, however, will conclude until classes are filled, Rieb said.

Harrison is thrilled to be reunited with the likes of Machado, Costa and Rieb. He’s worked with each during his 29-year career at MUSD.

“It’s been awesome,” he said of his new post. “I’m looking forward to this new challenge.”

In addition, the Manteca Adult School, for the second year, houses the San Joaquin County WorkNet program under the directions of employment-training specialist Ellie San-Solis.

She’s more than happy to meet with students to help determine their eligibility for WorkNet services, from classroom to on-the-job training, to job placement. Call San-Solis at 209.239.3315 for more information.

The Manteca Adult School is open to anyone 18 and older or emancipated minors, offering some of the best options for those to attain their educational or career goals.

“We’re becoming a one-stop shop for our adult students,” said Rieb.

Flyers for the program can now be found in the southwest Stockton community of Weston Ranch.

RTD’s newest bus route is nearby the Manteca Adult School, 2271 W. Louise Ave.

For more information, call 209.858.7330 or log on to www.mantecausd.net/mantecaadultschool.