Manteca Innovations is off and running.
That’s the Independent Study program for ninth- through- 12th- grade students and older of the Manteca Unified School District.
Formerly known as BE.Tech, Manteca Innovations is part of the district’s Careers Technical Education pathway – a program of study that integrates core academic knowledge with technical occupational knowledge.
Manteca Adult School Principal Brad Harrison oversees the CTE programs at the district office complex and Lathrop High that were in the making since last spring. Classes at the latter include industrial maintenance/industrial maintenance, welding/fabrication, intro to fire science, and first responder/emergency medicine.
“I think we’ve finally ironed out the kinks,” he said Wednesday of the restructured MUSD program.
Ryan Costa has talked to employers about the needs for warehouse workers outside of the entry-level positions or higher paying jobs for better living wages in the area.
“They’re looking for people who know how to fix a hydraulic system or repair an electro-pneumatic system. They want someone who can be a jack of all trades,” he said.
For that, Manteca Innovations offer skill and resources with some of the latest technology in machinery and instructors with the know-how.
Angela Ott is a teacher and a longtime EMT with the Manteca District Ambulance. On this day, she had students in her Intro to Fire Science doing turnout drills – the goal for them is to quickly don their fire equipment gear in under a minute.
Luke Abreu from Sierra High accomplished that feat in 39 seconds.
“Time is of the essence (in an emergency situation),” Ott said.
James Ward’s background is in combat medicine. He came to MUSD about 10 years ago in search of P.E. job but was more than qualified to teach emergency medicine.
His students – they’re from Sierra, Manteca High, East Union, Weston Ranch and Lathrop – can take the National Registry Test for EMTs before they graduate from high school.
Costa and Mike Patterson teach classes that are closely related.
Costa is a longtime instructor at MUSD. Here, he teaches the industrial maintenance / industrial manufacturing courses.
“We’ve structured our money and resources into this program,” he said.
Students, who can earn occupational credentials and micro-credentials via Smart Automation Certification Alliance, are trained using the Electrical Wiring Learning, Applied Electrical Control, and the AC/DC Electrical – all by Amatrol’s innovative, interactive training systems– to name a few.
In addition, Costa has classes in advanced manufacturing, using laser and plasma cutting tables and 3-D printers.
“My classes piggy back on Ryan’s program,” said Patterson, who taught BE.Tech classes at the district for six years.
He instructs a variety of welding and fabrication classes, using cutting-edge equipment.
Patterson, who operates a full machine shop at LHS, was thankful for a recent donation from CBC Steel Buildings of Lathrop – $40,000 worth of steel.
Harrison was equally grateful.
“This shop is state of the art. Our kids are lucky to have a place like this,” he said.
Along with learning a trade and a certification, students in Manteca Innovations, as a career pathway, receive further job-skill training via advanced classes at Modesto Junior College, Delta College or a trade school of their choice.
Harrison, Costa and others have worked with local junior colleges to provide a bridge with this program as well as the Manteca Adult School.
For more information, call 209.858.7330 or log on to adultschool@musd.net.
