East Union High opened as the second Manteca high school campus 59 years ago this month, not on North Union Road, but with sophomores in the older section of Manteca High where the fabled tower once stood.
A steel strike had delayed construction triggering the need for the shared campus arrangement.
The North Union Road campus, when it opened a year later, was considered to be “out in the country.”
To the north of the campus was corn fields. To the east, onion fields and to the west almonds. South of the campus was more irrigated farmland.
The late Dick Durham, who was a former principal, recalled in a 2006 interview taking his vice principal and going out and rousting students who had left campus during the school day to retreat to a smoking area they had created in the middle of the corn field by flattening stalks.
There also would be routine patrols of the irrigation canals in areas south of the campus to herd others who had cut class and get them back to campus.
The nearby “country” is long gone as anyone can tell who might get a look out of a second story window of the new multi-story classroom building Wednesday, Sept. 17, for the 6 p.m. official ribbon cutting and transformation for what could be called East Union High 2.0 thanks to a $65 million infusion of Measure A bond funding.
East Union High School invites students, families, alumni, and the community to celebrate “a new era of learning and opportunity with the unveiling of its newly modernized campus” that will include tours of the new facilities.
A ribbon-cutting Event will take place on Wednesday, September 17, at 6:00 p.m., marking the completion of a significant transformation project.
The celebratory event will begin with brief remarks and a ribbon-cutting, followed by campus tours.
Highlights include:
*A state-of-the-art two-story classroom building with 31 classrooms, a media center, and learning stairs
*A new student quad with stage
*A fully equipped agricultural center
A renovated student parking lot
*An upgraded athletic stadium
*A newly constructed small gym and weight/wrestling room
*And a special brick dedication area, recognizing the people and spirit that helped build East Union’s legacy
The ribbon cutting is part of homecoming week activities.
*The homecoming parade is Thursday, Sept. 18, at 11:30 a.m. along neighborhood streets near East Union High.
*The new Jim Brown Weight Room dedication ceremony is on Friday, Sept. 19, at 5:30 p.m.
*The homecoming game is Friday, Sept. 19, at 7 p.m.
The bond proceeds, along with reimbursement from the state for its share of the work from Proposition 2 bond money, is expected to fund the following projects as well at East Union High between now and 2028:
*2026/2027 SCHOOL YEAR: Administration/attendance building modernization, large gym modernization, small gym modernization, new driveway and parking lot expansion accessed from Northgate Drive, and removal of the rest of the portable classrooms.
*2027/2028 SCHOOL YEAR: Pool renovation and renovation of the locker rooms.
Proceeds from the $159 million Measure G bond approved in 2016 have already paid for the renovation of older classrooms down to the framework as well as upgrading restrooms, plus addressed campuswide infrastructure issues.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
