The Manteca Unified school board has authorized spending $250,000 to conduct a robust exploration regarding the possibility of pursuing a performing arts complex at the district office location.

Trustees were clear they wanted to see extensive vetting of how such a complex could be utilized by elementary schools and even allow joint collaboration for programs. They also want to make sure a complex — if built — won’t take away from the individual high school facilities but instead would complement them.

To accomplish that they want extensive input from elementary school staff plus the high schools in the process of vetting what such a facility should look like.

And at the same time they want the cities of Manteca and Lathrop to have input as well.

MUSD Community Outreach Director Victoria Brunn noted the school district expects a performing arts center — if built — will be used by the community just as playing fields, gyms, swimming pools, multi-purpose rooms and even classrooms are.

It’s an approach Manteca City Manager Toby Wells embraces, noting Manteca Unified and the city have a strong working relationship in sharing facilities  given they have overlapping constituencies

Whether that ends up being part of a shared use agreement or the city possibly participating in some fashion if they decide it was an opportune time to partner in a more extensive manner with the schools to elevate the performing and static arts in the community would be up to the City Council.

Two decades go the city identified a desire to have a performing arts center. The effort went no further than a community based panel and a basic exploration by a consultant that determined that they’d like to see an 800-seat facility.  Such a facility was included in long range capital projects listed on a 10 to 20 years horizon with a ballpark cost estimate attached to it  in city budget documents for a number of years but was then dropped.

Brunn said besides school programs and community uses a performing arts center could serve as a central setting for teacher in service activities.

The study is essentially a clean slate. That means those involved working with a consultant will develop a program summary and conceptual design solution for the project. Initial planning costs will center on conceptual planning services including but not limited to; architectural design, educational & technical specifications, scoping documents, cost estimating, geotechnical investigations, and topographical surveys.

It would then be up to the school board to decide what to do next, if anything.

Preliminary cost for one central performing arts center at the district office complex has been pegged at $14.6 million.

It is not unusual in many districts for non-profits to use school venues for concerts such as what was offered by the now disbanded Manteca Kindred Arts organization and even community theatre groups.

What is unusual is for a district with multiple high school campuses to use a central site away from campuses to avoid duplicating not just construction costs but those connected with ongoing maintenance and operations.

The district campus at Louise Avenue – as the crow flies — is within a mile of East Union High, 1½  miles of Sierra High, 2½ miles of Manteca High, and 5 miles of Lathrop High.

State funds set aside for capital outlay will cover the cost of the study.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com