Traffic flow before and after school — as well as student safety — will be significantly enhanced when students return to classes on Aug. 4 at five of the older elementary campuses in the Manteca Unified School District.
Parking lot and drop-off zones are part of the initial wave of campus improvements being funded by the $159 million Measure G bond.
“The goal is to have (all the drop-off and parking lot work) done by the time school starts,” Deputy Superintendent Clark Burke noted.
Burke added that there is a possibility that some of the parking lot and drop-off zone work might not be done in time. 
Other modernization work and new construction at Lincoln, Golden West, Sequoia, Lathrop, and Shasta schools will continue after school is in session. Work at the five schools is being targeted for completion by early 2017.
Burke said some students will be attending class in interim locations on the respective campuses until work is completed.
He noted that when work is completed the five campuses will all have improved functionality and enhanced safety.
The improved traffic, parking, and drop-off zone portion of the projects include:
SEQUOIA SCHOOL: Sequoia School will no longer face Martha Street as it has for more than a half a century. Instead, a new office is being built next to the multi-purpose room completed a few years back along Wawona Street.
LINCOLN SCHOOL: The 1950s era Lincoln School will have a new front entrance while the current entrance along Yosemite Avenue will be restored to its original look.
The new entrance along Powers Avenue is designed to improve security and significantly increase the safety of children going to and from school as well as reduce traffic congestion on Yosemite Avenue.
The circular driveway off Powers was removed and is being replaced with a larger one that will allow for a less congested drop off of students as well as establish one entrance to the campus for security purposes.
The existing main entrance door will be accessed only by teachers with keys plus will automatically close after it is opened. 
SHASTA SCHOOL: To improve security, a new office is being built along Edison Street with the existing complex at the center of the campus converted into classrooms. Where the portables were once located near Edison, additional parking is being provided. Traffic flow in the front of the school is also being enhanced.
LATHROP SCHOOL: Neighbors and parents alike have complained for years about the hodge podge situation regarding before and after school traffic at Lathrop School. The bond project is cleaning up the traffic issues, adding sidewalks, providing a bus drop off and creating one main entrance to the campus.
Reconstruction will include building a new office at the main entrance.