Groundbreaking for the all-weather track at Sierra High is planned for Monday, Aug. 17.

Last week, the Manteca Unified school board unanimously approved the $401,355 bid of Ross F. Carroll, Inc. of Oakdale for construction of the nine-lane synthetic surface at Daniel Teicheira Memorial Stadium.

Trustee Manuel Medeiros, for one, was thrilled that the project came in $100,000 less than expected.

Added Greg Leland, the school’s athletic director: “In no shape or form is the expense for the project coming from the (MUSD) general fund.”

His group consisting of track coach Anthony Chapman and community members Sharon Amick and Don Widmer was successful in attaining grants and donations to help defray cost.

Included is the $500 donation from the Manteca Unified Student Trust – or MUST – along with $45,840 from the SHS Grant and $100,000 in other donations.

Amick, meanwhile, has been the brainchild of the Brick Project, which is also part of the stadium beautification. Donors here could post their name and a message on either a 4-by-8 inch brick or an 8-by-8 brick, with the cost varying based on the size of the brick and format.

The project will consist of the all-weather track and not the football field, which will remain a natural surface.

The work could be completed by November and in plenty of time for spring of 2010, according to Leland.

The facility at Sierra, in recent years, has served as host to the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life, Manteca Convention & Visitors Bureau’s Manteca Senior Games, and the MUST track and field events. Next up could be the Tom Moore Relays from Modesto and activities from the Manteca Parks and Recreation Department.

Sierra will also join Oakdale and Sonora as the only Valley Oak League schools with the synthetic track surface.

To reach reporter Vince Rembulat, e-mail vrembulat@mantecabulletin.com