Your Tax Dollars at Work

Measure GOver the last few years, you may have seen signs stating “Your Measure G Dollars at Work!” posted at various school sites throughout the Manteca Unified School District and wondered what exactly that means. In 2014, The $159 million Measure G bond was passed by local voters, enabling MUSD to implement health and safety upgrades, complete major maintenance projects, and modernize schools and classrooms to create better learning spaces for students. Priorities were determined and projects were designed based on our 5-10 Year Facilities Plan to ensure that school needs are met and tax payer dollars are being spent responsibly.

Fire Alarm systemMeasure G was planned with three phases of construction projects. Phase 1 focused exclusively on modernization, new buildings, and safety upgrades at six schools: Golden West, Lathrop, Lincoln, Neil Hafley, Sequoia, and Shasta. Phase 2 consisted of extensive modernization projects at four elementary schools (French Camp, McParland, New Haven, and Nile Garden) with projects including new classrooms, multi-purpose buildings, and “learning commons” which are a hub for both physical and digital learning that enhance opportunities for students. Additionally, all schools addressed under Measure G received new or upgraded video surveillance, fire alarms, and paging systems to further improve school safety.

The new gym under construction at Manteca HighElementary schools are not the only sites that have benefitted from local tax dollars. Phase 2 also covered extensive work at East Union, Manteca, and Sierra High Schools. Manteca High built 10 new classrooms and a new quad area with the closure of Garfield Avenue that formerly bisected the campus. Under Phase 2, Manteca will also receive a new large gym, pool, and softball field as well as more parking.

East Union is now home to a new Ag Center, greenhouse, and a renovated wood/metal shop plus modernized classrooms. Additionally, Sierra High School saw improvements to deteriorating athletic facilities, renovations to career education facilities, and replacement of the main parking lot as well as a variety of smaller scale projects keeping the campus safe for students.

The above construction funded by 2014’s Measure G, as well as other sources, was well underway when schools closed due to the pandemic. Initially, the construction teams took advantage of the shut down and ramped up their work schedules when most students were distance-learning. While the pandemic resulted in supply chain slowdowns and disruptions, the MUSD Facilities & Operations teams realigned their plans and adjusted resources to continue meeting their goals. Measure G Phase 2 construction is anticipated to finish in August 2022 and plans for the next step are forming.

Board Approves 1st Series of Bonds: In November, the MUSD Board of Education approved the 1st series of bonds from Measure A for $65 million. This is the first of several series of bonds that will be sold over the next eight years. Each time a series of bonds are sold, MUSD will receive the funding for the next phase of construction.

Measure AIn 2020, the $260 million bond Measure A passed with approval from 57.66% of local voters. Measure A will provide dedicated facility funding, in alignment with our 5-10 Year Facilities Plan, continue upgrading classrooms and facilities for safe in-person learning: improving campus security/emergency communication systems; addressing aging electrical, heating/ventilation, roofs, and plumbing, and updating job training facilities.

This allocation of taxpayer dollars will have a big impact on Manteca Unified. MUSD will now be able to leverage Measure G and A together to fund more robust projects with Phase 3 of Measure G integrating with Phase 1 of Measure A.

Measure A Phase 1 will continue modernization of the Manteca and East Union High School campuses. Master Plans and Schematic Design Proposals for Manteca and East Union projects were approved by the Board of Education on September 14. These preliminary plans are subject to change during the months of planning until construction begins anew.