Measure A+ for Schools Its official, San Joaquin County’s certified results from the 2020 general presidential election published on December 3rd declares ‘Measure A’ a passed bond measure with a 57.66% YES vote. In total, 30,143 registered voters agreed with the $260 million measure dedicated to advance student/teacher health and safety on campus. “We are ecstatic,” said Aaron Bowers, Director of Maintenance and Operations in MUSD. “This measure will integrate with Measure G [2016], furthering the work Measure G started and funding $260 million of our $427 million of identified unfunded needs.” Measure A is comprised of 5 guiding priorities. One priority being specific and solely dedicated to new health concerns relating to COVID-19. This priority advances learning and teaching environments including improvements to indoor air quality, touchpoint reductions such as lighting and door hardware, permanent hand washing stations, kiosks for symptom checking/temperatures, and construction of outdoor learning environments.
extensive and phased modernization work already employed, these schools will be the first to see contributions from Measure A based on prior board authorization. Manteca High, celebrating its centennial, is seeing a new large gym, softball field, swimming pool, parking lot and 10 classroom buildings. At East Union, the school will have a new Ag shop, classrooms, lighting upgrades, and locker-room remodel. (View the full 5-10-year Facilities Plan) “Great schools begin in great communities,” expressed Bowers. “I am proud to live and work in this community that collectively agrees to protect and provide for our students.” The Board of Education will officially acknowledge the passing of Measure A at the January 19th Board meeting.
Bowers explained that although we are guided by the premising priorities of the measure on how to spend the funds, the Board of Education must conduct a priority discussion on where to spend the funds. This will be called our implementation plan.
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“The public voted in a survey to spend money on the schools that need it most,” described Bowers. With many aging schools 50 years plus, facility improvements such as roofing, plumbing, and electrical are needed. But before the Board can review and write the implementation plan, the first step is to form a Citizens’ Oversight Committee. Measure A requires strict accountability including a detailed project list, local citizen oversight, and mandatory independent audits. After the Citizens’ Oversight Committee is formed and the Manteca Unified School Board develops an implementation plan, bond sales will occur. Once the first series of bonds are sold, Bowers and his team are able to launch the design phase. “This phase typically takes up to a year,” detailed Bowers. Although for Manteca High and East Union, with their
2 1. Rendering of the new swimming pool and multipurpose room at Manteca High School. 2. Construction technicians Mike Lehr, Carl Dumlao, and Justin Geer in the Facilities Plan Room. Classified Staff are integral to facilities planning.
