New map: Manteca High in third phase of construction
Manteca High principal Megan Peterson looks over the plans for the new CTE building and classrooms on the east side of campus. The classrooms will be ready for teachers to move into in July. (DOMINICK ESQUIVEL/The Tower)
By LANDON BUTLER
The Tower
Construction is not a foreign thing to the Buffaloes at Manteca High School, and it won’t become a thing of the past anytime soon. The Buffaloes are currently in the third phase of five. Phase 3 is the construction of the L-shaped building.
These phases will take place one after another as long as the funds are allocated and available to be used.
When asked how staff feel about the construction, Manteca High School Principal Megan Peterson said, “The construction is like if your parents had your kitchen redone, the process is bothersome but when it is completed it’s gorgeous and you love it.”
Current Phase
The construction of the new second story classrooms on the east side of the Manteca High School campus on April 7, 2025, in Manteca, Calif. (DOMINICK ESQUIVEL/The Tower)
This summer Manteca High will see the demolition of the west side of campus along Sherman Avenue. The hallway and even-numbered classrooms in the 20, 30, 40, 50 and 80 wings will be razed.
In their place, the Manteca Unified School District will construct an L-shaped building, stretching from the 20 wing to the 80 wing. The building will be modeled after the new construction at East Union.
Along with the construction of the L-shaped building, the new CTE building will be ready when students return to school in the fall.
Manteca High plans to migrate the majority of teachers displaced by the destruction of the classrooms into this CTE building. Other teachers will be placed behind the JROTC building in portables.
When the L shaped building is completed, the portables will all be removed including the JROTC building. With the remaining teachers and actives being placed in the L shaped building.
Next Phase
Although there have been several projects on the campus in the last couple of years, the construction and growth of the campus continues, including Phase 1 being the student parking lot, new gym, 100 wing and the swimming pool. Phase 2 is the CTE building near the 100 wing and finally Phase 3 is the L shaped building.
“Once (the 20, 30, 40, 50, and 80 wings) are demoed, we can begin the process of building the L wing, which is a 30-classroom building and library commons,” said Justin Geer, supervisor of construction for facilities department, when asked to explain the next phase of construction.
Peterson estimates that this next phase will take at least two years to complete. The L wing will also include a student center. Phase 4 would kick off around the same time. Phase 4 is the reconstruction administration office and the counseling center, as well as leveling the building and then completely rebuilding it.
They will be connected to each other, allowing for a more cohesive working environment for the office workers and counselors.
After this is completed, Phase 5 starts which will be an amphitheater in between the band and where the counseling center are located right now. This will be a space for plays and concerts to be held.
With all of this to look forward to the Buffaloes at Manteca High will have a lot to look forward to. However, these additions will take several years, possibly decades to complete.
“Most of us will probably be gone when this is done, I’ll be retired,” Peterson joked.
Student reporters Declan Edwards and Dominick Esquivel contributed to this report.