History of the Manton School

Current history (2013-2022)
2013: The Antelope Elementary School District (AESD) takes over (“lapsed”) the Manton Elementary School, along with Mineral Elementary School, and Plum Valley Elementary School, with the promise “keep our school open…[and]... allow us to keep educating Manton kids locally, and to continue long standing traditions and community events held at Manton School.” Antelope Board Member Dan Boone and then-Superintendent Rich Hassay, tell community members if they had to close the school, they would sell the property back to the community for $1.

2014: Hole in roof is discovered at the Manton Historic Museum on the school campus, with the museum’s acoustic ceiling growing moldy and caving in; the AESD district is notified. No action taken. (Hole is getting larger by the year)

2015: AESD attempts to close Manton Elementary School, alleging “low student population, and low attendance.” In 2015, attendance was 38 students K-8th grade. According to school records, the student population fluctuated between 30 and 40 children since the early 2000s. The community made an uproar and the district kept the school open for another year.

2016: AESD CLOSES MINERAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND BUSES THE CHILDREN DOWN TO PLUM VALLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (PAYNE’S CREEK).

2016/2017: AESD makes Manton School a K-5, cutting its enrollment nearly in half and bussing the 6-8th graders into Red Bluff.

2017: AESD, citing low enrollment, closes Manton School and begins bussing all children into Red Bluff and over to Plum Valley.

2017: Manton Education Council (MEC), a 501(c)(3) non-profit, is formed by teachers, parents, and community members to help keep education in Manton.

2018: MEC works with AESD to create a charter petition in good faith. The charter school would include a home-school curriculum to pull in more education dollars from Shingletown and Red Bluff.

2018: AESD denies petition, based on the budget, which they helped MEC create.

2018: AESD, to the surprise and heartache of the Manton Community, puts Manton Elementary School on the market at $890k

2019-current: MEC puts in place an afterschool enrichment program and Home School support program, leasing classroom space from the AESD district. Currently, MEC has 35 children in attendance, including some from Shingletown.

2021: Another 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Manton Parks, is founded by members of MEC, Manton Apple Festival, Manton Grange, Manton Fire Safe Council, and Manton Community Church to purchase the school grounds from AESD and create a community center and park. The community starts fundraising.

2022: MEC is awarded a 48k gift from Tehama Sheriff's Association to expand services for Manton children.

2022: Manton Parks scrapes up 25% of Fair Market Value and makes a bid on the Manton School Campus for $245k and requesting a $300 monthly fee to park the school bus in a secure bus barn on campus.

2022: AESD rejects having to pay $300 a month to securely park their school bus, demanding free parking in perpetuity. At the August 11th AESD board meeting, AESD President Dan Boone threatens to stop bus service if we try to charge them for facilities maintenance of housing the bus.

2022: 10/20/22: AESD counters MAPS offer with $500, 000 "as is" condition with special conditions:
"Seller and Buyer shall enter into a five (5) year ground lease for the Seller's use of one parking spot for the storage and parking of its bus. The lease shall automatically renew for an additional five (5)
year term unless Seller provides a notice of termination, or the Buyer and Seller agree otherwise. The ground lease shall be granted at no cost to the District. "

(a) Continued existence as a 50lc3 nonprofit public benefit corporation;
(b) Property shall be used to support both indoor and outdoor community activities, including providing support for the signature event, the Manton Apple Festival; and
( c) Restoring and reopening the Manton Historical Museum.

In the event that such conditions are not met, the Property shall revert back to the District.
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PAST HISTORY 1921 to 2013 (under construction)

1996: School Gym/Kitchen/Cafeteria/ back classroom buillt
Barry Morrel obtained a grant to build.
Plaque in gym that dedicates the buildings to the Manton Community

1992: First Manton Apple Festival/ MAF Committee FormsKaye Zimmerman, Corey Livingstone: to raise funds for the school

1921 Manton Schools Consildate BY a vote of 61 to 13 the school districts of Benton and Lee in Shasta County and Pine Grove and Junction in Tehama County, in the Manton section, decided at a special election in favor of consolidation.

1921 Sell of property to Manton Joint Unified School District: Photo of the bill of sale from Mrs. Ellis in 1921 for $300.00, the 20 acre parcel to MJUSD

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