Special LTUSD meeting to discuss Sierra House Elementary

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A special meeting of the Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) Board of Trustees will be held on Friday at 2:00 p.m.to discuss approval of funds needed to get Sierra House Elementary opened by the beginning of the school year.

Since a Labor Day 2018 fire, the school which housed grades K-5 has been closed with students split between South Tahoe Middle School and Al Tahoe Elementary.

There have been concerns in the community the school wouldn't be ready to open in August.

"The contractors are back on site and ramping up with the goal of completing all construction activities by August 14th," Steve Brennan of LTUSD told South Tahoe Now on June 14.

Work had stopped due to added requirements to the project made by Department of School Architecture (DSA), which made approval take longer, Brennan said.

According to the meeting agenda, LTUSD Superintendent Dr. Tarwater is asking the Board for $146,300 for corrective measures by contractor Ron Fuller to complete required Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) asphalt and cement work at the school. The funds would be paid from Developer Fees, the General Fund, and could potentially be reimbursed by their insurance.

A second agenda item is for other emergency work needed, but exactly what it will be is unknown. Such work may include internet access, plumbing, camera deployment, electric systems, fire alarm systems, HVAC testing, and inspections. LTUSD is asking for emergency approval at this time so they can move ahead quickly once the work is identified, get it fixed, and not be delayed by waiting for another meeting.

Any and all jobs performed will be reported at the July 23, 2019 Board Meeting. The bill could be picked up by the district's liability insurance.

The board meeting will be held at the Education Center Board Room 1021 Al Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe.