Lisa Maloff pledges money to get STEAM and gardening programs for LTUSD

Mrs. Lisa Maloff, the Angel of Tahoe, has offered a generous donation for STEAM and Garden Education for Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD). In the works since April, the LTUSD Board of Trustees today heard plans from two parents who have been working on the donation and ideas for implementation of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) and gardening education in all South Lake Tahoe schools.

Mrs. Maloff's pledge is at $80,000 and, if approved, will cover aides for Bijou and Tahoe Valley Elementary Schools (Sierra House and the Magnet School already have one) to facilitate lab times and care for gardens, allow a teacher at South Tahoe High School to help with professional development at other schools, supplies and furniture needed for the new STEAM rooms at each school. The District will have to come up with more funding so the final language of the donation, plan and funds from LTUSD will be discussed and voted on at their August 24 meeting.

Parent Cary Brown contacted Mrs. Maloff, and in April of this funds were pledged to get the STEAM and gardening education started at all schools in South Lake Tahoe. The goal of Brown and Rebecca Bryson, who both spoke at the Board's retreat Tuesday, is to drive consistency across the schools.

STEAM and NGSS, Next Generation Science Standards, will both be addressed with the donation. The District cannot use general funds to match Maloff's pledged donation, but they have some funds left from expired programs that can be allotted.

Bijou and Tahoe Valley Dlementary schools are ready to start the new curriculum October 1. Both have greenhouses and will integrated STEAM and gardening lessons this school year.

The Lake Tahoe Environmental Magnet School is getting a new greenhouse, and Sierra House has their grow domes.

The new approach of learning through STEAM is giving students an artistic approach to critical and creative thinking in science and math, solving problems with another part of the brain than normal.

Not only are the four elementary schools benefitting from the donation, so will South Tahoe Middle School. The high school already has six STEAM classes in their fall offerings.

Getting the aides, STEAM, NGSS and gardening programs the same at each school will bridge the opportunity gap, according to Bryson, making a smooth seam from K-12.