Crews working to get Sierra House Elementary open by start of school

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A fire at Sierra House Elementary School on November 11, 2018, caused extensive damage and forced students to spend the school year at other campuses in South Lake Tahoe - 4th and 5th graders at South Tahoe Middle School and K-3 at the old Al Tahoe campus. With the beginning of school just around the corner, crews have been beefed up and are working overtime to try and get the doors open for all students on August 26.

Things are looking good for the "lower pod" and portable classrooms but it is not as clear of a picture for the main section of the school that includes the multi-purpose room, office and "upper pod."

"We are watching and really want it open by August 26," said Lake Tahoe Unified School District Superintendent Dr. James Tarwater.

He said the 26th is the goal and they'll know more by the end of the week.

When students do return they will have "basically a new school" on the inside, Tarwater said. Since the Department of School Architects (DSA) had to be involved in the repairs all new ADA compliance had to be added to the 45-year-old school including an updated front door and removal of drip panels at each door.

To date, the repairs have cost approximately $6 million, Tarwater said.

Property restoration company Belfor has been on the restoral project since replacing the initial cleanup company, ServPro. There are also a number of local contractors working on the school which is located at the corner of Pioneer Trail and Remington Trail.

Several parents questioned the school being reopened just three days after the fire. LTUSD said they had been told all was safe to re-enter. As it turned out, conditions at the school were reported to have caused students and teachers to have headaches, respiratory issues and upset stomachs. The school closed again as a plan to relocate students was developed.

Tarwater doesn't want to see the students sent to other schools at all though he says they handled the disaster like champions.

"In catastrophes like this you see strength come out of it, the teachers and kids were phenomenal," said Tarwater.

"I am very proud of both the kids and teachers [of the moves to STMS and Al Tahoe]," added Tarwater. "I know where they wanted to be, but they adapted. They kept their focus."

He said test scores actually increased this past year though exact details have not yet been released.

He also said he appreciated the support of the community during this process and said the school's principal Karin Holmes did a "superb job."

As promised, air quality tests will be performed and results received before the school reopens.