Lake Tahoe Unified School District moves back to all distance learning

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Due to the continued dramatic rise of COVID-19 cases in the community, Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) has moved all schools and programs to distance learning starting Thursday, November 19.

A significant number of staff members currently have COVID-19 or have been in direct contact with a confirmed positive individual.

"Today those numbers rose to a level which would require the closure of one of our schools," said LTUSD Superintendent Dr. Todd Cutler in an email to families. "In addition to the teaching staff, the custodial, bus drivers, cafeteria, maintenance, grounds, and clerical staff have all been impacted, and are all vital resources to the daily operations of a school."

This move to districtwide virtual instruction will continue until further notice.

This will allow the district and the community to address the sharp increase in COVID-19 cases.

Dr. Cutler said they received local data today that indicate a surge in hospitalizations and need for health care, a decrease in testing capacity, and an approximate 11 percent positivity rate in South Lake Tahoe.

"This will also allow all staff and students to monitor their health ensuring that when we return to in-person learning, we do so with all of the health and safety measures in place that have so far prevented spread within our schools," added Cutler in his email.

Food Services will operate only on regularly scheduled school days. Services are not offered over Thanksgiving Recess (11/23-11/27). The revised meal pick up schedule can be found here. Bread and Broth 4 Kids will continue their weekend food bags when school resumes after the vacation. That schedule is currently being worked on and will be released prior to food delivery.

LTUSD said they value in-person instruction and feel strongly that the safest and most effective education for all students is in our schools and have seen the benefit since schools resumed with a hybrid schedule.

To date, LTUSD said there has been just one case of transmission in its schools over the past four months. Any parents with questions should call their student's school.