unified school

South Lake Tahoe road lined with spectators for 4th of July parade

For the second year in a row the City of South Lake Tahoe hosted the annual 4th of July parade through town, bringing hundreds of spectators and participants.

Over 75 vehicle and float entries were joined by more than 200 walkers and cyclists along the route which went along Lake Tahoe Boulevard from the Y to Bijou Park. Hundreds of holiday revelers lined the street wearing red, white and blue, cheering and waving as the parade went by.

Guide to enjoying South Lake Tahoe fireworks, and helping clean up on the 5th

Event Date: 
July 4, 2017 (All day)

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - To get a front row seat to one of the best fireworks shows in the country, it takes some planning. It will be crowded no matter where one goes along the Lake Tahoe shore, so pack your supplies for the day, relax, and enjoy.

Sierra House principal leaving Lake Tahoe for Vacaville

Ryan Galles, the principal of Sierra House Elementary in South Lake Tahoe, has announced that he is leaving Lake Tahoe Unified School District.

Galles has accepted the position of Director of Elementary Education for the Vacaville Union School District (VUSD), a district with 12,000 students and 10 elementary schools.

A letter sent by Galles to the Sierra House parents on Friday, June 16:

5th annual Farmers' Market held for Sierra House students

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE - The 5th annual Sierra House Farmers' Market was held during school on Wednesday, giving the students a hands-on demonstration on how whole and healthy food can be produced, prepared and enjoyed together.

"Tastes from Around the World" was the them of the event where volunteers staffed booths which the students rotated through during the day.

South Lake Tahoe students honored for perfect attendance

Two sisters were honored during Tuesday night's Lake Tahoe Unified School District meeting for years of perfect attendance. Ryann Canfield, a freshman at South Tahoe High School, has had perfect attendance since the 1st grade at Tahoe Valley Elementary. She missed only one day of school in Kindergarten. That is nine consecutive school years with perfect attendance. Her sister, Morgan Canfield, 6th grader at South Tahoe Middle School, has had perfect attendance since Transitional Kindergarten. Morgan has not missed one day of school in seven consecutive years.

LTUSD celebrates 20 retirees with 551 combined years of service

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The Lake Tahoe Unified School District is losing a lot of experience as 20 of their employees are retiring after a combined 551 years of collective service in education. The four retiring food service employees alone had 107 years of working with LTUSD.

During a ceremony on Tuesday, the following retirees were honored:

Certificated Staff:

Roy Benavidez – Biology Teacher, STHS, 29 years of service
Therese Colwell – P.E. Teacher, STMS, 27 years of service
Mitch Delacour – ILA, Independent studies Teacher, 39 years of service

Opinion: LTUSD Board celebrates student successes; Looks to address challenges

It is that time of year again. It is time for the youth in our beautiful community to take the big plunge. We, the members of the Lake Tahoe Unified School District Board of Education wish to congratulate each and every member of South Tahoe High School and Mount Tallac High School class of 2017 for all their hard work, not just for the last 4 years, but for the last 12. We are deeply proud of our seniors, and we hope that moving forward you never forget the closeness and care of a community like South Lake Tahoe.

Vail Resorts CEO gives $125,000 to fund South Lake Tahoe summer kids food program

Children from the South Shore of Lake Tahoe no longer need to go hungry during the summer months. Thanks to a generous donation of $125,000 by Rob Katz, Vail Resorts CEO, and his wife Elana Amsterdam, “Summer B&B 4 Kids” will launch on Wednesday, June 21, with a focus on helping the over 50 percent of local children who are receiving free or subsidized school meals during the school year.

City Council gives LTUSD $75,000 for fields; Asks they come back to consortium

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Dr. James Tarwarter, Superintendent of Lake Tahoe Unified School District, was at Tuesday's South Lake Tahoe City Council meeting to explain why LTUSD should receive $150,000 from the City for ballfield maintenance. He walked away with $75,000 with a strong recommendation that he join the Community Field Consortium Tarwater chose not to join in November, 2015.

Staff, students and parents say goodbye to Principal Houck

It was South Tahoe High Principal Chad Houck's last day on Friday, and the outpouring of support from teachers, staff, students and parents was evident.

For almost every morning for the past three years, Houck has greeted students being dropped off at the school, and Friday he was joined by others who carried pictures of the principal glued to a stick, "Chad on a Stick."

Parents got out of their cars, students stopped by for a handshake or hug and others called out their "goodbyes."

13 Reasons Why or 300 Reasons Why Not? Community forum to address suicide

Event Date: 
May 30, 2017 - 6:00pm

Best selling book and Netflix series "13 Reasons Why" has sparked conversation about mental health and suicide among youth after the lead character leaves behind 13 tapes after she kills herself. Each tape tells a different person the part they played in her death.

As a response to the movie and how students will react to it, Lake Tahoe Unified School District intervention counselors will be holding a community panel discussion called "300 Reasons Why Not" on Tuesday, May 30 at South Tahoe Middle School's Multi-Purpose Room starting at 6:00 p.m.

STHS photographers tops in state-wide contests

South Tahoe High School students were honored for their award winning photography during Tuesday's Lake Tahoe Unified School District board meeting.

Guadalupe Ruiz and Tristan Klasko received recognition for their first-place award winning photographs submitted to the California Streaming Photo Contest sponsored by the California County Offices of Education. They each won a camera, tripod and other gifts. Their award winning photos will be used on a calendar distributed to teachers across the state.

North Lake Tahoe high school students participate in cadaver surgery

It wasn't your typical high school class at Tahoe Forest Hospital Wednesday. Approximately 60 students enrolled in advanced placement biology and human body systems classes scrubbed in to witness a total knee replacement surgery on a cadaver in the University of Nevada's advanced surgical lab at their North Shore location.

New STHS principal introduced as Chad Houck prepares for new job

Friday will be the last day on the job at South Tahoe High School (STHS) for Principal Chad Houck. He, his wife and five children are headed to Ridgecrest where he'll be the Dean of Instruction for Cerro Coso Community College starting June 5.

TTUSD and Auerbach Engineering team up on water quality project

Construction season has started in the Tahoe basin and the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District will utilize the warm weather and their student’s summer exit to complete projects that were approved under Measures E and U in 2014.

Auerbach Engineering Corporation was selected through a competitive bid process to provide Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) services for the Tahoe Lake Elementary reconstruction and the Rideout/Tahoe Lake Elementary temporary relocation projects.

STMS celebrates custodian's citizenship with Red, White and Blue Day

"I's so excited!"

Eduardo Gutierrez has a lot to be excited about this week. He is attending his U.S. Citizenship ceremony today in Reno, a day after the school he is a custodian for, South Tahoe Middle School (STMS), celebrated him and his achievement with Red, White and Blue Day.

On Thursday, students and staff dressed in the colors of the flag, hallways were decorated and a ceremony was held to present Gutierrez with a flag for his home. "This is a big surprise, I'm so happy," he said of the celebration.

New principal selected for South Tahoe High

Carline Sinkler has been selected as the new principal of South Tahoe High School and the community is invited to meet her at the LTUSD District Office on Tuesday, May 23 at 5:00 p.m.

Sinkler comes from the San Francisco Unified School District where she has served as the principal of Herbert Hoover Middle School since 2013.

She was selected by the interview committee with "overwhelming enthusiasm" according to Shannon Chandler, the district's public information officer.

LTUSD has WASC plans and updates for South Tahoe High on website

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) didn't give South Tahoe High and the Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) the results expected after a WASC accreditation team visited South Lake Tahoe in the Spring of 2016.

Instead of an expected six-year term they received a two-year accreditation which goes through June of 2018. On March 19 and 20 of that year a team of educators will return to the campus and evaluate recommended changes.

Barton Foundation to award $40,000 in grants for Tahoe’s health and well-being

The Barton Foundation is giving $40,000 in grants to improve community health. Local non-profits, health organizations, schools, and public agencies are encouraged to apply for funding.

The Barton Health Grants provide funds for programs and organizations that positively impact the health of the South Tahoe community. In this grant cycle, projects and programs that address mental health, substance abuse, and access to healthcare services will be considered. These three issues were identified as the most pressing health needs in South Lake Tahoe’s 2015 Community Health Needs Assessment.

Last day of school for South Lake Tahoe students announced

Lake Tahoe Unified School District finally got word back from the State on their request to waive snow and flood days taken this winter.

The California Department of Education (CDE) granted five of the seven days applied for, making the last day of school Tuesday, June 20, 2017.

South Lake Tahoe teachers show support for free and quality education for all students

Members of the California Teacher's Association (CTA) and California Federation of Teachers (CFT) across the state brought out the posters and wore red on May 1 to advocate for public education and immigrant students.

South Lake Tahoe teachers joined in and greeted parents and students as they arrived for school Monday, displaying posters and letting students know they all had a right to quality and free public education, and asking all to take the pledge (as seen below).

Last day of school for Lake Tahoe Unified students still unknown

The last day of school for students in the Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) is still unknown, it could be June 16 or June 27, or some point in between.

LTUSD asked for a waiver of the seven snow / flood days they used in January. Today, the District Office heard from the California Department of Education (CDE), but just to let them know it'd be another two weeks until they had an answer for their request.

South Lake Tahoe 5th-Graders take part in Winter Adventure Program

Wildlife survival, avalanche safety, snowmaking, and environmental restoration are all part of the curriculum at a unique outdoor classroom at Heavenly Mountain Resort.

Nearly 300 fifth-grade students from Lake Tahoe Unified School District (TLUSD) took part in the EpicPromise Winter Adventure Program over five days in January and March. The program includes a ride up the ski resort’s Aerial Tram, snowshoeing, and getting hands-on learning experiences at a trio of educational stations.

ADVANCE workshop series in South Lake Tahoe offers help to families

Event Date: 
April 25, 2017 - 5:00pm

Enriching your life while simultaneously connecting with your children on both an academic and personal level is a challenge all families face. Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) is extending their parent support programs by offering the Helping Parents ADVANCE Workshop Series at no charge.

Their second workshop will be on April 25 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Bijou Elementary School located at 3501 Spruce Ave in South Lake Tahoe. All attendees are invited to a free dinner, too.

South Tahoe High well on way to keeping accreditation

South Tahoe High School is still an accredited school. That was the message given during Tuesday's meeting of the Lake Tahoe Unified School District Board of Trustees as staff updated them on their ongoing efforts to hit the targets set for the next visit by Western Association of Schools & Colleges (WASC) in March of 2018.

Several parents have voiced their concerns that students aren't getting in the colleges of their choice due to the school's status.

LTUSD and LTCC dual enrollment gives high school students college credits

A collaboration between the Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) and Lake Tahoe Community College District (LTCC) will soon make it possible for South Tahoe High School (STHS) students to graduate with an AA degree at the same time they get their diploma.

It all starts with an expansion to the three current dual enrollment classes this fall.

By taking these classes, STHS students receive both high school and college credit for successfully passing designated courses, at no cost, possibly saving families tens of thousands of dollars for two years of college.

LTCC and LTUSD hold joint board meeting to discuss local education

Event Date: 
March 28, 2017 - 6:00pm

The annual joint board meeting with the Lake Tahoe Community College and Lake Tahoe Unified School District to discuss common goal strategies will be held on Tuesday, March 28 in the LTCC board room, L104, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

LTUSD will start off the evening with a closed session at the Education Center Board Room at 5:00 p.m. before moving over to the college. They will then reconvene their open session back at the Education Center Board Room at 7:30 p.m.

Planning Commissioner resigns after possible conflict identified

A letter sent to the South Lake Tahoe City Council and Lake Tahoe Unified School District has prompted Angela Swanson, a member of the City's Planning Commission, to resign from her position.

Swanson was appointed to the commission after submitting an application and being appointed during the January 17, 2017 City Council meeting. She was one of 11 people vying for the five open positions, each for a two-year term.

LTUSD provides assurance of education for all students, no matter immigration status

Even though the United States Supreme Court declared in 1982 that local school districts have a constitutional mandate to educate all students residing within their jurisdictional boundaries, regardless of their immigration status, actions of President Trump have caused concern among the Latino population of South Lake Tahoe and many other communities.

New South Lake Tahoe daycare center opens up for infants to age 13

Pequeños Rascals Daycare has moved into a new center in South Lake Tahoe after operating at a local home for 15 years. Filling a big need on the South Shore, the owners are offering quality care for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school age children up to age 13.

It's not just babysitting either. It's care with a heavy emphasis on education, music, art, physical activity and family.

The public is invited to see for themselves when Pequeños holds an open house on Saturday, March 18 from noon to 5:00 p.m. They are located at 3336 Sandy Way in South Lake Tahoe.

LTUSD accepts South Tahoe High Principal's resignation, search begins for replacement

This story has been updated 3/16/17.

The Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) Board formally accepted the resignation of Chad Houck, the principal of South Tahoe High during their Tuesday night meeting, though word of the upcoming change in leadership had been circulating for weeks.

"Chad will be seeking other opportunities," said LTUSD Superintendent Dr. Jim Tarwater.

The popular principal has received a lot of support from parents, the community and staff.

Free Helping Parents ADVANCE Workshop this week in South Lake Tahoe

Event Date: 
March 8, 2017 - 5:00pm

Lake Tahoe Unified School District is holding a series of workshops for parents in the community where they can find support both personally and academically.

On Wednesday, March 9 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., all parents are invited to attend the "Helping Parent s ADVANCE Workshop" in the South Tahoe High Student Union.

As the parents participate, there will be free childcare and free K-8 tutoring available, as well as free food, prizes and more.

"When schools, families, and community groups work together to support learning,

Lake Tahoe Unified School District cancels school on Monday

It's a three-day weekend for students and staff of the Lake Tahoe Unified School District as officials have issued a Snow Day for Monday, March 6 due to the blizzard.

No other districts have made an announcement at this time.

Trudy Greenough 1932 - 2017

Like the sunshine on a summer day Trudy's smile and child like curiosity will be greatly missed world round as she stayed connected with every continent. Born in Modesto, Ca. to Orville and Tillie Harding.

South Lake Tahoe school boundaries discussed at next LTUSD board meeting

During the last meeting of the Lake Tahoe Unified School District Board of Trustees, discussion about neighborhood schools and theme schools surrounded the proposed STEAM Academy at Al Tahoe Elementary when it reopens. STEAM - science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics - would be the focus of all students at the school, much as the themes surround all other local elementary schools.

At the request of the board, LTUSD Superintendent Dr. Jim Tarwater will present the demographic data from each school in relation to where they reside.

Opinion: Why themed schools work in South Lake Tahoe

As we look at reopening the Al Tahoe Elementary School as a STEAM academy, it is important to take a look back at the journey Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) has taken to get to where we are today.

Following decades of desegregation efforts and forced busing, lawsuits in the 1990s effectively brought a halt to desegregation efforts in the country. Neighborhood schools in South Lake Tahoe may have been segregated, not only based on race, but based on income levels.

Friday Schools: SLT schools open, Incline closed, 2 hour delays at others

Heavy rain and snow has created some travel issues for school buses around the lake and in Washoe County. Here is an update of school schedules for Friday, February 10:

Lake Tahoe Unified School District is open (all South Lake Tahoe Schools)

Incline Village and all of Washoe County schools are closed

Tahoe Truckee schools are on a two-hour delay

Douglas County schools at the lake are on a main bus stop schedule only

Tahoe Truckee Unified School District receives largest rebate ever awarded by Liberty Utilities

Almost $20,000 was recently awarded to the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District (TTUSD) for improvements made in 2016 to increase energy efficiency at two school facilities.

Even though the check Liberty Utilities gave to TTUSD was for $19,638.42, the district can expect more than $15,700 in annual energy bill savings.

The rebate represented the largest incentive payment provided to any commercial customer by Liberty Utilities since it began operations in the Lake Tahoe and surrounding region.

The district made the following two changes:

Flooding affects homes and roads in South Lake Tahoe

There were several areas through South Lake Tahoe that experienced flooding on Tuesday as rain from an atmospheric river hit the region, with two Meyers area streets getting the brunt of the storm.

Caltrans, El Dorado County and City of South Lake Tahoe crews, along with homeowners worked through the day to get standing water off the road, out of driveways and even homes.

Students in a "Safe Zone" when attending South Lake Tahoe schools

The Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) wants families to know that, no matter what their immigration status is, South Lake Tahoe schools are a safe zone and all students are provided access to education.

Community members spoke before LTUSD trustees Tuesday, showing their support for all families and students in the district in light of President Trump's focus on immigrants. They asked the Board to take a strong and public stance against hate and to openly proclaim schools to be safe for all students, no matter their color, religion, nationality or immigration status.

Immigrants in South Lake Tahoe reach out to police and school district

South Lake Tahoe is a community of diverse backgrounds reaching around the world, and with President Trump's current dialog on immigration, concerns are arising among immigrants who call Tahoe home, and from those that represent them in the area.

The current enrollment of Lake Tahoe Unified School District shows 42.4 percent are Hispanic, 3.6 percent Filipino, 1.2 percent Asian, 48.1 percent white and the rest of other nationalities.

LTUSD to look at STEAM program, new course and budget at Tuesday's meeting

The Lake Tahoe Unified School District trustees will continue their discussion into the future use of the old Al Tahoe school site during a study session prior to their normal board meeting Tuesday.

SLT schools open Wednesday

Lake Tahoe Unified School District is open today, Wednesday, January 25.

Douglas County Schools are open with no delays.

Tahoe Truckee School District is open.

Incline Village schools are open.

Pollock Pines schools are open.

Snow Day: Lake Tahoe Unified Schools closed; Douglas County, Tahoe Truckee open

Due to narrow, unsafe, unnavigable bus routes in both the city and county, all Schools in the Lake Tahoe Unified School District will be closed today, Tuesday January 24, 2017.

Douglas County Schools are open, but those at the lake are on a main bus stop only schedule.

Tahoe Truckee Schools are open except for Donner Trail Elementary which is closed due to lack of power.

Incline Village schools are open.

Pollock Pines schools are on a snow day.

More snow days announced for Monday

More schools will be having a snow day on Monday. Zephyr Cove Elementary and Whittell High School just announced their closure. The other Douglas County Schools in the valley will be on a two-hour delayed start.

Up at Tahoe Truckee School District, they are watching snow and road conditions and will make their decision at 4:00 a.m. Monday morning.

Lake Tahoe Unified School District on the South Shore already announced their snow day for January 23.

Incline Village schools will also be closed and all other Washoe County schools are on a two-hour delays.

Snow Day Monday for South Lake Tahoe schools

Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) is closing schools on the South Shore Monday, January 23 due to snow expected Sunday and Monday from the latest storm.

LTUSD crews are performing ongoing snow removal operations, as are the City of South Lake Tahoe, Caltrans and El Dorado County.

As of 2:00 p.m. Sunday, no other school in the Lake Tahoe Basin has announced school closures, including Lake Tahoe Community College.

South Lake Tahoe snow days: Love 'em or hate 'em

Snow Days. Kids love 'em, parents maybe not so much.

Last week's five snow days, and a lack of one this week caused some parents to raise concern with how the Lake Tahoe Unified School (LTUSD) decides when to close school for the day.

Closing school is always a tough call for school superintendents across the country, so what is the science behind closing schools when it snows in the Lake Tahoe Unified School District?

Snow day for some schools, South Lake Tahoe schools open

Here is an update on all Lake Tahoe area schools for Friday, January 20:

Lake Tahoe Unified School District schools are open.

Tahoe Truckee School District schools are closed for a snow day.

Douglas County schools at the lake are closed.

Incline Village schools are on a two-hour delay.

No word from LTCC.

Smart & Final grand opening in South Lake Tahoe starts with $5,000 donation

Smart & Final Extra! held a grand opening on January 18, marking their return to South Lake Tahoe. The new store was built in the former home of Staples after they closed in June, 2016. There was a complete overhaul of the 24,000 square foot store from the foundation up.

LTUSD begins study into what Al Tahoe Elementary could look like in future

The conversation has started on what to do at the former site of Al Tahoe Elementary School after the passage of Proposition 51 in the November election which will create $9 billion in funding for the state's schools. During a study session at the Lake Tahoe Unified School District's (LTUSD) Board of Trustee meeting Tuesday, staff and trustees starting looking the future function of the school that closed in 2004 due to declining enrollment.

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