SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Almost $35 million is being spent during the first phase of improvements at two schools in the Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) beginning this summer.
With the passing of Measure U in 2024, $127 million in bonds are being issued and paid for by a parcel tax of $35 per $100,000 in assessed value on local properties.
When we checked in on the planned projects in January, the bond management company, the Cummings Group, was working with contractor Core Construction on getting the necessary permits and plans approved.
Currently, major work is underway at South Tahoe Middle School and Tahoe Valley Elementary School, with Meyers and Sierra House elementary schools next on the list and in the design phase with the Department of State Architects (DSA).
Jamie Brown with the Cummings Group has been keeping the LTUSD Board of Trustees updated about once every four or five weeks, and he spoke with South Tahoe Now and provided the following updates. Brown will also have a community update webpage available in the very near future so the public can watch the progress and be informed of the phases.
Measure U has multiple phases, and next summer crews will be very busy as there will be four schools involved in active construction projects.
South Tahoe Middle School
The driveway and parking lot at STMS are now torn up, and there will be a complete reconstruction of the entire parking lot for safety reasons, including a new entry and traffic circle. Safety will be improved for students being dropped off, bicyclists, and pedestrians. The dynamics of the parking lot will take on a new look and function with required EV charging and new trees. The roundabout is being modified so the drop-off lanes do not interfere with those who are parking. Current requirements with state and DSA require the parking to be built as it is being done now to meet the needs of the future. Parents driving in will be forced to go in and out a certain way and students won’t be walking in front of cars. There will also be storm drain and lighting improvements.
Current school building codes require EV parking and trees for shade. Some trees were removed to dig out the pavement and are now being replaced.
All portables have been removed, demolished, and disposed of, and they will not be replaced with permanent structures. Most of the past portables were underutilized and mainly used for storage. Most schools are trying to avoid portables as they were never intended for long-term use. The removal opened up a large area near the track. Some storage sheds will be added.
Not all of the work in this first phase of Measure U will be finished before school starts. Next summer, some of the older windows and siding will be replaced and painted. Track and field improvements also come in the summer of 2027.
Tahoe Valley Elementary School
This summer, one wing is being modernized. Crews are rebuilding bathrooms to meet current code requirements and making improvements to interior classroom environments in that wing. It will be ready in August.
A new building is being added to the campus with six classrooms. The footing and foundation work is now underway. Portables will be removed.
Next summer will see parking lot improvements with safety improvements, including a new drop-off lane.
Brown said that since Tahoe Valley is a bigger project, some work will continue during the school year.
There is a Bond Oversight Committee for Measure U, and meetings have already begun. The committee had specific roles that needed to be filled by certain fields, such as a member of a retiree organization and a director from the college. Those on the committee are: Jerry Bindel (Business Organization), Chris Campion (Senior Citizens’ Organization), Stephen Caswell (Parent/PTA Member), Marissa Dondoe (At-Large Member), Michael Tillson (Taxpayers’ Association), Chris Proctor (At-Large Member), and Nick Barclay (Parent, LTCC Business Analyst).