SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – On Monday, October 12, at 4:00 p.m., educators represented by the South Tahoe Educators Association (STEA), along with parents, students, and community supporters, will rally in the Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) parking lot during the scheduled state mediation occurring inside.
STEA organizers want to highlight what they say is a growing crisis impacting teacher recruitment and retention in South Lake Tahoe.
For months, STEA and LTUSD have been negotiating over rising healthcare costs, inflation, and employee compensation after the State of California approved a revised budget that provides school districts with additional funding intended to help address increasing operational and employee costs.
LTUSD says the additional funding was a one-time COVID payment from the State.
“Despite receiving millions of dollars in additional state funding, LTUSD has refused to dedicate any of those new resources toward improving educator compensation or addressing the escalating healthcare expenses that many teachers face,” said STEA in a press release. “As a result, negotiations reached an impasse, and the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) has appointed a state mediator to assist both parties in reaching a settlement.”
South Tahoe educators say the district’s position is making it increasingly difficult to attract and retain qualified teachers in a community where the cost of living continues to rise. Many educators are struggling to keep up with basic household expenses while continuing to provide high-quality instruction and support for local students.
“South Tahoe’s students deserve stable, experienced educators,” said STEA President Nicole Mora. “The district has received additional resources from the state, but it has chosen not to invest those funds in the people who work directly with students every day.”
STEA will meet after school dismissal with food available at 4 p.m. They will hold the event outside, rain or shine.
The LTUSD office parking lot is located at 1021 Al Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe.