South Tahoe High celebrates Common Core, new scoreboard and revived energy

Social media was abuzz this week as South Tahoe High came is as the seventh most beautiful high school campus in the State of California according to the Texas based national driver's education company, Aceable.

This news is nothing new to those who've been to the campus that was renovated in 2013. Sporting the drama and arts building, TADA, a new student union, Sports Medicine wing, state of the art science building and a new football stadium. In 2015, STHS was the only high school in El Dorado County, and 1 of 273 high schools in the state to win the Gold Ribbon Award (the award system formerly known as Distinguished Schools).

Finishing touches are now being made on the new electronic scoreboard and snack bar with restrooms (if you've been to a game, that means no more outhouses!). Over the summer, the gym floor was resurfaced and new, ADA accessible bleachers were installed as was new signage on the walls as well as the completion of the sports conditioning room.

The new "Jumbotron" scoreboard, which was unveiled in last week's home game at Viking Stadium, is not just for athletes as it is controlled by students who have learned the automation and technology to operate it. Houck said the skill the students are now learning to operate it can be directly applied to jobs after school. In the future, they'll be adding live feed and replays, all created by a student production team.

But its not all about the buildings and football field, what's happening inside the doors is changing too.

Back in May, both school and district administrators were caught off guard when an accreditation committee recommended STHS be placed on a probationary accreditation instead of being approved for a new, six-year cycle. School Principal Chad Houck and LTUSD Superintendent Dr. Jim Tarwater immediately appealed the decision.

On October 17, a group from Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) will visit the school to evaluate the appeal. Houck and Tarwater questioned the process followed by visiting committee and said there were multiple errors in the process that weren’t followed, including never meeting or talking to Tarwater.

Another point of the appeal is the evidence needed to support what the school does concerning all the points the committee evaluated STHS on. They are supposed to ask for the evidence, which they never did. The committee made their decision without proper evidence.

While results won't be known until January, 2017, the school isn't waiting and is moving forward with their previous plans to move to Common Core and following the State's eight priorities in education.

"We're not waiting, we're doing what is right for the kids," said Houck.

This Fall both the English and Math departments have been completely revamped with a new curriculum and teaching focus. Social Studies and Science will be the next two to adapt to Common Core standards.

Houck is now in his third year at STHS and worked towards the new focus during his first two years.

"We already had the changes in the works they (the accreditation committee) wanted back in March," said Houck. They have also added staff development, something the teachers are excited about, not only at STHS, but at the district as a whole.

"It is very exciting, and very impressive," Houck said of the new school year. "The teachers are excited, and that is powerful."

The high school starts off the school year with 1,053 students, an increase over last year. Houck's goal is for students to have 95 percent attendance, which means a student can miss up to eight days over the year.

"Eight is still a lot to miss with a 4 x 4 schedule," said Houck. "We want the parents and students to know that school is not optional." Attendance is key to learning and being successful.

During a tour on Thursday, the campus was noticeably quiet, with all students in the classrooms and not wandering around school grounds, something Houck was happy with as it meant students were in class.