Boys & Girls Club proposes idea of new home to LTUSD

What is currently six portable buildings at the Al Tahoe school site could be a new home for the Boys & Girls Club of Lake Tahoe (BGCLT). That is the idea Jude Wood presented to the school board Tuesday night.

Wood, the BGCLT Executive Director, spoke in front of the Lake Tahoe Unified School District's Trustees, giving them a look into a proposed partnership and future facility use agreement with the District with a new Clubhouse built on District owned property. The Club would fully fund the new building.

The Boys and Girls Club will have to move out of their current home, the former Al Tahoe Elementary, in order to make way for the District's planned expansion of opportunities for students from prekindergarten to fifth grade at the site. With the passage of Prop. 51 last year, LTUSD wants to use $1.35 million in bond funds to renovate the 59-year-old building. They are also applying for a piece of the state's $500-million in modernization funds, but it is unknown when that would happen.

While it is understood that the future of the Al Tahoe building is still in question, BGCLT is in need of a larger, purpose-built premises, and has an opportunity to make its dream of owning its own building a reality.

The City of South Lake Tahoe's new Recreation Center was being planned to house the Club but Wood said they'd like to have their own facility. She said there are six portables adjacent to the current Clubhouse, four of which are unusable, one is used by UC Cooperative Extension - Central Sierra CalFresh Nutrition Education Program and the other is used for training by South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue. She'd like to have a one-two story building built in their place.

By remaining at the Al Tahoe site BGCLT will remain close to the Middle School, community facilities such as the library and recreation center, and on major bus and walking routes - all of which are important to families and the community, said Wood. It will also enable continued access to the playground and fields. BGCLT would also pay for renovation of the Al Tahoe site's kitchen and gymnasium in exchange for the ability to use. They currently use the kitchen to serve over 300 snacks and over 60 hot evening meals a day.

"We can easily offer the fire department space in the club since we only use during vacation and after-school hours," said Wood. "We will work as much as possible to facilitate those who would be displaced."

"Where there is a will there is a way," said Wood. "We're not shutting the door on any option, we just want to progress."

Al Tahoe, which closed as an elementary school in 2004 due to declining enrollment, reopened shortly afterward as home to several non-profits and agencies as well as BGCLT. The District wants to slowly reopen classrooms there that will focus on robotics and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art/design, and math). They began the new focus this year with daycare facilities for children of their employees.

In 2016 the Club served 825 individual children, and it expects to match or exceed that number in 2017. They are currently enjoying an average daily attendance of 325 children across two sites. But there are 20 families on a wait list and the Club is unable to take any more applications until the list has cleared. There is clearly a need in the community, and the Club will only be able to meet the need by moving to a premises that can accommodate more members.

The cost of the building and renovations will be met through major donations, Foundation grants and a capital campaign. The land upon which the Clubhouse is built would remain the property of LTUSD, but the Club's hope is to reach a mutual agreement of a 50-year or more lease, and ensure that the Club is here for generations to come.

Tuesday's presentation was just that, and not up for a vote at this time.