SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — The Lake Tahoe Unified School District Board of Trustees on Thursday evening may approve a new plan that reworks transportation zones and changes start and release times.

A new plan was needed to address Senate Bill 328, created by legislators to address adolescent sleep deprivation, that says middle schools and high schools, including those operated as charter schools, can begin no earlier than 8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., respectively, and must be in effect by July 1.

In response to the new law, the district has been collaborating with staff and the community since November 2022 to create a plan that adequately addresses the new mandate.

The district is proposing elementary schools begin at 8-8:15 a.m. with a release time between 2:20-2:35 p.m., high schools at 8:30-8:45 a.m. with release times between 3:10-3:25 p.m. and middle schools between 8:45-9 a.m. and released between 3-3:15 p.m. The times do not reflect minimum days or early release.

The district has proposed three transportation zones, including:

— Students/families wishing to attend their transportation zoned school with have first enrollment priority

— Students/families that want to continue in their current school outside of their zone will have next priority

— Students/families requesting schools outside their zones will be placed in a lottery if space is not available

The district said it will strive to keep families with multiple elementary age children in the same school.

A “loop bus” will be provided for students attending a school outside of their transportation zone with pick up and drop off provided at all elementary sites, said the proposal.

District staff has recommended that the board approve the new start/release times and transportation zoning.

The district will also hold a public hearing on the initial proposal from the South Tahoe Educators’ Association for bargaining with the district.

The hearing will allow the public an opportunity to comment on negotiations for the 2022-23 school year. No action will be taken until the April 28 board meeting.

The district said in the agenda that all initial collective bargaining proposals of a school district and the exclusive representative(s) of its employees’ union(s) must be “sunshined” prior to the commencement of negotiations. The purpose of “sun shining” is for the public to be informed of the issues that are being negotiated, to have full opportunity to express its views on the issues, and to know the positions of the elected representatives.

The board will also receive a presentation from South Tahoe High School about developing a course for the CTE Forestry and Natural Resources pathway. The intent of this pathway is to introduce students to the vast and diverse job opportunities within the industry sector that require varying education and training.

STHS will partner with the city of South Lake Tahoe and US Forest Service, two of the larger local employers, to provide work-based learning opportunities, said the agenda.

For the full agenda, visit here.