District approves $110,000 defensible‑space contract and secures $200,000 Farm‑to‑School grant

The Tahoe‑Truckee Unified School District board on June 25 approved a $110,000 agreement with Elements Mountain Company to clear brush and create defensible space around several district sites and accepted a $200,000 Sprout‑to‑Spoon Farm to School grant to boost local procurement and farm‑based student education.

Assistant Superintendent, Chief Business Officer Todd Rivera described agreement 25‑00‑29M with Elements Mountain Company. The work will clear shrubs and brush in a 100‑foot radius around multiple district sites, including Sierra High School, Sierra Expeditionary Learning School, Truckee Elementary, Alder Creek, Glenshire, Kings Beach and Tahoe Lake Elementary, with additional sites to be addressed next summer. The contract will be paid from maintenance funds and totals $110,000. A trustee moved, a second was recorded, and the board approved the agreement by voice vote.

Rivera also announced the district was awarded a Sprout‑to‑Spoon Farm to School grant to procure locally grown organic produce, meats and grains and to fund educational experiences for students such as farm visits and in‑school demonstrations. He said about half the grant may be used to purchase food products and the remainder to build partnerships and support education. The total grant amount is $200,000; the board approved acceptance by voice vote.

Trustees thanked staff for securing the grant and for allocating maintenance funds to the defensible‑space work. Both items were presented as action items with brief board discussion and no public opposition.