By Kathryn Reed

Bridging the education divide is what a $230,000 grant awarded Lake Tahoe Community College is designed to do.

Tom Greene, vice president of Academic Affairs and Student Services, told the college board July 12 about the money that will be coming to the South Lake Tahoe school for the next five years.

The college will hire two employees for this coming school year. One will work at South Tahoe Middle School and the other at South Tahoe High School.

“It’s exactly the direction we need to go as a community,” Greene told the board.

He said Lake Tahoe Unified officials were in support of the college going after the grant. The idea is to reach 500 students to help them be ready for high school and then college.

“The grant is focused on low-income and first generation college students,” Greene said.

Greene anticipates many of those who qualify for the tutoring and specialized help will be Hispanic. College officials at the February strategic planning session identified the need to better reach the Hispanic community. The grant will help achieve that goal.

Parent involvement through workshops is another component of the grant.

Greene believes developing a stronger partnership with LTUSD will help everyone.

In other action:

• It was noted cash will continue to flow because the state passed its budget – which means no need to borrow money.

• This was President Kindred Murillo’s first meeting. She said, “I feel like I’m home.”

• The Aug. 23 board meeting has been canceled. In its place is the Aug. 19 board retreat.

• At a future meeting the board will be asked to develop a policy about alcohol on campus. Now it is allowed for instruction and at fundraisers. Those limitations may hamper the Snowball Festival the college and city officials are trying to plan.