Growing dome at SHES on shaky ground
By Kathryn Reed
Advocates for a growing dome at Sierra House Elementary School have discovered they need to nurture their idea a bit more for it to sprout into a reality.
This means learning that permits are needed, a thing called coverage is an issue in the Lake Tahoe Basin, that the school board needs to OK something like this and the state gets a say, too. It also means finally admitting the Truckee dome that has been highly touted as a model is not on a school site – that it is actually on private property.
People have been working on this greenhouse of sorts for a year and just now came to the school board. But it was only on presentation Tuesday night and not something to vote on.
What the dome at Sierra House might look like.
Soroptimist International South Lake Tahoe was under the impression the school had all the necessary permits and approvals in place to erect the dome on the South Shore campus. Wrong.
And because the Lake Tahoe Unified School District board has yet to approve the structure, let alone the Division of State Architect signing off on the project, the Soroptimist will not be handing over the $25,000 check at lunch today as was expected.
Based on SHES Principal Ryan Galles’ presentation to the school board on March 26, the dome advocates’ input and board member Sue Novasel’s comments, today’s action will come as a surprise. And Novasel is the incoming president of Soroptimist.
Soroptimist told Lake Tahoe News prior to the school board meeting that its board would discuss at its meeting next week how to proceed. It’s possible the money could be set aside for one fiscal year with the anticipation the dome people will get the necessary approvals. It’s also possible the Soroptimist board will distribute the money to another organization.
While the school board said it likes the concept of the greenhouse, the members all want more info before saying build it.
Galles told the board how the dome would have multiple educational purposes. For one, it would be a hands-on science lab where students would be growing vegetables year-round. It would complement the composting program that was started this year. It would show kids that food comes from someplace else before it reaches a grocery story. And it will give them something healthy to eat. The state has curriculum in its Garden in Every School program that could be used.
“It will build lifelong healthy habits, not just with kids, but with families,” Galles said.
About one-third of the full boardroom was comprised of people who were there solely to show their support for the dome.
School district officials said the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency supports the dome project.
TRPA told Lake Tahoe News planners have gone over drawings and specs with the dome people, and told them what to include with their application. But no application has been submitted.
A soil analysis needs to be done, still.
Steve Morales, LTUSD facilities director, said even though Sierra House is out of coverage, that issue can be resolved. But he said the board would need to consider what the future for the school is in terms of coverage for other structures.
He explained to the advocates how the state works. And with the millions of dollars LTUSD has put into facilities in the last few years Morales is intimately familiar with the process.
And while the advocates said they know politicians who are on their side, they seemed to forget they were addressing five elected officials. Morales and other staff pointed out the state Division of State Architect doesn’t bend to political pressure, but instead follows stringent guidelines.
Morales will be working with the advocates to get the state what it needs.
The dome group has revised its budget to be close to $100,000 for permitting and to meet the state’s needs. Of the $36,500 Galles told the board is in the bank, the reality is $25,000 of that is from the Soroptimist. And now that is on hold.
So, even if the district and state give a green thumbs up to the dome, the money to build it, operate it and maintain it still needs to be secured.
The Grow Dome for SHES (Sierra House Elementary) looks mighty cool, hope they get it. I sure wish I could afford one!
Speaking of growing vegetables in Tahoe…this is for the first timer to gardening in The Sierras. Once you’ve found your sunny part of the yard then its time to work on your soil. Our soil here is mostly decomposed granite, or DG. Not good for growing much of anything other than pine trees.
You can fix up your soil with compost, steer manure or a mix of the two. All the nurserys and hardware stores in town sell both. You can also buy in bulk from Tahoe Sand and Gravel and I was told Cass Amaker sells compost to. Call to see if any of the above places have it in stock. I just orderd mine from Scotty’s. I buy it by the bag.
Turn your soil by hand with a pointed shovel, spread the compost evenly on top and turn it again to mix. If you have accses to a roto-tiller that makes for a much easier job. Let sit for at least a week or more if you use manure as it will burn your plants if it doesn’t settle for a bit.
Next time, seeds! I’ll tell you what I’ve found grows here.
Diggin’ in the dirt, OLS
Kudos to Sierra House Principal Ryan Galles for being so open and willing to take on sustainability initiatives at his school, including the proposed growing dome.
It should be pointed out that the “dome advocates” are all volunteers (with the group Small World), and have given a huge amount of their time to pursue this idea out of passion for what it will provide to the children. The goal is for every school in Tahoe to have a growing dome, which is the case for 80 other schools across the country. Those places all found a way to raise the money and get the necessary approvals, so surely we can in Tahoe too.
Yes, there are some regulatory hurdles to cross — does that surprise anyone here in Tahoe?? This project doesn’t have an array of crafty consultants who can — for example — manipulate coverage requirements to build a monster lake front home, or play the game right to dig a giant hole in the ground at stateline — it has “only” parents and teachers who believe strongly that a quality education is about more than test scores, that having kids get excited about growing things and knowing where their food comes from matters.
Too often in Tahoe inertia, the status quo, the “can’t be done” mentality prevails, leaving people like the “dome advocates” discouraged, cynical, and desiring to move to places where people get excited about projects like this, where they figure out how to get to yes. Scott Valentine, who threw his hat in for the open council seat, has written about this phenomenon recently, and has struck a chord.
I hope that everyone working for this dome and other good things for Tahoe schools keep pressing ahead. Ignore dismissive and condescending comments. Keep your eye on the prize, and thank you for your great efforts on behalf of Tahoe kids.
I thought the Dome presentation to the School Board was intelligent and showed excellent planning. I’m a bit surprised to see the coverage here focus only on the challenges around the project. Even the most critical person in the room, Steve Morales, said we should realistically be thinking about building in summer 2014. One year is nothing in this or any town! The half of the room that was there to support the project left feeling impassioned and inspired. Excellent work by Ryan Galles, Rebecca Bryson and Michelle McLean.
The coverage is issue is the biggest joke ever.. Corps like Edgewood can transfer coverage from the middle of nowhere and put in a mega plex on the lake but our local school can’t put in an educational greenhouse. Like somehow it can’t be mitigated…. This is ridiculous…. Embarrassing for our community…
I represent the Dome Raising Project in Truckee and for the record, the Truckee Elementary dome has ALWAYS been proposed to be on school property. Not sure where you got your facts that iris on private land.
I want applaud the efforts of Rebecca, Ryan and the Small World team on their professional efforts to get this project to this point. Bringing it to the school board before now would have been premature because many things needed to be confirmed like knowing the dome could be engineered for Sierra snow loads. And as far as soliciting funds…it is advantageous to be collecting money for a project at any point in a project’s life cycle. One, because it takes time to fundraiser and you have to take advantage of grant opportunities when they occur. And 2) showing you already have funds raised helps to get projects approved knowing there is already monetary support.
GO South Lake!
Susie
Proposed to be on TTUSD property is one thing. LTUSD parents have been saying yours is on school property and that got them some pull with the powers that be. But it’s not on school property. You just said so. If it’s not on private land, where is it?
Sun, Soil and Seeds,
I think Growing Domes should be built at ALL Lake Tahoe Schools. Get those kids growing food! Plant a seed in the soil and in a young persons mind. Show a young boy or girl how to grow a plant and watch what happens! Pride, self reliance, healthy eating habits and an understanding of nature, the environment and agriculture.
Here’s a short list of some things that will grow in Tahoe. Potatos of any variety, Lettuce, Cabbage, Green onions, Spinach, Green beans, Cilantro, Zucchini or any type of squash, Tomatos(yes, they will grow here), Carrots, Radishes, Stawberries and there is plenty more. I will say by far the most bountiful are Snow Peas. Crunchy and sweet right off the vine eaten raw or used in all kinds of meals.
I’ll also be trying a herb garden this year. Any other high altitude gardners have some suggestions of what worked for you?
Lets grow Tahoe! Old Long Skiis
Oh, what is the question? Of course this will benefit the kids and provide an invaluable educational opportunities. And it will do it in a way that encourages them to interact with the world around them, and observe the results of their efforts. And maybe teach them a bit more about good nutrition.
Does anyone in SLT not know about “coverage” issues? Good opportunity to test TRPA’s commitment demonstrate a more reasonable approach to evaluating projects and getting things done.
Just sayin……