Reopen SPPS
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SPPS is planning to begin in-person learning for all 6-12 grade students who want it starting Wednesday, April 14.
- Until then, secondary students will continue in distance learning while we work to grow the in-person support that began for some students this week.
- Secondary students who wish to stay in distance learning for the remainder of the school year will have the option to sign up for virtual learning.
- SPPS will follow all of the health and safety measures as described in the Minnesota Safe Learning Plan and the SPPS COVID-19 Student and Family Guidelines.
- Until then, secondary students will continue in distance learning while we work to grow the in-person support that began for some students this week.
Back to School Family Updates
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Update on In-Person Learning for Secondary Students - February 25, 2021
SPPS is planning to begin in-person learning for all 6-12 grade students who want starting Wednesday, April 14.
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In-Person Secondary Support to Begin February 22
The first week of in-person support for secondary (6-12 grade) students begins Monday, February 22. This date was selected because the COVID-19 case rate for Ramsey County has remained below 30 for two consecutive weeks.
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Back to School Update: February 10, 2021
There are a few updates for families who are making the transition on February 16, as well as reminders for those already learning in person.
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VIDEO: Family Forum - February 11, 2021
Join Superintendent Joe Gothard and other Saint Paul Public Schools leaders as they answer questions from families in a live online forum Thursday, February 11, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
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Grading Update for SPPS High School Students
In light of the continuing challenges in distance learning, Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS) will implement the following updates to practices for high school grading.
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SPPS is following all of the requirements and recommendations laid out in the Minnesota Safe Learning Plan. ⬇️
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Face Coverings
K-12 students, SPPS employees and visitors are required to wear a face covering unless medically exempt. Face coverings are required in all SPPS school buildings, district offices and while riding on school transportation vehicles. Pre-K students are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings if they can do so in compliance with CDC guidance on How to Wear Cloth Face Covering.
Students, staff and visitors are expected to provide their own face coverings whenever possible. However, masks will be available for anyone who needs them.
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Social Distancing
In line with the Minnesota Safe Learning Plan, SPPS will work to provide 3 feet or more of spacing between students. Schools will limit mixing of students as much as possible throughout the day to minimize risk and reduce exposure. It’s important to know that certain circumstances may require closer contact between students and staff (i.e. tying shoes, offering emotional support).
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Health Screening Guidelines and Expectations
Families should conduct a health screening every morning before sending their student to school or the bus stop. School staff will also monitor for symptoms throughout the school day. If your child is exhibiting any COVID-19 symptoms, do not send them to school. Report the absence to your child’s school and submit a report to the COVID-19 Reporting System the same day for next steps.SPPS Health Screening:Symptoms of COVID-19 include: fever greater than or equal to 100.4° F, new onset and/or worsening cough, difficulty breathing, new loss of taste or smell OR at least 2 of the following: sore throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, chills, muscle pain, excessive fatigue, new onset of headache, new onset of nasal congestion or runny nose.
Answer the following four questions each morning before sending your child to school:
- Did my child recently test positive for COVID-19?
- Does my child have any of the COVID-19 symptoms listed above?
- Does my child live with someone who is being tested for COVID-19 or showing symptoms of COVID-19?
- Did my child have close contact (within 6 feet for more than 15 minutes) with someone who recently tested positive for COVID-19?
If you answered YES to any of the above:
- Do not send your child to school, report your child’s absence, and contact your child’s healthcare provider.
- Report your child’s symptoms or exposure using the online SPPS COVID-19 Reporting System.
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Facilities Updates
Improved ventilation, daily building sanitation, and safety reminders posted throughout schools are some of the many steps being taken to ensure a safe return to school.
Additional information about our facilities plan can be found here: spps.org/Page/40753
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Disinfecting and Cleaning
Student Health and Wellness, Environmental Services Group (ESG), Security and Emergency Management, and custodial staff are working closely together to ensure the safety of our students and staff. Saint Paul Public Schools follows a four-tiered cleaning plan to reports of COVID-19 related symptoms and/or diagnosis.
Our custodial staff will significantly increase the wiping down and disinfecting of public spaces and high-touch surfaces across our buildings and throughout the school day. We will also provide greater access to cleaning materials for our teachers and staff so that they can clean and disinfect spaces, as needed.
Each evening, our custodial team will conduct a thorough cleaning of our spaces, again disinfecting high-touch surfaces like sinks, drinking fountains, door handles, tables and desks.
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Building Access for Families
Students must be dropped off outside school entrances. Students cannot be escorted by family members to their classrooms or anywhere else inside the building. In addition, families will not be allowed to have lunch, observe a class, volunteer, or engage in any other activities in school buildings.
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Transportation
Students will have assigned seats on buses to ensure spacing and assist with contact tracing.
Masks
Bus drivers and K-12 students are required to wear masks on the bus. Bus drivers have student masks available if needed.Arrival and Departure
School staff will supervise bus drop-off by meeting each bus, monitoring the number of students exiting at one time, and encouraging students to maintain social distancing. Schools will design a dismissal routine that supports social distancing.Health Screening
Families are responsible for checking their student’s symptoms before they go to the bus stop.Cleaning and Disinfecting
Buses are disinfected daily. Drivers will sanitize high-touch areas between runs.Windows
Weather permitting, windows will be open to help increase air circulation. -
Meal Service
In-Person Meal Service
SPPS has changed our typical food service procedures in each of our schools. Cafeteria attendants and additional lunch monitors will assist with traffic flow, cleaning and customer service. Breakfast and lunch will be free to all students during in-person learning.Breakfast service will continue with slight modifications and some menu changes. Students will continue to eat breakfast in their classroom. School cafeterias will be used for serving and eating lunch. Tables will be set to reinforce social distance, and cohorts will remain separate when they are eating in the cafeteria. Signs and floor decals will help remind students to maintain social distance. Acrylic partitions will be placed between staff and students at the serving line, and covered containers will replace traditional lunch trays.
In buildings where the cafeteria is not large enough to meet social distancing guidelines, classrooms may be used as dining space. Nutrition staff will prepare and package meals, and transport foods in individual containers to classrooms.Hand hygiene practices will be in place for all students and staff, and staff will wear face coverings with a face shield when serving students.
Meal Pickup & Delivery
Meal boxes are available for pickup at schools throughout Saint Paul. Meals are free to all children 18 and under, plus those with a disability currently enrolled in a school program. Home delivery is available to Saint Paul Public Schools students who are medically fragile or cannot leave their home to pick up meals.For more information, visit spps.org/2021meals.
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Sick Students
Students who become sick during the school day will be isolated (under supervision) until they can be picked up. It is important that sick students are picked up as soon as possible to limit the risk to other students and staff. Please make sure your contact information is up to date in Campus.
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Contract Tracing
SPPS follows Minnesota Department of Health guidelines every time a student, staff member or visitor submits a report to the COVID-19 Reporting System. In general, only close contacts will be notified in accordance with the communications protocol. If multiple cases are reported within a classroom or building, the whole class or school may be quarantined. Quarantined students and staff will shift to distance learning until they are cleared to return.
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Quarantine Guidelines
Public health guidelines have recently changed regarding COVID-19 quarantines due to close contacts. Saint Paul Public Schools has updated its quarantine guidelines to address these changes.
People who have close contact with someone who has COVID-19 can get the virus anywhere from two to 14 days after their last contact with that person. While it’s still safest to quarantine for 14 days, continued review of the data suggests the risk of getting COVID-19 and infecting others is greatly reduced after day 10.
Based on these factors, SPPS has reduced quarantine time from 14 days to 10 days in certain circumstances. You cannot end your quarantine before 10 days for any reason.
14-day quarantines are still required when someone in your household has symptoms of or has tested positive for COVID-19, as the risk for infecting others is higher within the same household.
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Conditions to Transition to Distance Learning
State guidelines encourage school districts to look at multiple factors when making decisions about "dialing back" or temporary shifts to distance learning. The guidelines do not set a county COVID-19 case rate that would trigger a shift to distance learning.
SPPS will continue in-person learning under the following conditions:
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State and county regional support team affirms the district’s plan follows the guidelines laid out in the Safe Learning Plan
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Schools are implementing and monitoring the state and district health and safety protocols. This includes social distancing, face coverings, ventilation, hand-washing routines, and optional COVID testing.
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Reported cases of COVID-19 are being monitored and acted on in accordance with Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) guidelines. This includes contract tracing, consideration for the source of any infections, tracking building/classroom case counts, and following the MDH decision tree for schools (linked above).
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There are enough teachers and other staff available to continue in-person learning at a site.
In a situation where these conditions are not met, there may be a temporary shift in learning model for an individual classroom or school. Decisions to shift learning models will be made by the district in close consultation with the state and county regional support team.
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Athletics and Activities
The Minnesota State High School League and Minnesota Department of Education guidelines for athletics and activities continue to be updated regularly. Please refer to the MSHSL sport guidance and information for the most up-to-date information.
SPPS has developed a comprehensive athletics preparedness plan that all teams will follow. While students are in distance learning, voluntary participation in athletics allows them to interact with their peers and coaches while observing social distancing and other safety measures.
For more information, please visit spps.org/athletics or contact your school's athletic director.
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As secondary students continue the school year in distance learning, SPPS will begin offering in-person support for 6-12 grade students at their schools the week of February 22. This in-person support will be offered on Monday-Thursday. Fridays will be distance learning days for all secondary students. Specific schedules will vary based on the school and grade level. Please know this also means that current distance learning schedules may change. More information is available here.
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Students enrolled in the Virtual Learning School began on February 1. Requests made after the deadline are being reviewed and families will be notified as soon as possible. Contact the Student Placement Center at 651-632-3760 or spc@spps.org for information regarding your request.
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- February 16: Students in grades 3-5 begin full-time in-person learning
- February 22: First week of in-person support for secondary students
- February 16: Students in grades 3-5 begin full-time in-person learning
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Families should familiarize themselves with these guidelines, which are updated regularly and cover prevention strategies, health screening and monitoring, exclusion guidance, and the SPPS COVID-19 Reporting System.
