Important emergency food and childcare updates, grading and material return

We are in the home stretch for the last few weeks of distance learning and wanted to share a few important updates. As a reminder, there are two previously scheduled non-student days on Friday, May 22 and Monday, May 25. Students will not have distance learning on those days and emergency school meals and school-age care is also affected. Please read below for more information about these days, end of year material return and grading.

Grading Modified During Distance Learning

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the shift to distance learning, grading and report cards for SSP schools will look a little different this spring. The district recognizes the significant disruption to the school year and student learning caused by our shift to distance learning. Throughout this time teachers have been gathering evidence of learning, however it is difficult to assess the many benchmarks and standards teachers are typically able to do in a normal school setting. Read below for specific changes to elementary, secondary and preschool grading for this spring.

Packer Pride “Turn the Town Maroon” Month

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect our lives in many ways and the SSP School Board wants to recognize and support our students, staff and community during this difficult time. At the May 11 School Board meeting, the SSP School Board unanimously approved a resolution declaring the next four weeks Packer Pride “Turn the Town Maroon” Month. The resolution, shared below, encourages all South St. Paul residents to help “Turn the Town Maroon” by displaying their Packer pride at their homes and businesses as a show of support and encouragement to our students and staff, especially the graduating Class of 2020.

Preschool and elementary locker clean-up and material pickup information

When schools closed in March, nobody thought it would be the last time we would see our students in person this school year. With the announcement last week from Gov. Walz that distance learning will continue through the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year, we are beginning to prepare for another month of distance learning and end-of-year activities. Click to read more.

Secondary/CLC locker clean-out, materials pickup and graduation update

I hope you are all staying healthy and safe. After letting the announcement last week from Gov. Walz sink in that distance learning will continue through the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year, I wanted to touch base about a few important upcoming events. Click to read more.

Schools remain closed and distance learning continues

This afternoon Gov. Walz ordered all Minnesota public schools to continue distance learning while schools and buildings remain closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year.

Updates on April 24 Non-School Day, Emergency School-Age Care and Emergency School Meals

Next Friday, April 24 is a previously scheduled non-school day for all South St. Paul (SSP) schools. This means students will not participate in Distance Learning on Friday, April 24. Please read the following for details on other impacts of this non-school day and upcoming changes to the emergency school meals.

School Board approves proposed budget adjustments, addressing $4.1 million shortfall

At its meeting on April 13, the South St. Paul School Board approved the 2020-21 proposed budget adjustments for addressing a projected $4.1 million budget shortfall. According to district officials, the gap is the result of declining enrollment, increasing costs and inequitable state funding.

Updates on Distance Learning, Emergency School Meals and Upcoming Virtual Spirit Week Themes

As we continue with this first week of distance learning, we want to send a sincere thank you to all of you for your patience and support during this significant transition. It is certainly a new learning experience for all of us. To that end, we want to share a few important updates with you.