Six candidates file for district’s school board election

Six community members have filed to be candidates for the South St. Paul School Board. The election will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020, and three candidates will be elected to serve on the seven-member board.

Community input helps name new building South St. Paul Education Center

Earlier this summer, South St. Paul Public Schools asked the community for input on the name of the River Heights Professional Building they purchased last September. A naming committee, which included a number of staff and two School Board representatives, reviewed the name suggestions and brought their top recommendation to the SSP School Board. On Monday, August 10 the board approved South St. Paul Education Center as the name for the new building.

School year to begin in hybrid model with four-week soft opening plan

Last night at a regular meeting of the SSPPS School Board, the board voted to begin the school year in the hybrid model with a four-week soft opening plan. Our Safe Return to School Plan includes intentional and deliberate steps to prepare students, families and educators for a safe return to school.

SSP: Safe. Strong. Prepared.

After reviewing Minnesota’s Safe Learning Plan for the 2020-21 School Year announced last Thursday and months of planning, today we are sharing details about each of the three learning scenarios – distance, hybrid or in-person – and how they will look in SSP.

Governor Walz announcement

This afternoon Governor Walz made the announcement that Minnesota school districts will utilize the different scenarios of distance, hybrid or in-person learning based on the number of COVID-19 cases in a county over the past 14 days. Districts will work with the MN Department of Health (MDH), the MN Department of Education (MDE) and local health experts to determine a learning scenario to begin the school year. Once school starts, MDH will closely monitor local cases throughout the year and could order individual schools or districts into distance learning. READ MORE.

Distance learning available for all families

We know you have many questions and concerns about the start of school this fall. As a reminder, MDE and Governor Walz will announce the learning scenario (distance, hybrid or in-person) that all school districts will start the school year with by the end of next week, July 31. Once the announcement is made, SSP will communicate it with staff and families, however we will need additional time to finalize and communicate all the details. We are also aware of the Emergency Executive Order Governor Walz shared this afternoon requiring Minnesotans to wear a face covering in certain settings to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and we are digging into what that means for our district. Regular updates about all things back-to-school will be shared with staff and families via email and they can also be found on the website and our social media channels.

Lincoln Center behavioral program earns state recognition

Lincoln Center Elementary’s Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) team was awarded a Certificate of Recognition by the State of Minnesota and Governor Tim Walz. The team during the 2019-20 school year included Deanne Edlefsen, Heather Gysbers, Jenna Kvalheim, Jesse Moen, Lindy Nichols, Kristen Spanjers, Julian Stanke, Taylor Targonski and Cassandra Webb.

School Board approves 2020-21 budget with spend down of fund balance

At the Monday, June 22 School Board meeting, the school board approved the 2020-21 budget. Finance Director Aaron Bushberger provided a review of the 2020-21 budget, which included the anticipated revenue and expenditures for the General, Food Service, Community Service and Debt Service Funds. The General Fund budget for 2020-21 is anticipating a nearly $1 million shortfall. Each year 80% of the district’s general fund revenue comes from the State of Minnesota and given the state’s current financial challenges and other COVID-19 related impacts, the district could face an even greater shortfall than previously projected.

Planning for three learning scenarios for the 2020-21 school year

Believe it or not, the first day of school will be here before we know it and our staff are hard at work planning for a safe and successful year. Last week, the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) released its guidance for school districts to plan for three scenarios for the 2020-21 school year, so our schools can be ready for whatever the public health situation may require. MDE will announce the scenario that all school districts will start the school year with by the week of July 27. We wanted to share these scenarios with you and what SSP is doing to prepare for school this fall.

School Board Elections to be held this November

On Tuesday, November 3, 2020, voters will elect three residents to serve on the seven-member school board of South St. Paul Public Schools. These seats are currently held by Jeff McClellan, Nikki Laliberte and Patty Bjorkland. The terms of these three current school board seats are expiring in January 2021. The period for filing affidavits of candidacy for the office of school board member begins Tuesday, July 28 and closes on Tuesday, August 11 at 5 p.m.

Leah Bourg joins South St. Paul Schools as Middle School Principal

SSPPS is excited to announce Leah Bourg as the new middle school principal. Leah brings incredible leadership experience from all three levels of the school system (elementary, middle and high school). Leah has served as an administrator at Metcalf Middle School in Burnsville and Crossroads Elementary in St. Paul. She also has 10 years of International Baccalaureate teaching experience. Leah has experience establishing and leading Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) to increase student achievement and improve building climate. Throughout her years, she has also been a leader and teacher of technology for her colleagues.

SSP seeking name recommendations for new CLC and Community Education building through June 30

South St. Paul Public Schools is seeking community input on the name of the River Heights Professional Building they purchased last September. Starting this fall, the building will house the Community Learning Center (CLC), the district adult learning programs and Community Education offices.