October 7, 2020 | Volume 1 • Issue 7
Hybrid Schedule During MEA Week (October 12-16)
There is no school on October 15-16 due to MEA. Below you will find information regarding the hybrid schedule for elementary and secondary schools.

Elementary Schedule
Monday, October 12: Students in Cohort A will attend school (7:45-11:45 a.m.)
Tuesday, October 13: Students in Cohort B will attend school (7:45-11:45 a.m.)
Wednesday, October 14: Distance learning for all students
Thursday, October 15: No School
Friday, October 16: No School

Secondary Schedule
On Monday, October 12 and Tuesday, October 13, Middle School and High School students will participate in a full 7-period distance learning schedule, instead of the odd/even, synchronous/asynchronous schedule that has been implemented so far this school year. Wednesday, October 14 will continue to be a Student Feedback Day. There will be no school on Thursday, October 15 or Friday, October 16.
October 5-11 is Principals Week in Minnesota
Governor Walz has issued a proclamation that October 5-11, 2020 is Principals Week in the State of Minnesota. Thank you to all of our principals for building character, inspiring dreams, encouraging creativity, building confidence, instilling learning and touching the hearts of all of our students every day!
Face Coverings Policy
The School Board approved Policy 808 on "COVID-19 Face Coverings" at its Tuesday, September 29 Business Meeting. The policy establishes requirements for employees, students, and other persons (including visitors, guests, contractors, etc.) present on school property to wear face coverings in classrooms, preschool, child care settings and other indoor areas, as well as outdoor areas where a physical distance of 6 feet cannot be maintained between persons, in order to minimize exposure to COVID-19. Click here to view the entire policy.
School Board Moves Meetings to 6:30 p.m.; Returns to In-Person Format
The School Board for St. Louis Park Public Schools voted at its Tuesday, Sept. 29 Business Meeting to move future meetings back to an in-person format in room C350 at St. Louis Park High School. The Board also voted to change the regular start time for future meetings from 7 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. These two changes will occur beginning with the Study Session scheduled for October 12, 2020. 

While meetings will move back to an in-person format, in the interest of maintaining safe social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, the District will adhere to strict room capacity guidelines as recommended by the Minnesota Departments of Health and Education (50% room capacity and six feet of social distancing). There will also continue to be no open forum for at least the immediate future. The District is working with Park TV regarding broadcast plans and is also exploring options in order to continue to live stream School Board meetings on the District's YouTube channel.

Please note that if COVID-19 case counts rise to a point where the District's elementary and secondary schools return to distance learning, the School Board may opt to return meetings to a virtual format.
Free Meals Continue to be Available at All Six Schools
Free Meals continue to be available to St. Louis Park Public Schools students at all six school sites. Please note that due to construction, meal pick up at St. Louis Park Middle School is in the back of the building.

For students in grades 6-12 and K-5 students who have chosen to remain in distance learning, free meals will be available at the six school sites on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. 

For students in grades Kindergarten through fifth grade who are participating in the Hybrid model, meal availability will depend on which cohort your student(s) are in.

Cohort A (Last names starting with A-K)

Monday: Breakfast meals can be picked up in a designated location and eaten in the student’s classroom or another designated location. Lunch will be picked up in a designated location and taken home to eat. 

Tuesday: Breakfast meals can be picked up in a designated location and eaten in the student’s classroom or another designated location. Lunch will be picked up in a designated location and taken home to eat. 

Wednesday: Meals for three days can be picked up at any of the six school buildings.

Thursday: No meals served today.

Friday: No meals served today. 

Cohort B (Last names starting with L-Z)

Monday: Meals for three days can be picked up at any of the six school buildings.

Tuesday: No meals served today. 

Wednesday: No meals served today.

Thursday: Breakfast meals can be picked up in a designated location and eaten in the student’s classroom or another designated location. Lunch will be picked up in a designated location and taken home to eat. 

Friday: Breakfast meals can be picked up in a designated location and eaten in the student’s classroom or another designated location. Lunch will be picked up in a designated location and taken home to eat. 

Delivery to Apartment Complexes Continues
The District will continue to drop-off meals to seven St. Louis Park apartment complexes in designated neighborhoods, between 12:30-1:20 p.m., Monday-Friday. Please note that these meals will be delivered in mini-vans and NOT school busses. Please note that there will be no delivery of meals on October 15-16 during MEA.

Meal Drop-Off Schedule:
Meadowbrook (Era Apartments).......................... 12:30-1:20 p.m.
Colonial Terrace Apartments................................ 12:30-12:50 p.m.
Park Glen Apartments.......................................... 12:55-1:20 p.m.
Oak Park Village Apartments............................... 12:30-1:20 p.m.
Louisiana Court Apartments................................ 12:30-12:50 p.m.
Rhode Island Chateau Apartments...................... 12:55-1:20 p.m.
Courtyard/The Park Apartments.......................... 12:30-1:20 p.m.

Meals available by PRE-REGISTRATION ONLY for designated apartment complexes!
Complete the Pre-Order for Limited Meal Delivery form at http://bit.ly/slpfreemeals.

Free and Reduced Meals Application
While meals are currently free, it’s very important for families to complete a Free and Reduced Meals Application to help ensure that the District can continue to provide this important service to our students and families. This application can be filled out by families in a number of different ways including online through their Wordware or PowerSchool account or by filling out a paper copy. If anyone has questions or needs more information about the St. Louis Park Public Schools Free Meals program, or needs assistance in filling out a Free and Reduced Meals Application, they can contact the School Nutrition Department at 952-928-6146.
Reminder: No School on November 2-3
As a reminder, there is no school Monday, November 2 and Tuesday, November 3. November 2 is a professional development day for elementary teachers and staff and a grading day for secondary teachers and staff. The School Board also decided last Spring that there would be no school on Election Day (November 3) with the safety of our students and staff in mind.
Deadline to Apply for DIPAC is October 9
Parents/guardians interested in applying to be on the newly formed DIPAC, can now do so by clicking here. Applications are due by Friday, October 9. An overview of this new collaborative group is below:

PURPOSE
The purpose of the District Instructional Programs Advisory Council (DIPAC) is to develop a collaborative group of parents/guardians and students that support the accomplishment of the goals of the strategic plan by engaging in a review process of our curricular and instructional program offerings.

OBJECTIVES
  • To support the development of curricular and instructional programs that are anti-racist and promote racially equitable learning experiences for all students.
  • To bring together academic interests that support achievement for all students across the district.
  • To provide advice and insight to support the Superintendent in the development of curricular and instructional programs.
  • To review and provide feedback on District policies, practices, procedures and programs that impact curriculum and instructional programs.
  • To gather feedback from parents and students throughout the district regarding how to share decisions and progress of district Program Design Teams with the greater parent and student community.

LEVEL OF AUTHORITY
DIPAC has the authority to make recommendations to the Superintendent regarding curricular and instructional programs. 

MEETING SCHEDULE
All meetings take place at the District Office (6311 Wayzata Blvd., St. Louis Park) or virtually on Tuesdays from 4:30 - 6:00 pm unless otherwise noted.
  • October 20, 2020
  • December 8, 2020
  • February 9, 2021
  • March 9, 2021
  • May 11, 2021 
  • May 24, 2021 (7:00 p.m. School Board presentation)

MEMBERSHIP
DIPAC membership is based on interest, not educational expertise. Members include up to two representatives from each elementary school and up to four representatives from each secondary school, one school board member, district teachers and administrators, and up to four high school students. The length of term is two years. Applications for potential members will be available via the district website and due on Friday, October 9th.

DIPAC will strive to reflect the racial, gender, language, and ability balance of the school district and will actively recruit participants from underrepresented groups, if at the end of the application process, we do not see an adequate response. The district Teaching and Learning team and the Superintendent shall work together to ensure underrepresented groups are equitably represented from across the school district. These appointments will be endorsed by Principals at each of the representative sites from across the school district.
Apply to Join the Financial Advisory Committee
St. Louis Park Public Schools is currently seeking stakeholders to apply to participate on the District's Financial Advisory Committee (FAC). Click here to access the application. 
 
Purpose
To advise administration and the school board on economic and school finance issues and to build community trust in school district finances. 
 
Members (20 members in total)
  • Facilitator, Director of Business Services (1)
  • Controller (1)
  • Internal Auditor (1)
  • Teachers/other staff members (up to 3)
  • Principal (up to 2)
  • Community members (up to 12)

Preliminary Fiscal Year 2021 Meeting Schedule (Wednesday afternoons, 4-5:30 p.m. - times subject to change to meet needs of the majority of membership)
October 21, 2020 
November 18, 2020 
December 9, 2020 
January 13, 2021 
February 10, 2021
March 24, 2021
 
If you have questions about the Financial Advisory Committee, please contact Director of Business Services Patricia Magnuson at magnuson.patricia@slpschools.org. 




6311 Wayzata Blvd. | St. Louis Park, MN 55416
Phone: 952-928-6000 | Fax: 952-928-6020