Sent to all district families and staff on January 12, 2022

​RE: Pandemic Response Update - Additional School Adjustments

Over the past six days (including today), our teacher substitute fill rate is 48%, meaning that 52% of open/necessary positions that were entered into the system remain unfilled. For this six day period, there were also 175 unfilled teaching positions entered into the system. There were other unfilled teaching positions that were not even entered into the system as there was no chance of filling such positions. Transportation, food service, paraprofessionals and other support staff are facing similar challenges.

Over the past five days, an average of 19.3% of all students have been absent each day. Three of our buildings have more than 20% of their students absent today. Our five elementary schools had 449 student absences yesterday (January 11), and then today (January 12), the number of total student absences increased to 520, nearly a 16% increase in one day. 

Due to the increasing stress on operations, the district is moving grades K-12 into distance learning starting Tuesday, January 18 through Friday, January 28, 2022 . Important details, including calendar updates, distance learning instructional reminders, building communication, K-5 childcare, meal-pick up and other items are outlined in the below file and should be reviewed by all students and families as soon as possible. The K-5 childcare registration link can also be accessed here. Please note that you must fully proceed to checkout in the online registration process for your total to be reduced to '$0' for the noted days.

K-12 students will follow their current daily schedule, have Google Meets for each class period and are expected to attend school daily.

Pearson Early Learning Center, Tokata Learning Center and Shakopee Online will operate as normal during the above K-12 distance learning period. Community Education programs and classes, Athletics, Activities and Facility Use will continue as planned.  

With the shift to distance learning, the end of the first semester/academic quarter two will now be Thursday, February 3 (was previously scheduled for Thursday, January 27). Due to this adjustment, our district calendar has been updated to reflect the end of quarter/semester no school for student days . The calendar can be found online here; a summary of important adjustments are below. Note that there are no schedule changes for Pearson Early Learning Center.

• No school for all PreK-12 students on Friday, January 14 (new as of January 11)

• No school for all PreK-12 students and staff on Monday, January 17 (no changes)

• No school for early learning students only on Friday, January 28  (no changes)

  Please note that K-12 students WILL be in session via distance learning this day (new)

• No school for K-12 students on Friday, February 4 (new)

All school buildings will be open to families during normal office hours on Friday, January 14 for those students that are not present and need to obtain distance learning materials. Additional support will be provided by the technology team as needed.

As always, our district appreciates the support of our staff, students, families and community. Every day brings us one day closer to the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, something we all desire. 

Sent to all district families and staff on January 11, 2022

​RE: Pandemic Response Update - No School for Students January 14

The operating challenges facing Shakopee Public Schools, as shared on Janaury 5, are not improving. These challenges continue to impact transportation, teacher staffing, support staffing and student attendance. We are continuing to monitor the situation and do everything we reasonably can to carry on with in-person learning. However, the chances that parts of our district may move to temporary distance learning continue to grow more likely. 

As part of the ongoing COVID mitigation efforts, Friday, January 14  will be adjusted to a 'no school day' for all PreK-12 students . Previously, this day was scheduled as a two-hour early release day for grades K-12. All schools, including Pearson Early Learning Center, Tokata Learning Center and Shakopee Online, will not have school for students on Friday. 

Childcare on Friday, January 14, through our partner River Valley YMCA, will be available free of charge for students in grades K-5. K-5 childcare will be offered at Eagle Creek Elementary from 7am - 5:30pm on Friday. All families, including those that may have previously been registered for the early release day, must sign up prior to Friday by clicking here and choosing the Eagle Creek location. If you were previously registered for care on Friday, the YMCA will apply credits to your account. Pearson Early Learning Center childcare information will be provided directly by that site.

For the time being, our district is continuing in-person learning. Should our district need to make some form of change from in-person to distance learning, we will make every effort to communicate such a change in as timely a manner as possible.

Monday, January 17  will remain a holiday/no school day for all PreK-12 staff and students. 

We appreciate your ongoing support.

• Sent to all district families and staff on January 7, 2022

  ​RE: Updated Health & Safety Protocols

  As previously announced, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) made changes to their guidance for COVID-19 isolation and quarantine protocols. On Wednesday evening (January 5), the district received a message from the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE). This message shared that we can now refer to the new CDC guidance and their revised guidelines that allow for shortened quarantine and isolation under certain circumstances. The MDE also stated that the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) will soon be updating their guidance materials to align with the CDC recommendation. 

  Effective Monday, January 10, 2022, Shakopee Public Schools will follow the CDC’s recently updated health & safety protocols as they pertain to shortened isolation and quarantine.  Please review the Health & Safety Guide online here.

  As noted in the Guide, student and staff COVID-19 safety precautions remain unchanged, but rather the guidance that the district health services team will provide to COVID-19 infected or exposed individuals noted on pages 6 and 7 will result in adjustments. The present district-wide face mask rule also remains unchanged at this time and is listed on page 3 of the Guide. 

  If a staff member or student is presently in isolation due to a positive COVID-19 test or quarantine, a separate message will be sent to those individuals by 6pm this evening regarding any return to school date adjustments and guidance. 

  If you are home due to COVID-like symptoms and have contacted the health services team or your school attendance line, please plan to provide a negative COVID-19 test result or doctors note with an alternative diagnosis to return to school. If the individual chooses not to test or pursue an alternative diagnosis, they must stay home for 5 full days from the onset of symptoms. A person cannot return after that time unless symptoms have improved and are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications.

  The health & safety of our staff, students, families and communities remains a top priority. If you are experiencing COVID-19 related symptoms, please stay home and consult with the health services team for further guidance. For a list of district attendance lines, please click here. 

  ---

  COVID-19 Optional At-Home Test Kit Reminders:

  • Staff:
    • Each school and district building has a supply of the BD Veritor individual rapid antigen test kits. Each kit contains two tests that may be administered at home following the manufacturer directions. 
    • A kit can be requested from your building front office or health services team. 
    • Access to a smartphone is required and not all models may be compatible.
  • Students:
    • Each of our schools has a replenished supply of at-home COVID-19 test kits for use by our students. The kits are free of charge and optional to families for their students in the district. Each kit contains two tests and both tests must be used as directed if serving as a return to school test.
    • Should a parent/guardian desire a test kit for their child or children, they should contact the school office directly. The health services team is also able to assist when directly supporting a student/family.
    • If you have multiple children enrolled in more than one school, please inform the office at one school and they can provide a test kit for each of your children if there is enough supply on hand.
    • Kits are reserved for district students.