Issue Date: July 29, 2021

A large volume of new information about the COVID-19 pandemic has been shared by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE).  This information includes guidance and recommendations for school districts. 

As has been the practice since the beginning of the pandemic, Shakopee Public Schools will be delving into and analyzing this new information and then working to make thoughtful decisions regarding the health and safety of our students, staff and community. As part of this process, the school district Pandemic Response Advisory Team (made up of school board members, district leaders, teachers, students, parents and community members) will resume scheduled meetings. The district will also continue to seek expert guidance from the Scott County Department of Health. 

Currently, the District continues to employ the following COVID-19 prevention strategies:

• Increased ventilation and air flow inside buildings
• Cleaning and disinfecting of high touch surfaces
• Social distancing, when practical 
• Wearing of face masks (staff and students) when riding on school buses as required by federal law

Currently, the District recommends those not vaccinated should continue to wear face masks when inside school buildings. The school district will examine whether, or not, to move from this current practice to other forms of mask recommendations and/or requirements. Information will continue to be shared directly with district staff, families and stakeholders in addition to being posted to the district website here.

June 10, 2021

COVID-19 Health & Safety Protocols, Student Programs - Summer 2021

The Minnesota Safe Learning Plan expired at the end of the student instructional day on June 10, 2021. Moving forward after this date, for our student programming that will occur on and after June 11, 2021, the following rules will be in place:

• Face coverings

  • Face coverings are required only on public transportation. This is a federal government requirement as determined by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
  • Face coverings are not required anywhere within the school district, including inside district buildings.
  • Face coverings are recommended by the CDC and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) for staff and students who are not vaccinated.

  Physical distancing and cohorting

  • There are no longer capacity or physical distancing requirements.
  • Spacing will occur to the extent possible when indoors.

  Health screening, isolation, quarantine

  • Everyone will conduct a daily self-screening.
  • Isolation will be required for a person who tests positive for COVID-19 or lives with someone who tests positive for COVID-19.
  • Families will be notified via email if a person who tests positive for COVID-19 was present within the classroom or in a summer school activity. 
  • Students and staff will not be required to quarantine if they are exposed to a person with COVID-19 at school or a school activity.
  • Families may choose to have their child quarantined in such circumstances.

   Student and staff COVID-19 testing

  • On site testing is being discontinued in the school district due to very low participation rates.
  • Testing remains available from other sources in the community.

   

May 10, 2021

2021/22 Shakopee Online Program

Shakopee Public Schools has worked to determine how to possibly provide online learning opportunities for students in the 2021-22 school year. Based on the registrations received for the 2021-22 school year (registration was open late April - May 4, 2021), we are pleased to announce that we will be able provide a full time, year-long Shakopee Online program for students in grades 1 through 8. 

At the high school level (incoming grades 9-12), the district did not receive enough registrations to offer a full time online program for the upcoming school year. 

The Shakopee Online team for grades 1-8 will continue to further define schedules, learning plans and resources needed to make the 2021/22 Shakopee Online a success for all students in grades 1-8. English Learner (EL) students and those that receive special education services will be accommodated in this program and incorporated into planning efforts. Shakopee Public Schools will continue to follow current legislation which may impact the program and communicate any changes at that time.

Further details for famliies in incoming grades 1-8 will be shared, including a “what to expect” resource, in the coming months in preparation for the 2021/22 school year. 

Questions? Please contact Donna Richards, Shakopee Online Program Coordinator, via phone at 952.496.5043 or email drichards@shakopee.k12.mn.us