Return to Headlines

Weekly Parent Communication | June 3, 2020

JUNE 3, 2020 - Message shared with Shakopee Public Schools Parents/Guardians: Thank you. We appreciate you more than you realize. Learning has been a very different experience for all of us, and we appreciate your resiliency through all of this. As we end the 2019-20 school year, we hope you and your family have a restful and enjoyable summer!

 

Here are this week’s updates and information: 

 

Follow-up Distance Learning Survey

We’d love to hear your input about distance learning. If you haven’t already, please fill out a separate form for each student in your household (links shared with parents/guardians via email).

 

Looking Ahead to September 

Over the summer, members of the administration and a group of teachers within the district will be developing plans based on the direction of the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota Department of Health to ensure that we provide our students and staff with the safest learning environment possible. We will provide information as details are finalized. Please be sure to check your email throughout the summer for updates.

 

District Financial Outlook

Starting next school year, our spending is projected to be greater than our revenue. That is not sustainable, and the district is looking at various options while being respectful of our community’s financial realities. Our goal is to find ways to maintain our quality programming and learning opportunities for students, while building a path to long-term financial stability, and being able to attract, retain and fairly compensate high-quality teachers. Options being considered include budget cuts combined with a possible operating levy request on the November 2020 ballot. 

 

On Monday, June 8, an online community conversation about the district’s financial challenges will be live streamed on YouTube from 4:30pm to 5:30pm. Click here to join the community conversation via livestream. The session will begin with a 20-minute presentation from Superintendent Mike Redmond explaining the financial challenges being faced by the district, and the options currently being considered by the school board. Following the presentation, Superintendent Mike Redmond, Finance Director Bill Menozzi, and School Board Chair Kristi Peterson will spend the remaining 40 minutes responding to questions from the community related to the district’s financial situation and future challenges. Questions can be submitted in advance or during the presentation via email to communications@shakopee.k12.mn.us. As many questions as possible will be answered during the session. 



In the meantime:

  • Click here to visit our special Finance Facts webpage. 
  • Click here to watch the State of the District video from Superintendent Mike Redmond (7-minute video recaps the district’s COVID-19 response, looks ahead to summer and fall, and gives a quick overview of financial challenges.)
  • Click here to watch Superintendent Redmond’s presentation on the district’s financial outlook. (20-minute video explains the district’s financial context and presents various options being considered to address the challenges ahead.) Click here to review the PowerPoint covered in the presentation. 
  • After reviewing the Finance Facts page, please take a few minutes to complete this Financial Planning Process Input Form to share your perspectives on this planning process.

 

Congratulations Seniors

Please help us congratulate the Class of 2020. We wish our graduates the best in their future endeavors.  Click here to watch our senior awards video.

 

Russian // En Espanol // Somali // Khmer // Vietnamese