Lake Harriet Upper Newsletter
October 12 - October 16, 2020
Weekly Updates and Meetings
PTA Meeting: 6:00 pm live via Zoom
(contact Melissa
Taney)
- No meetings due to conferences
- 3:30 - 5:00 Flu Shot clinic outdoors at Upper Campus
- 4:00 - 8:00 conferences
Wednesday
- No meetings due to conferences
8:00-4:00. Conferences
Thursday
No School MEA
Friday
No School/Conversion Day
Technology tips for conferences
5 Phases to Safe Learning Updates & Survey
Colleagues,
As we continue to evaluate data around MPS’s ability to incorporate more in-person learning, I want you to know about a series of activities we’ve put in play that will provide MPS the data we need to make a sound decision about moving the phase on the dial to include more in-person learning.
- Yesterday we made available online our MPS COVID Dashboard. This dynamic tool summarizes data around the key factors we’re considering in a return to classrooms. You can visit this dashboard for weekly updates on COVID rates, family and staff availability, and building and equipment readiness.
- On Monday, October 12, families will be asked to help MPS plan for our eventual return to the classrooms. All families will get an email asking if they’d prefer: full-time, in-person learning; a combination of in-person learning and distance learning (hybrid); or full-time distance learning. Families who prefer in-person will also be asked about their transportation needs.
We’re asking these things to help us understand what needs to be in place and available for the number of students who will likely be back in the classroom. This letter is not a commitment to return on the part of the families, simply their preference for planning purposes.
Families are being asked to respond by October 19. If you work directly with families, please encourage them to respond to the email they receive on Monday asking about their preferences. This is very important planning information for our community. The answers to this survey—as well as a similar request going out to some staff on Monday—will help us know if we have the staffing resources to bring our students back to schools.
- Also on Monday, PreK-5 school staff, some Special Education staff, Health Services and related staff, and Community Education staff will receive an email about returning to work. The letter states that these staff members may be called back to work on or after November 9, then asks staff who cannot return in person to apply for an accommodation or a leave of absence by October 21.
I want to again emphasize this is very important planning information for us. We need to understand if the number of staff returning is adequate to serve the number of students who may return. We understand this can be a difficult decision, but we have a responsibility to our students to look at all the possibilities for getting them safely back to the classroom.
We look forward to planning a safe return to the classroom when the data indicates MPS is ready. Thank you.
Ed Graff
Superintendent, Minneapolis Public Schools
Colleagues,
As we continue to evaluate data around MPS’s ability to incorporate more in-person learning, I want you to know about a series of activities we’ve put in play that will provide MPS the data we need to make a sound decision about moving the phase on the dial to include more in-person learning.
- Yesterday we made available online our MPS COVID Dashboard. This dynamic tool summarizes data around the key factors we’re considering in a return to classrooms. You can visit this dashboard for weekly updates on COVID rates, family and staff availability, and building and equipment readiness.
- On Monday, October 12, families will be asked to help MPS plan for our eventual return to the classrooms. All families will get an email asking if they’d prefer: full-time, in-person learning; a combination of in-person learning and distance learning (hybrid); or full-time distance learning. Families who prefer in-person will also be asked about their transportation needs.
We’re asking these things to help us understand what needs to be in place and available for the number of students who will likely be back in the classroom. This letter is not a commitment to return on the part of the families, simply their preference for planning purposes.
Families are being asked to respond by October 19. If you work directly with families, please encourage them to respond to the email they receive on Monday asking about their preferences. This is very important planning information for our community. The answers to this survey—as well as a similar request going out to some staff on Monday—will help us know if we have the staffing resources to bring our students back to schools.
- Also on Monday, PreK-5 school staff, some Special Education staff, Health Services and related staff, and Community Education staff will receive an email about returning to work. The letter states that these staff members may be called back to work on or after November 9, then asks staff who cannot return in person to apply for an accommodation or a leave of absence by October 21.
I want to again emphasize this is very important planning information for us. We need to understand if the number of staff returning is adequate to serve the number of students who may return. We understand this can be a difficult decision, but we have a responsibility to our students to look at all the possibilities for getting them safely back to the classroom.
We look forward to planning a safe return to the classroom when the data indicates MPS is ready. Thank you.
Ed Graff
Superintendent, Minneapolis Public Schools
