FAQ for Families

  • What happens during a strike?

    Starting Tuesday, March 8, SPPS classes and extracurricular activities will be canceled until a contract agreement is reached with the Saint Paul Federation of Educators (SPFE) union. On the first day of a strike, all ECSE classes and services, and PreK-12 classes will be canceled. Please make child care arrangements for your children on that day. Breakfast and lunch will be available at many school and community sites to all students ages 18 and under. All students in grades PreK-12 will be able to keep their iPads, and will have access to standards-based academic activities online.

    Starting on Day 2 of a strike, Wednesday, March 9, SPPS will open 40 SPPS Kid Space sites for students in grades PreK-5 only. The sites will be open daily, following regular school hours. Kid Space will be staffed by non-striking SPPS staff and located in SPPS schools. Busing will be available to SPPS Kid Space sites if your child regularly receives bus transportation. Their regular bus will drop them off and pick them up. Special education buses will not be running. Kid Space capacity is limited, so please make alternate arrangements if you can.

    Saint Paul Public Libraries and Parks and Recreation programming will be expanded to support students if a strike occurs. View information here.

    How will families be notified that a strike will happen?

    Families will be notified via text, robocall, email, on spps.org, social media and in the media. Families can expect to be notified each night whether or not there is school the next day.

    Will athletics continue during a strike?

    Varsity athletics will continue for the duration of the strike, on a case-by-case basis. All middle school sports, high school JV and C squad games and practices are postponed.

    What are the Kid Space operating hours?

    Starting on Wednesday, March 9, SPPS will open 40 SPPS Kid Space sites for students in grades PreK-5 only. The sites will be open using regular school hours. Busing will be available to SPPS Kid Space sites. Special education buses will not be running. Students will report to their nearest Kid Space bus stop, where a bus will take them to their Kid Space site. Buses will return students to their Kid Space bus stop at the end of the day. 

    How will Kid Space be staffed?

    Kid Space will be staffed by non-striking SPPS staff and located in SPPS schools. There will be no nurse or healthcare staff at the Kid Space sites. If your child has special health, medical or other needs, the District may not be able to accommodate them. Supporting staff will work together with the SPPS Security and Emergency Management team and the Saint Paul Police Department to ensure students are safe during a strike.

    What type of programming will be offered at Kid Space?

    Kid Space is not an academic program. Kids will participate in safe, age-appropriate activities. Breakfast and lunch will be served.

    If there is a strike, will PSEO courses be canceled?

    No. If a strike were to happen, students enrolled in PSEO courses should continue to attend all PSEO courses. PSEO courses taught on a college campus, with a college instructor, will continue during the strike.

    Will SPPS provide students with meals during the strike?

    Forty SPPS school sites will serve breakfast (9-9:30 a.m.) and lunch (11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.) daily. Students will need their own transportation to get to these sites, which will be open for meals only. Visit spps.org/kidspace for more information and alternative sites that will have food available for students.

    Will make-up days be added to the SPPS academic calendar?

    If the strike lasts more than two school days, that time would have to be made up in spring or summer. Families will be notified about any changes to the school year calendar. 

    How can I keep up to date on the latest news and plans about the strike?

    For the latest news and information regarding the strike, visit spps.org/negotiations. Please check your email, text messages, social media and local media outlets for daily information. Follow us on social media:

    Where can I learn more about SPPS contract offers?

    To learn more about our negotiations with the Saint Paul Federation of Educators, please visit spps.org/negotiations.