Colleagues:

As promised, I will be sharing an update this week on the steps we are taking to ultimately bring our students and educators back into the classroom as soon as it is safe to do so.

The first doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine will be shipped to healthcare providers this week. On Wednesday, Governor Walz will provide an update on the state’s dial back measures. That announcement will provide additional information that SPPS will use, along with COVID-19 case rates and other data, to determine whether we will transition to hybrid learning in January.

I would like to invite you to a virtual all-staff meeting on Thursday, Dec. 17, at 3:30 p.m., when I will discuss our decision and next steps for supporting our students and staff while keeping health and safety our highest priority.

Thank you for your continued efforts to make distance learning as effective as possible for our students, to positively contribute to student learning and achievement, and for your work to remain safe and healthy during this challenging time.

I look forward to speaking with you on Thursday at 3:30 p.m.

In partnership,

Joe Gothard, Superintendent