MONTHLY CHECKLIST
Click on the link below for a list of important tasks for school leaders that affect students and families, budgeting, communications, professional development, building operations and more.
All checklists can be found in the
2019-20 Administrator Handbook.
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DEADLINE Oct. 11:
Edit Your School Information for the
2020-21 School Selection Guide
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Thank you to those who have already completed their edits for the School Selection Guide.
Every year, schools must edit their school information for the annual School Selection Guide to prepare for the next school choice season.
- Click on this link for the full instructions and access to the guide to make edits.
- You may be prompted to sign in to your SPPS Apps google account (firstname.lastname@stpaul.k12.mn.us)
- Read the instructions and review the Table of Contents to find your school/name.
- Click on the link to be taken to your school section.
- Your edits will show up as suggestions.
- Once complete, return to the Table of Contents and initial that your edits are complete.
- The deadline is Friday, Oct. 11. The deadline will not be extended.
Please note: You may have more than one section that requires your review, especially if you serve several grade levels (elementary and middle, or middle and high school).
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Required Training for Non-Violent Crisis Intervention (NVCI)
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Please review the document linked below to see a list of staff who are trained in Non-Violent Crisis Intervention (NVCI).
Staff are required to complete NVCI training if they meet any of the following criteria:
- They are employed as a special ed paraprofessional
- They are building behavior team members
- They are a building administrator
- They work with any student who has a disability and has the potential to demonstrate escalated behavior (e.g. EBD, ASD, DCD, DD, SLD teachers, special ed social worker, etc.)
- They are directed to attend by their building principal and/or OSS supervisor
Staff who meet the above criteria must take an initial NVCI training and a refresher training every two years (e.g. if previously taken in 17-18, next training should be taken in 19-20).
Please remind staff members to take initial NVCI training if they meet the criteria listed above. Please also remind staff members who are due for refresher training after reviewing the NVCI training list.
The Google spreadsheet also identifies dates for upcoming NVCI trainings, which can be signed up for via PDExpress.
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Impacts of the Bus Driver Shortage
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Like many districts, Saint Paul Public Schools is dealing with a severe shortage of school bus drivers.
This may affect you and our families in several different ways:
- You may see a number of different drivers for a given route at your school.
- We estimate that 20 percent of our routes are covered by spare drivers on a daily basis.
- Requests for field trip buses from 7-9:30 a.m. and 1:30-5 p.m. are not guaranteed.
- If a bus is available, schools may pay a higher fee with a minimum cost of $380.66. This is because we are using contractors beyond our usual bus contractors.
- There should be no issues if field trips are scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Buses are given the following priority: (1) regular school day routes to and from school, (2) athletics trips, (3) field trips.
The Transportation Department continues to work on this situation, however, the challenges are likely to continue the entire school year. If you have any questions, please contact your transportation coordinator.
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Educator Support Pathway for Probationary Educators
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Educator Support Pathway
professional development dates
for school year 2019-20 are set. Most professional development is offered from 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Substitute funds are covered by the Office of Teaching and Learning.
Educators in bargaining unit 51 (Saint Paul Federation of Educators) with projected tenure dates of 6/30/22 and 6/30/21 will be contacted regarding their specific cohort dates based on their job title and grade level of assignment. Special education (SPED) co-teachers will participate in a grade-level or content cohort in which they are co-teaching. Educators new to Saint Paul Public Schools in non-tenure eligible positions will also be invited to participate in content cohorts. Principals will be copied on the educator email in which they have staff participating.
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School Counseling Updates
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Please see this
document to learn about:
- Basic expectations of school counselors
- Appropriate and inappropriate duties for school counselors
- Documents that must be signed between the counselor and principal
- Contact information for lead counselors in the Office of College and Career Readiness
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Technology Services is aware of issues in the Apple Classroom iPad app and is working with Apple engineers to resolve the issue.
Thank you for your patience as this issue is resolved.
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Updates for Grade 7 American Studies and High School U.S. History
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Grade 7 American Studies and high school U.S. History are transitioning to a revised Year-at-a-Glance and unwrapped units. Please support all teachers who teach these classes during this transition.
Teachers and Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) are expected to use:
- The revised Essential Questions and Learning Targets
- Readings from "A Young People's History of the United States," by Howard Zinn
- Readings from "A Different Mirror for Young People: A History of Multicultural America," by Ronald Takaki and Rebecca Stefoff
- Resources that use counter narratives, absent narratives and multiple narratives
Grade 7 American Studies and high school U.S. History Survey teachers have four professional development days to support the transition. Please support teachers in attending workshops on the days listed below. Substitutes are funded by the Office of Teaching and Learning's social studies department.
American Studies - Oct. 25, Dec. 12, Feb. 28, April 24
High School U.S. History - Nov. 8, Dec. 13, Feb. 27, April 23
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Leadership Academy
(Principals and Academics Leaders)
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Wed., Oct. 2
8 - 11 a.m.
360 Colborne, Room A/B
Wed., Oct. 9
8 - 11 a.m.
360 Colborne, Room A/B
Wed., Oct. 23
8 - 11 a.m.
360 Colborne, Room A/B
Wed., Oct. 30
8 - 11 a.m.
Location: TBD
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Leadership Academy
(Assistant Principals)
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Cohort A
Wed., Oct. 2
1 - 4 p.m.
360 Colborne, Room A
Cohort B
Wed., Oct. 9
1 - 4 p.m.
360 Colborne, Room D, E, F
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New Leaders
(First-year Principals and First-year Assistant Principals)
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Mon., Oct. 14
4 - 5:30 p.m.
360 Colborne, Room J/K
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Important holidays, no school days, special religious days and family engagement events are available online at
spps.org/calendar.
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Oct. 8-9 - Yom Kippur
Jewish Day of Atonement. Begins at sunset, Oct. 8 and ends at sunset, Oct. 9. Devoted to prayer, fasting and repentance.
Oct. 13-20 - Sukkot
Feast of Tabernacles, Jewish festival of thanksgiving, harvest and the remembrance of the Jews who wandered in the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt. Begins at sunset, Oct. 13 and ends at sunset, Oct. 20.
Oct. 14 - Indigenous Peoples Day
A City of Saint Paul resolution that honors Native American culture.
Oct. 17-18 - No School (PreK-12)
Teacher professional development - statewide teacher meeting.
Oct. 20-21 - Shemini Atzeret
Begins at sunset, Oct. 20 and ends at sunset Oct. 21. Closing day of the Jewish festival Sukkot. A day of prayer.
Oct. 21-22 - Simchat Torah
Begins at sunset, Oct. 21 and ends at the sunset, Oct. 22. Jewish holiday. Reading of the law (Torah) is concluded and begun anew in the synagogue.
Oct. 25 - No School (PreK-5 / PreK-8 schools)
Conference preparation.
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The
Principal's Playbook
is a collaboration between the Office of Leadership and the Office of Communications. The Playbook is the main source for communicating with principals. This weekly newsletter includes department action items, professional development opportunities and other updates that directly affect principals and other school leaders. Each Playbook also includes communications and marketing content
to help schools communicate with their families.
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Jada Wollenzien
Program Manager, Leadership Development
Office: 651-744-5074
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Communications Consultant
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