Dear MPS Students, Families and Staff,
As you probably know, Governor Tim Walz announced through an executive order today that school buildings will stay closed for the remainder of the school year to further slow the spread of COVID-19.
This likely comes as a relief to those concerned about staying healthy and safe while the virus is still in our community. But this news likely also brings a mixture of other emotions: anxiety, fear, frustration and uncertainty.
There are many resources available to students, families and staff to help us all navigate this temporary way of living, learning and working. We will continue to serve all of you by:
Providing free food to ANY child 18 years or younger, whether the child goes to an MPS school or not.
Ensuring you are connected to the resources you need to take care of your mental health.
Continuing to provide free child care for emergency personnel and health workers.
Updating our COVID-19 Response Plan as new resources become available.
And of course, we must continue to strengthen our Distance Learning so that our students get the education they deserve. We value every one of our students and are striving to ensure each student has a device and internet access. Through all this, we’ve learned more than ever that we need to do much more to reach the students and families who face additional barriers to learning. For our families with students receiving special education services, we appreciate your collaboration with school staff to provide individualized instruction for your student as we continue with Distance Learning.
Please know that we’re working hard so no one gets behind and that many students will have the opportunity to continue their learning in summer school. MPS, like many school districts, is also re-evaluating its grading system for Distance Learning and will soon share more information about this with staff, students and families.
I want to especially acknowledge the Class of 2020. We realize our high school seniors have had to miss out on prom and the special camaraderie that comes with finishing off their last few months of high school with the friends, peers, teachers and staff they’ve grown close to. I want to reassure our seniors and your families that we will celebrate and recognize each one of you for your years of hard work that culminates in your high school diploma. We have been busy determining how we can hold graduation ceremonies virtually and will share those exciting details soon.
And to all our students, our school buildings might be closed, but learning will continue. We are thinking of you every day and are focused on making sure you grow up to realize your dreams and become all you can be.
And to everyone, let’s remember that while physically we must continue to stay distant, in our hearts and minds we can stay close.
In parting, I want to acknowledge that we know there are many questions around having our school buildings closed for the remainder of the school year and into summer school, including the need to gather personal belongings from classrooms and lockers. Please rest assured that we’ll be answering your questions in the coming days.
Take good care.
Ed Graff
Superintendent