Current Message to MPS Patrons
19 days ago
Good Evening, this is Kim Slotsve with the Minot Public Schools. Today the governor announced that access to K-12 public schools will continue to be restricted until further notice. As we process this new information, more details will be forthcoming from the district tomorrow. Thank you for your continued patience as we finalize our plans.
Kim Slotsve
Assistant Superintendent
Message Archive
3 days ago
March 18, 2020
To: District Patrons, Minot Public Schools
From: Mark Vollmer, Superintendent
RE: Recent Updates – Wednesday Update
School Nutrition Program
Today, Minot Public Schools served nearly 1,241 meals to students in our community. Meal service will continue for the remainder of the week at Longfellow, Washington, Sunnyside, Perkett, Roosevelt, and Magic City Campus, starting from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. We will also be delivering meals to specific attendance areas in the district, beginning at 11:00 AM. A map of delivery areas will be posted on our website. Watch for a MPS school bus in your area.
Meals are also being delivered on the Minot Air Force Base. Drivers from Yellow Fin Bus Company and employees from Minot Public Schools will deliver meals on Minot Air Force Base starting at 11:00 AM and should be done by 1:00 PM.
This service is provided for all school-age children in our community. Please let your friends and neighbors know about this awesome service.
A Plan for Distance Learning
We continue to operate on the expectation that school will resume on Monday, March 23, 2020. That being said, we will continue to yield to experts in regard to future school closures. Governor Burgum is working closely with federal, state and local leaders to make the best and safest decisions possible.
A special thank you to the 4,000 plus parents who completed the technology survey sent out yesterday. Your willingness to share your needs has been a great help to our teachers as we continue to plan for distance learning options.
In the event our schools do not re-open next week, we are planning for distance learning options for our students. These plans will be unique, based on the age appropriate needs of our students.
School principals will contact families with information about accessing the school to pick up books, personal items such as band instruments, and in some instances, technology to
support student learning. You should be getting a message shortly. This will also include information on when school counselors will be available to take your phone calls.
Social Distancing
We continue to encourage social distancing. Governor Burgum is conducting a press conference each day at 4:00 PM to discuss the COVID-19 status in our state. This will be shared on our local television stations. He will share recommendations made by the CDC and the North Dakota Department of Health, and provide updates.
As always, the health and safety of our students and staff is a priority.
Together We Get Better!
Through this hectic week of uncertainty, our staff has worked to plan for what might be coming next. Our goal is to ensure learning continues for all MPS students. Thank you to all staff for their dedication and hard work. If you have questions, concerns, or ideas, please call the school office – we are here to help.
We continue to hope for a quick return to school, but also plan for a possible extended school closure. Your school principal is at the school office and will be happy to answer your phone calls. Our main goal is to ensure our community remains healthy. We will continue to communicate information as it is made available to us.
Updates will be posted on our district website. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
Thank you -
March 17, 2020
To: District Patrons, Minot Public Schools
From: Mark Vollmer, Superintendent
RE: Recent Updates
“In the midst of every crisis, lies a great opportunity.” Albert Einstein
We were notified of an additional COVID-19 diagnosis in Ward County today, and a case confirmed in Eastern North Dakota. This is not the news we wanted to hear. We continue to rely on advice from the Center for Disease Control, the North Dakota Department of Health, the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction the First District Health Unit and the Governor Burgum’s office.
Despite all of this, we have so many wonderful things happening in our community.
Community Partners Make a Difference
We are blessed with many community partners who have offered their time, talents, and energy to assist families while our schools are closed. Thanks to all who have volunteered to watch children while parents work, have supplied meals, and have donated items to assist families in need. Souris Valley United Way is currently working on a plan to get “Backpack Buddies” supplies to families that receive this service.
This is proof that . . . Together we get better!
School Nutrition Program
Today, Minot Public Schools served nearly 500 meals to students in our community. Meal service will continue for the remainder of the week at Longfellow, Washington, Sunnyside, Perkett, Roosevelt, and Magic City Campus, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. In addition to curbside service at these schools, MPS will also be delivering meals to specific attendance areas in the district. A map of delivery areas will be posted on our website on Wednesday, March 18. Watch for a MPS school bus in your area.
Meals will also be delivered on the Minot Air Force Base beginning tomorrow. Drivers from Yellow Fin Bus Company and employees from Minot Public Schools will deliver meals on Minot Air Force Base from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
Again, each student will receive a free lunch and breakfast for the following morning. All students are eligible and encouraged to participate.
A Plan for Distance Learning
Our teachers have been busy preparing for distance learning for students in the event we are not able to open on March 23rd. If school closures are extended, we are well equipped to continue education for our students.
School principals will contact families with information about accessing the school to pick up books, personal items such as band instruments, and in some instances, technology to support student learning.
Social Distancing
We hear a lot about social distancing. The concept of social distancing is not new. Simply put, this means we avoid large groups in the hopes of preventing the spread of a disease. All health organizations are currently recommending social distancing to help slow the spread of COVID-19. The graphic to the right describes what social distancing might look like for your family.
The only thing that is “certain” is “uncertainty”. We are hoping for a quick return to a regular schedule, but also planning for a possible extended school closure. Our main goal is to ensure our community remains healthy. We will continue to communicate information as it is made available to us.
Updates will be posted on our district website. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
Thank you -
3-16-2020 Phone message sent to Parents.
I wanted to provide an update to you in regard to the statewide school closure. As you already know, Governor Burgum ordered all schools be closed from March 16 – 20, 2020 to help combat the spread of COVID-19. It is our hope that we will be able to reopen on March 23rd, but our reopening will depend on recommendations from the Center for Disease Control, the Governor’s office, the North Dakota Department of Health and the First District Health Unit.
Minot Public School teachers are using this week to prepare lessons and activities so educational opportunities can continue if school closures are extended. Your child’s principal will send a notification to let you know when you will be able to stop by the school to pick up personal items, books, and for many students, technology that can be used to support online education options.
In order to ensure our students have access to meals during the closure period, the district will begin offering brown-bag meal services beginning tomorrow, from 11AM to 1 PM at the following schools: Longfellow, Magic City Campus, Washington , Sunnyside, Perkett and Roosevelt. This will include a lunch for the current day and a breakfast for the next morning. Parents can pick up meals at the main entrance. You will not need to leave your vehicle. School personnel will deliver the meals to you. If you live in walking distance, just visit with school personnel located outside the school.
There is no cost for these meals, which are available for all MPS students and adults with disabilities. Feel free to stop by the most convenient school site listed above. On Wednesday, we will begin delivering meals to specific areas in the community. Please access our website for additional information.
In order to follow the Governor’s recommendation of social distancing, all activities at Minot Public Schools are cancelled this week. Prom has been rescheduled for May 9th.
I recently shared – the only thing that is “certain” is “uncertainty”. We are hoping for a quick return to a regular schedule, but also planning for a possible extended school closure. Our main goal is to ensure our community remains healthy. We will continue to communicate information as it is made available to us.
If you have any questions, please contact your school office.
Thank you,
Mark Vollmer, Superintendent
Phone message sent out 3-15-2020 following Governor Burgum's Press Conference
Good evening, this is Mark Vollmer, Superintendent of Minot Public Schools.
First, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your patience as we have debated how to best combat the ever-growing concern of the COVID-19 virus.
As you know, we have worked with state and local officials to determine next steps. Tonight, we were notified that Governor Burgum, in conjunction with the North Dakota Department of Health is recommending that schools cease regular operations, effective immediately.
I would like to thank our state leaders for their efforts to keep our population safe. Following the governor’s recommendation, we will cancel classes until further notice. Staff are expected to be at work tomorrow. We will begin planning for options to deliver education to our students during this period.
The only thing that seems certain is “uncertainty”. As events continue to unfold and more Information is made available, we will provide updates.
Please continue to check your email and the district website for more Information.
Thank you and good evening.
March 13, 2020 Letter to Patrons
Dear MPS Families and Staff,
Thank you for your patience and support as we continue to monitor the evolving situation around the coronavirus outbreak, or COVID-19. A recent confirmation of COVID-19 in our community has heightened the concerns of local and state health officials, school personnel and families. I would like to take this opportunity to provide an update and inform you of our efforts to prevent spread of the virus.
I and the district leadership team continue to meet and communicate daily with numerous state and county agency partners including the North Dakota Governor’s Office, North Dakota Department of Health, First District Health Unit, Ward County Emergency Management and area school districts, to receive the most recent information and recommendations regarding COVID-19.
Additionally, we are taking many steps to prevent or diminish impacts to our communities. This might include the cancelation or limited attendance at school activities, and the cancelation of district- sponsored out-of-state travel for students, teachers, and staff. Over the past several weeks, we have also engaged in extensive cleaning and disinfecting protocols in our buildings to reduce potential spread of COVID-19 or other seasonal illnesses such as the cold and flu. We also continue to strongly encourage healthy habits such as frequent hand washing, covering your cough, and keeping students home when they are sick.
As we have many upcoming athletic events and other activities, we are working closely with the North Dakota Department of Health and the North Dakota High School Activities Association to monitor and prepare for any disruption or changes to in-state public event protocols, and we will communicate any changes to families as decisions are made.
As we monitor this situation, we must rely heavily on local and state experts. The recommendation is to continue normal operations, with precautionary measures in place. We have no plan to close schools at this time. In the event we need to close schools, the decision would be made in collaboration with state and county health offices.
Below are resources that families can access to learn more about COVID-19 and how to protect yourself and your family against the spread of germs. The North Dakota Department of Health has a toll-free hotline for the latest public health information with reliable, consistent, and accurate information. The NDDoH Hotline number is 1-866-207-2880. The NDDoH website will also provide information in regard to the number of pending and confirmed cases in your area.
- CDC: Coronavirus
- CDC: Prevent the Flu
- https://www.health.nd.gov/diseases-conditions/coronavirus
Brown Bag Meal Service
5 days ago
A free lunch and breakfast for the next morning will be given out to all children ages 1-18 or older if receiving special education services. Children/parents may go to any location to receive free meals.
All drive-through, walk-up and bussed meals in town and on the MAFB will be available Monday, April 6th through Thursday, April 9th from 11:00-1:00. On Thursday, April 9th we will be handing out additional meals for Friday, April 10th and Monday, April 13th as sites will be closed those two days.
Drive-through or walk-up meals can be picked up at the following schools: Longfellow, Magic City Campus, Perkett, Roosevelt, Sunnyside and Washington.
Meals will be bussed to Robindale Trailer Park, Jefferson Trailer Park, Gold Nugget Trailer Park, Holiday Village and the Frontage Road for: Sunrise Park, Colony Park and Holiday Park and on the Minot Air Force Base.