In a statement released on Friday morning, Sapulpa Public Schools has announced that they will now be starting classes on Monday, August 24th, instead of the original start date of August 20th.
The announcement comes after Creek County has slid back into the Orange Level 1 status as outlined in SPS’ Return to Learn initiative. Creek County currently sits at 16.78 cases per 100,000 people. Included is the full statement from SPS below:
Sapulpa Public Schools has made the decision to push back the start of classes from Thursday, Aug. 20 until Monday, Aug. 24. We will not observe late-start times on Aug. 24. PLC Mondays will resume the following week.
Throughout the summer, we have been steadfast in our approach to follow the calendar for the 2020-21 school year, however, it is in the best interest of everyone that we delay the year by two days.
On July 1, we introduced our instructional options for the upcoming school year. Those options included full-time enrollment in our virtual program, Sapulpa Virtual Academy. Since that time, we have experienced a significant increase in full-time virtual enrollments. In order for us to process those enrollment requests, adjust schedules, reallocate resources, and position ourselves to best serve our students, this is a necessary adjustment to our school year.
We have established a deadline of Sunday, Aug. 16 to submit a request for Virtual enrollment. The Enrollment Request Form may be found on our website at www.sapulpaps.org/virtual.
On July 30, Governor Kevin Stitt announced a plan to supply Oklahoma school districts with personal protective equipment (PPE) including reusable masks, disposable gowns and gloves, and face shields with a delivery date of Aug. 14. Unfortunately, the PPE has been delayed. We have been advised our shipment will arrive prior to Aug. 24.
“Our intention has been to offer a traditional, in-person setting and to do it with the health and safety of our students and staff as our first priority,” said Superintendent Rob Armstrong. “We have already implemented safety protocols district-wide, including the purchase of face coverings for those who will be in our facilities, but the addition of the PPE from the state is another level of safety for the students and staff who will be in our schools.”
SPS has a plan in place to use Aug. 20 and 21 for our teachers and administrators to receive more health and safety training as well as additional time preparing for the possibility of a Distance Learning situation in the future. Those days will also be used to distribute the incoming PPE to our schools and conclude the enrollment process.
The two-day delay to start the beginning of the school year will not affect the end of the year. The last day of school will be prior to the Memorial Day weekend.
We understand the new start date may not be ideal for everyone, but it is our goal to do everything we can to provide the safest possible environment for those who will return to our school buildings. This school year will be unlike any other. Decisions about transitioning to Distance Learning may be made with short notice. This announcement about our new start date of Aug. 24 is an example of that and how flexibility and communication will be key as we navigate the current health climate. Thank you for our cooperation, patience, and support.
