Minnesota's Governor has directed school districts to prepare and plan for distance learning. Wayzata leadership and teachers have been working hard to develop multi-tiered plans and supports to provide an excellent distance learning experience for our students. As an integral part of our learning community, we will be working to incorporate the skills and talents of paraprofessionals, secretaries and Wayzata Kids staff into our distance learning plans. We know that your students and the teachers you work with miss you, and we want to make sure we find ways for you to connect!
Please note that the Governor has also directed that all employees be paid during the distance learning time period and has asked for schools to be creative in how we utilize and empower our workforce. Obviously your defined roles and duties will need to be modified in the absence of our students. As you are aware, the circumstances we are navigating are fluid and change daily. This memo outlines guidance and expectations based on our current knowledge of the information coming to us from MDH, MDE and the Governor's office.
Here is what you need to know:
- You will be assigned to a work group with an articulated supervisor(s) and a list of expectations. (See below for position expectations.) Specific assignments will be shared later this week.
- Your work may be done at home or at school depending on your assignment. If you report to work, you must punch in and punch out to document your time utilizing True Time like usual. If you work from home, there is no expectation to punch in or out. Your supervisor/building principal will work with you to make this determination.
- There will be an expectation to be available and engaged during the regularly scheduled school day.
- Starting April 6, if you are unavailable to work with students or to meet the outlined expectations, accumulated leave should be used. For example, if you are sick and cannot complete expectations for the day, then sick, personal or vacation leave should be used. Employees choosing not to work when scheduled will also need to use their accumulated leave time or take unpaid leave. Please be aware that you may not be eligible for unemployment benefits because work is available.
- It is against District policy to accept money from parents to tutor or interact with their children during your articulated work day.
- Those currently enrolled in health insurance and benefits will remain enrolled barring any separation of employment or other unforeseen circumstances.
- If you have any health conditions or if you fall in a vulnerable age bracket, please complete the Underlying Health Conditions form that was sent out last week.
- All staff will have expectations around a variety of professional development opportunities. This information will be shared with you at a later date.
- The majority of hourly staff will be directed to work in the Wayzata Emergency Childcare Program based upon need and numbers of students served. We will rotate staff in and out of the program to ensure equitable distribution of responsibilities.
- At this time, staff will continue to be paid for their regularly scheduled work day.
- Expectations for full implementation of your new job description expectations will begin on Monday, April 6. (Staff assigned to assist teachers may not be given specific assignments until April 8. We want to make sure our teachers focus on the implementation of distance learning.)
How should I prepare for distance learning?
- Check your email frequently. This is how you will be notified of your work schedule should you be assigned to Wayzata's Emergency Childcare Program.
- Review your work assignment
- Connect with your supervisor
- If appropriate, check in with your students. (cards, letters, phone calls, etc.)
- Please note that technology will not be distributed to paraprofessionals. There should be no expectations for paraprofessionals to complete work that would require the need for technology unless your supervising teacher or building principal specifically reaches out to you with said expectation.
Job Descriptions by Group
- Distance Learning Paraprofessionals - One paraprofessional (K-8) will be assigned to every grade level per building. This person will work with grade-level teams to assist the teacher and provide support to the students. (This includes providing support to that grade-level curriculum and classroom needs. Cleaning manipulatives, preparing curriculum, taking inventory, providing indirect support to students. etc.)
- Kindergarten Paraprofessionals - Continue work to support the Kindergarten teacher, students and classrooms. Classroom assignments will remain the same.
- Special Education Paraprofessionals providing support in Wayzata Emergency Childcare - Paraprofessionals with specific training will work with special education students attending Wayzata's Emergency Childcare. Also, one paraprofessional will be assigned per group of ten (10) school-aged children. The District Sped Behavior Para will be assigned to Wayzata Emergency Childcare to assist in working with students and training staff.
- Early Learning School Assistants/Paraprofessionals - Continue to work to support the early learning school teacher, students and classroom. Classroom assignments will remain the same.
- Office Paraprofessionals - Continue to complete attendance functions and expectations similar to expectations during the regular school year. Building principals may assign tasks as necessary.
- Media Paraprofessionals - Work with building principals and District staff to prepare media centers for renovations. Building principals may assign tasks as necessary.
- Health Paraprofessionals - Work to provide services to students in the Wayzata Kids Emergency Childcare program and continue to plan and prepare for annual health events.
- Transition Paraprofessionals - Continue to work and support the teachers and students in the transition program. Assignments will remain the same.
- Technology Paraprofessionals - Continue to provide technology support to our staff and students.
- Paraprofessionals assigned to the District Office - Work with District Office staff on a daily basis to complete a variety of office tasks. This position requires a confidentiality expectation.
- Paraprofessional assigned to Culinary Express (nine month) - Work with the Director of Culinary Express and/or High School Supervisor on a daily basis to complete a variety of tasks supporting the distribution of breakfast and lunch to district students.
- Primary Project Paraprofessionals - Will be assigned to Wayzata Kids Emergency Childcare.
- Security Staff and Hall Monitors - Will be assigned to Wayzata Kids Emergency Childcare.
- Lunch and Recess Monitors - Will be assigned to Wayzata Kids Emergency Childcare.
- Building Secretaries - Work under the direct supervision of the building principal.
- Ten-month secretaries - Work under the direct supervision of the building principal/director to complete all assigned tasks at home or in the office.
- Twelve-month secretaries - Work under the direct supervision of the building principal/director to complete all assigned tasks at home or in the office.
- Community Ed Secretary and Office Professionals - Work under the direct supervision of the director to complete all assigned tasks at home or in the office.
- Community Ed (Facility) Building Supervisors - Work under the direct supervision of the Facilities Manager to complete all assigned tasks at home or in the buildings, as designated.
- Wayzata Kids Program Instructors, Special Needs Program Instructors and Program Assistants - Work under the direct supervision of the Site Managers and Community Ed supervisors to provide support to Wayzata's Emergency Childcare program.
- Positions not listed will be assigned to Wayzata's Emergency Childcare program.
Distance Learning Paraprofessionals
Distance learning paraprofessionals will provide support to the grade-level (elementary) or team (middle) teachers. One distance learning paraprofessional will be assigned to each grade level or team. Supervision, assignment of tasks, and accountability will be provided by said grade level or team.
Distance learning paraprofessionals will be available the same hours as the team of teachers they support. Work may be assigned at home and/or in the classroom.
Supervisor: Building Principal and Classroom Teachers
The following tasks will be expected:
- Assist in preparing materials
- Assist with modifying materials
- Create recordings of books
- Call or email each student in your grade level or team to check in
- Write letters to students
- Assist in the classroom by:
- Packing up science totes and buckets (elementary)
- Take book inventory (elementary and middle)
- Pack up and return 3rd grade Ancient Civilization books, if applicable (elementary)
- Counting consumables
- Prepare Bridges materials for this year and next
- Label IDR libraries
- Be available to read with students
- Put together packets of books or materials that could be delivered to students
- Check in to answer questions for students who are struggling
- Play games via video chat
- Log communications and contacts with students
- Share and assist with graphic organizers
- Check and respond to emails daily
- Encourage and monitor healthy routines/exercise/calming techniques
- Report and share concerns with supervising teachers
- Participate in District Professional Development
Technology Paraprofessionals
Technology paraprofessionals will continue to provide support to teachers, students, staff and the community during distance learning.
Technology support hours will be modified to meet the evolving needs of our stakeholders. Technology paraprofessionals will be available during their assigned shift and will need to maintain flexibility in shift assignments. Technology paraprofessionals will clock in and out off campus in True Time. Work may be assigned at home and in the buildings.
Supervisor: Wade Phillips
The following tasks will be expected:
- You need to be logged in and available on all the technology support tools
- Provide technical support and repair tickets using our established ticket management system and protocols
- Write knowledge base documentation on common issues and resolutions posting to our solutions page
- Remotely troubleshoot software, hardware and connectivity problems for stakeholders.
- Remotely install or update software on computers, mobile devices as needed.
- Coordinate with users, building and technology office asset management and repair for broken equipment.
- Engage in professional learning to support new and emerging distance learning systems and solutions, for example Canvas, Seesaw and Zoom.
- Provide remote training users on the use of equipment and District software.
- Monitor and participate in virtual office support hours.
- Monitor and answer phone calls on the helpdesk line 5100.
- Participate in District professional development.
Kindergarten Paraprofessionals
Kindergarten paraprofessionals will provide support to the same Kindergarten teachers they worked with during the school year. Supervision, assignment of tasks, and accountability will be provided by the Kindergarten Teacher.
Kindergarten paraprofessionals will be available the same hours as the team of teachers they support. Kindergarten paras will be responsible for the 3.5 hours of work they are assigned during the regular work day. (These hours are different at Sunset Hill due to class size.) Work may be assigned at home and in the classroom.
Supervisor: Kindergarten Teacher - Building Principal
The following tasks will be expected:
- Assist in preparing materials
- Assist with modifying materials
- Create recordings of books
- Call or email each student to check in
- Write letters to students
- Assist in the classroom by:
- Take book inventory
- Counting consumables
- Prepare materials for this year and next
- Label IDR libraries
- Be available to read with students
- Put together packets of books and other materials that could be delivered to students
- Check in to answer questions for students who are struggling
- Play games via video chat
- Log communications and contacts with students
- Share and assist with graphic organizers
- Check and respond to emails frequently during the day
- Encourage and monitor healthy routines/exercise/calming techniques
- Report and share concerns with supervising teachers
- Participate in District professional development
District Office Paraprofessionals
District Office paraprofessionals will work with District Office staff to assist with a variety of office tasks. This position will require reporting to the District Office. Work sites will be set up following CDC guidelines to reduce or eliminate the risk of spread. Hours will be from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. These paraprofessionals will also be required to sign a confidentiality agreement.
Supervisor: Joanne Feldseth
The following tasks expectations will be assigned as follows:
- Prepare files for scanning
- Scan files into laserfiche
- Prepare and assist with benefits enrollment
- Assist with the PDQ process
- Participate in professional development opportunities
- Other tasks as assigned
Health Paraprofessionals
Health Office staff will continue to implement the tasks and responsibilities assigned to them when school is in session. Health paraprofessionals will provide their services at the Emergency Childcare program located at Greenwood Elementary. A schedule will be assigned on a rotating basis to provide staffing of the Health Office during the hours of Emergency Childcare located at Greenwood Elementary. - Two (2) shifts can rotate, 6:30-12:30, 12:30-6:30).
Supervisor: Dawn Willson, Wayzata Kids Nurse
The following tasks expectations will be assigned as follows:
- Begin immunization preparation for the fall (Kindergarten, 7th grade and 9-12)
- Clean and organize health offices
- Upload hard copy files into Skyward
- Assisting front office staff as needed
Building Secretaries, Office Staff, Department Secretary / Paraprofessionals
These positions should continue to complete the expected daily functions of the position along with taking on assigned projects for tasks that time allows for. Work should be discussed and determined in collaboration with the building principal. The work should include both working from home and reporting to work.
Supervisor: Building Principal
The following tasks expectations will be assigned as follows:
- Monitoring and assisting with parent communications.
- Assisting the principal as requested
- Working with the Welcome Center and enrollment
- Continue to monitor the budget
- Assist teachers with materials
- Future projects/tasks
Culinary Express Paraprofessional (nine-month)
The Culinary Express paraprofessional will work with Culinary Express office staff to assist with a variety of tasks. This position may require reporting to the Central Services Office. Work sites will be set up following CDC guidelines to reduce or eliminate the risk of spread.
Supervisor: Dawn Willar and Michelle Sagedahl
The following tasks expectations will be assigned as follows:
- Assist with food distribution dates as assigned
- Update marketing signage and marketing materials
- Assist with warehouse and site inventory
- Other tasks as assigned
Early Learning School Assistants/Paraprofessionals
Early Learning School assistants/paraprofessionals will provide support to the same preschool teachers, classrooms, and students that they work with during the school year. Supervision, assignment of tasks, and accountability will be provided by the early learning school teacher.
Early Learning School assistants/paraprofessionals will be available the same hours as the teachers they support. The assistants/paras will be responsible for the weekly hours of work they are assigned during the regular work day.
Supervisor: Early Learning School Teacher - Preschool Manager - Early Childhood Coordinator
The following tasks will be expected:
- Assist in preparing materials
- Assist with modifying materials
- Participate in online class sessions (e.g. circle time) with the teacher and students (as technology allows).
- Create recordings of books
- Assist in the classroom by:
- Clean/disinfect toys
- Pack materials for move based on designed schedule
- Prepare materials for this year and next
- Be available to read or sing to students
- Put together packets of books and other materials that could be delivered to students
- Log communications and contacts with students
- Create visuals for home use
- Check and respond to emails frequently during the day
- Encourage and monitor healthy routines/exercise/calming techniques
- Report and share concerns with supervising teachers
- Participate in assigned professional development
- Work with special education teachers to develop materials and visuals for families to use with students at home
- Support the packing of materials for building move according to schedule created by ELS administrators
Community Ed Secretary and Office Professionals
The Secretary and Office Professionals should continue to complete the expected daily functions of this position along with taking on assigned projects for tasks that time allows for. Work should be discussed and determined in collaboration with the Community Ed Director. The work should include both working from home and reporting to work.
Supervisor: Community Ed Director
The following tasks will be expected:
- Monitoring and assisting with customer communications
- Assisting the Community Ed department as requested
- Other tasks as assigned
Wayzata Kids (Home Base and Bright Start) Program Instructors, Special Need Instructors, Program Assistants
Wayzata Kids staff will provide their services at the Emergency Childcare Center, located at Greenwood Elementary. A schedule will be assigned on a rotating basis. The childcare site is set up following CDC guidelines to reduce or eliminate the risk of spread. Work may be assigned at home and/or at the childcare site.
Supervisor: Site Managers, Program Manager, Out-of-School Time Coordinator
The following tasks will be expected:
- Provide onsite childcare at Greenwood Elementary
- Assist with onsite cleaning
- Participate in assigned professional development
- Check and respond to emails frequently during the day
- Other tasks as assigned