The Governor has extended the stay at home directive until May 4, 2020. Only paraprofessionals assigned to the Emergency Childcare Program will be expected to report to work. The following plan will be implemented for the week of April 20-24.
Paraprofessionals Working from Home
All paraprofessionals, unless assigned to the Emergency Childcare Program, should continue to work on the professional development sent on April 6. f you have completed those modules, please see "New Professional Development Opportunities" below.
- Full-time employees should complete 20-25 hours of professional development.
- Part-time employees should complete their regularly scheduled number of hours.
- Work hours may be flexible, but hours for the week should be completed by 5 p.m. on April 24. (It is fine to complete this work outside your regularly-scheduled day.)
- Remember to document time spent on professional development work on this form.
New Professional Development Opportunities
- Teaching & Learning has compiled the following professional development opportunities for paraprofessionals. Paras can select offerings, watch or listen to the sessions, and respond using a brief standard reflection form.
- Special Services has provided the following training opportunities for professional development.
- Sign up to participate in a two-week equity Book Study session. See the Teaching and Learning professional development link (above) in order to register.
- Paras working with students with challenging behaviors, and skill building to increase independence. Registered Behavior Technician
- 40 hours online (free) - certificate of completion (all paras do the training)
- Test at the end of the training is not needed.
- Module: active responding throughout the training
- Coming soon! Insights Discovery Training!
Work Expectations for Paraprofessionals Assigned to Emergency Childcare
Paraprofessionals will be scheduled to work five (5) days in the Emergency Childcare program for the remainder of the month.
- A paraprofessional's work day will be from 8 a.m.- 2 p.m.
- Paraprofessionals will be expected to punch in and punch out when working in the Wayzata Emergency Childcare program.
- Currently assigned paraprofessional work expectations will be suspended when assigned to the childcare program. For example, if you were assigned as a distance learning para those responsibilities will be suspended during your assignment to Wayzata Emergency Childcare.
- Schedule for Paraprofessionals: Please review the calendar for your scheduled days. This calendar may change. Paraprofessionals are expected to check the calendar daily.
- Childcare: Free childcare is available to paraprofessionals for their school-age children, including ages 4 (if enrolled in the Bright Start preschool program) to grade 5 – for the five days they are working the childcare program, if needed. Lunch and breakfast are provided at no charge. Registration for Emergency Childcare
- Use of Leave Time: If a paraprofessional can not work their scheduled hours, they must use their accumulated leave.
- Paraprofessionals must report absences into True Time and alert Human Resources. Please email or call Leslie Myrin at 763-745-5016 or Leslie.Myrin@wayzataschools.org.
- Paraprofessionals not reporting to work will be rescheduled for the following week.
- Paraprofessionals will continue to be rescheduled until distance learning ends and school resumes.
- Accumulated leave includes personal, sick, or/and vacation days and up to twenty (20) days may be used for refusing to report to work.
- If all accumulated leave is exhausted, then unpaid leave will be used.
- Unpaid leave may impact out-of-pocket insurance costs.
Paraprofessional Expectations for Interacting with Students
- Teachers must be present when paraprofessionals are expected to interact with students utilizing any school-sponsored platform.
- Paras may provide positive comments via the SeeSaw and Canvas platforms.
- Paras may work alongside the teacher.
- Paras may record a read aloud that can be uploaded to a platform.
- Paras may make check in phone calls at the direction of the teacher.
- Paras may utilize the mail to send notes of encouragement to students.
- As a reminder, technology has not been assigned to our paraprofessionals during this time period.
Staff Safety
We care about your safety. Paraprofessionals and Wayzata Kids staff have an extremely important task and we appreciate everything that you are doing to support children during this crisis. It is so important for all of us to support each other, take care of ourselves and work together. Please see below for staff safety precautions.
- All children and staff will be assessed by our LSNs and health paras every day.
- Make sure to wash your hands frequently, cover your cough, and refrain from touching your face. These are the best defenses against the spread of COVID-19.
- Please do not report to work if you are exhibiting any of the following symptoms. When to stay home.
- Remember your Vital Life Employee Assistance Program is here to support you. User ID is: wayzata Password: member
- The CDC and MDH have shared new guidance in regards to wearing masks. Staff members working in child care programs are encouraged to wear cloth face coverings during the work day as much as possible. This is optional, and not a requirement. Additional Information
Underlying Health Conditions
If Paraprofessionals or Wayzata Kids staff have completed the Underlying Health Conditions form, they will be expected to complete work expectations from home. Starting April 1, new requests for underlying health accommodations will require a doctor's note.