Springfield Public Schools

Schools in the Springfield Public Schools District will have staggered start times this fall.  That’s to accommodate expanded transportation options for 3000 more high school students, according to SPS.  Buses will also be provided for the first time to choice magnet programs.

The next deputy superintendent of operations for Springfield Public Schools is a Missouri State University graduate.

SPS selected Dr. John Mulford for the position.  He’s currently superintendent of Meramec Valley R-III Schools.  He has a degree in elementary education from Missouri State University as well as a master’s degree in secondary administration from William Woods University and a doctorate in administration and educational leadership from St. Louis University.

High school students in Springfield Public Schools will go to class in person four days a week beginning February 1.

According to the district, high school classes will move to in-person for all students on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.  Wednesday will still be a virtual learning day so facilities can be cleaned.  Currently half of SPS high school students attend on Monday and Tuesday and half on Thursday and Friday.

As of Monday, November 30, Springfield Public Schools are following modified quarantine guidance issued by the Springfield-Greene County Health Department.

The guidance, for grades K-12, is a follow up to guidance issued recently by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, according to a news release from SPS.

It’s not yet known if the Springfield Public School District will follow new school guidelines on quarantine issued by the State of Missouri Thursday.

Governor Mike Parson and Missouri Education Commissioner Margie Vandeven said the new guidance will allow students exposed to COVID-19 in a student setting to remain in class as long as all parties were wearing face coverings—and wearing them correctly.

The search for a new superintendent for Springfield Public Schools is underway, and district officials want to know what you would like to see in a new leader. 

SPS is hosting a series of community input sessions this week, and there are in-person and virtual options.

Representatives from GR Recruiting, the search firm hired to lead the search, will facilitate the meetings.

Starting in November, students in grades K-8 who attend Springfield Public Schools will go to class in person four days a week.  Since the school year started, some students have gone to school on Monday and Tuesday and some have gone on Thursday and Friday.  High school students will continue to go in person only two days a week.

According to SPS in a statement, Wednesday will remain a virtual learning day so that schools can be cleaned.

The Springfield Public Schools Board of Education is considering making changes to the current school schedule as the end of the first quarter nears. 

Any adjustments would be made after consulting with the Springfield-Greene County Health Department, according to SPS officials in a statement.

Springfield Public School nurses return to work Tuesday.  They’ll be receiving additional training in the next two weeks before a new school year begins during a pandemic.

Jean Grabeel, director of health services for the district, said they’ll train them on things like personal protective equipment or PPE, what symptoms to watch for that could indicate a case of COVID-19 and when to isolate a student.  There will also be online training available to them.

A school supply drive for Springfield Public School students looks different this summer due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Things being collected for Ready, Set, Drive! include notebook paper, highlighters, markers and crayons.  But also on this year’s list are disposable face masks, hand sanitizer and Clorox wipes.

Springfield Public Schools will offer both in-person and virtual summer school options for elementary and middle school students starting in July and also a combination of the two.  High school students will have only online options for the entire summer.  

SPS is offering only online options for all students during the first part of Explore, June 3 through June 30.  The second session will run July 6 through 31.