School Starts Aug. 24; See Return to School Plan

Posted Date: 07/28/2020

The first day of school will now be Monday, August 24. The Board of Education on July 13 approved the Return to School/Re-Entry Plan for 2020-21 as recommended by Union’s District Re-Entry Task Force.

You may view the reentry plan here: English Version / Spanish Version.  Frequently Asked Questions or FAQ  
PLEASE NOTE: The details in this plan are subject to change as directives from governing authorities and health officials respond to new information and developing environmental conditions. Under this plan, school will now start Monday, August 24; this is the only major change to the calendar at this time. Masks will be also required. 

Back to School Information

Visit our Back-to-School Page for information on enrollment, schedules, laptop distribution, bus routes, lunch and breakfast and more. https://www.unionps.org/backtoschool

Free and Reduced Meal Online Application

Union Public Schools School Year 2020-2021 Free and Reduced Meal Application is now available for In-Person & Virtual Learning online at: http://unionps.schoollunchapp.com

If your child’s application was approved last year, you still need to fill one out this year: Your child’s application is only good for that school year and the first few days of the new school year.

Direct Questions to:

Carissa Trost ( [email protected] )
Child Nutrition Financial Clerk
Union Public Schools
Education Service Center
8506 E 61st Street Tulsa, OK 74133-1926
P: 918.357.6136

Message from the Superintendent

Dear Union Parents:  

In the last four months, we have all had to deal with an unprecedented level of change. First, I would like to thank you for your patience. I know it has not been easy for students, parents and teachers as we adjusted to Distance Learning and an end to the school year that none of us would ever have predicted. In true Union style, everyone adapted quickly to the new Covid-19 reality, and I am proud of the outpouring of support we received from teachers, parents and our community partners. We have a wonderful support system and we are grateful. 

As we move forward in preparation for the 2020-21 school year, I know Union parents and students want to know their learning options and the safety measures that will be in place. Students and staff will be required to wear a face covering at all times while in a school building or in a school vehicle unless they are alone in the room or vehicle. (Face coverings do not include bandanas or scarves). 

Please know that the health and safety of our students and staff continues to be our #1 priority. Union Public Schools will continue to follow the guidance and expertise of state and local officials in order to protect our students and staff. This document provides detail on the safety measures in place; however, I want you to be prepared for changes, as the situation will continue to be fluid. We encourage you to check our website weekly for updates, as this is where you will always find the latest information at www.unionps.org/coronavirus.  

In our recent survey of parents, 67 percent of parents said they prefer their child attends school in person with safety measures in place to protect them. The remaining 31.4 percent said they would prefer a virtual or distance learning option. (About 2,600 parents responded in all, representing approximately 25 percent of our student population). 

As a result, parents will be asked to choose between one of two learning options for their student:

• 1) in-person learning; or
• 2) virtual learning at home.

We need your reply no later than Monday, July 27, 2020 by 5 p.m.  Traditional in-person learning is the default position, so if we don’t hear from parents, our assumption will be that your child has opted for traditional school. (See the instructions on P. 7 of the download above for how to enroll in the virtual option on Infinite Campus). 

A couple of important things . . . Once you select a learning option, your student will be committed to that option, either virtual or in-person, for the entire semester. In the event school is cancelled for any period of time, students will be provided instruction through our distance learning plan. (Please see Union’s Learning Options on P. 5). 

The first day of school has changed to Monday, August 24. This will provide us with more time to make adjustments. Also, we have suspended “Late Start Fridays” for the 2020-21 school year, so school start times will be consistent for the school year. Please check the website to see if your school start/end time has changed. Some slight adjustments were made for students in grades 6-9. The updated school calendar can be found here. 

I know you will have many questions. Please read the document below for details and check our website for updates. I deeply appreciate your support as we move forward to ensure our students get the education they deserve in the safest way possible.

Sincerely,
 
Kirt Hartzler, Ed.D., Superintendent

Union Public Schools will continue to provide updates about our district’s response to COVID-19 on our district website at https://www.unionps.org/Coronavirus. In addition to the website, we will continue to provide updates via phone, email, Facebook and Twitter.

If you have any questions, please email [email protected]. We will respond as quickly as possible.