SPFE will keep this form updated with the latest information for parents and families. Make sure to bookmark it. (Last updated 3/7/20)
Find a Q&A for parents in English, Spanish, Somali, Hmong, and Karen here.
Childcare Options
Boys and Girls Club
Sites will serve both breakfast and lunch and offer math and reading programs from 9 a.m. until noon and STEAM activities in the afternoon. During the strike, the Boys and Girls Clubs are waiving their admission fees. Find more information here.
East Side Boys & Girls Club
1620 Ames Ave. E., St. Paul
8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Mt. Airy Boys & Girls Club
690 Jackson St., St. Paul
8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Al Lenzmeier West Side Boys & Girls Club
291 Belvidere St. E., St. Paul
8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Churches
Immanuel Lutheran Church
104 Snelling Ave. S., St. Paul
8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Free childcare is available for up to 80 Saint Paul Public School students in Pre-K through 8th grade. Register here.
Libraries
All St. Paul Public Libraries will be open regular business hours from 10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Check out your neighborhood location for more information.
Recreation Centers
St. Paul Rec Centers have regularly scheduled open gym hours, free of charge for kids 18 and under. In the event of a strike, all Rec Centers will open no later than 1:00 p.m and stay open until 6:00 p.m. Find the hours for your neighborhood center on their website.
The S’More Fun program offers full-day programming for registered families. The program has limited space available at the Battle Creek and Highland Park Recreation Centers for elementary age kids and costs $35 per day. Visit their website for registration information.
Como Park Zoo
The Como Park Zoo and Conservatory will be hosting a pop-up Camp Como March 10-12 in the event of a strike. This camps will be available in two daily sessions: “Wild Things!” in the morning from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and “Scaly and Slimy!” in the afternoon from 1:00 p.m. – 4 p.m. The cost is $35 per session or $70 per day. Lunch is not provided although lunch supervision is for full day campers. Find more information on the zoo’s website.
YMCA
The locations in Midway on on the East Side of St. Paul are expected to have childcare programing starting on Tuesday.
The Maplewood location is open from Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Note: On Friday, the gym closes at 7:00 p.m.) The cost is $25 with a maximum of 2 hours. Parents or guardians have to be in the facility.
Meals and Food for Students and Families
All are welcome to access Loaves and Fishes dinner meals at the following sites. Find more information here.
Beloved United Methodist Church
1965 Sherwood Ave., St. Paul
Meals served: Monday & Tuesday, 4:15-6 p.m.
Dorothy Day Center
438 Dorothy Day Place, St. Paul
Meals served: Every day, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Gethsemane Lutheran Church
2410 Stillwater Rd. E., St. Paul
Meals served: First & third Thursday each month, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Our Redeemer Lutheran Church
1390 Larpenteur Ave. E., St. Paul
Meals served: Wednesday, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
St. Matthew’s Catholic Church
510 Hall Ave., St. Paul MN, 55107
Meals served: Monday-Friday, 5-6 p.m.
Ways to Support Striking Educators
Spread the word
Talk to parents at your school. Let them know about how St. Paul educators are fighting for our students. One-on-one conversations are best, but also share on PTO Facebook groups and other venues. Here is a FAQ for parents on the potential strike.
Show support on social media. Make sure to tag @spfe28 and @JoeGothard and use the hashtags #WeAreSPPS #WeAreSPFE.
Get connected to allies across the community. Follow the Saint Paul Federation of Educators on Facebook and join the Rise With Saint Paul Educators Facebook group. You can also sign SPFE’s petition to get updates.
Display an I Stand With St. Paul Educators sign. You can print your own or ask the strike captain at your school for one.
Contact District and Elected Leaders
Contact Joe Gothard at (651) 767-8152 or joe.gothard@spps.org and tell him it’s time to fund the schools our kids need.
Give
Donate to SPFE’s strike fund: Some educators will need financial help as they strike for the supports students and educators need. Contribute here.