Staff Lounge, Issue 97

Minnesota Department of Education sent this bulletin at 08/02/2021 11:33 AM CDT

August 2, 2021

Check-in from Assistant Commissioner Daron Korte

After a seemingly unending legislative session and a grueling 2020-21 school year, I hope you all are able to take some time away from “the office” to refresh and recharge. My parents retired from their regular day jobs eight years ago to take over a small seven-cottage resort in Door County, Wisconsin, that has been in my family for three generations (It’s the Edgewater Cottages in Fish Creek, if you are ever in the area). We are very fortunate to be able to visit this beautiful setting each summer and were able to spend a week there in early July. It felt so good to unplug and get away from the screens and enjoy family, friends, and the outdoors.

We all need that time to connect, especially after being so disconnected from physical contact for so long. Dare I say, it actually felt like we were returning to normal? Unfortunately, we know we are not out of the woods yet. The emergence of the Delta variant and the fact that those under 12 cannot yet get vaccinated, means we will likely have another challenging school year ahead of us. For my two kids, ages 4 and 6, we are struggling to keep them safe, while the rest of the world just wants to move on.

Fortunately, we have great leaders in health and education, both at the state level as well as the local level, who are already starting to plan ahead. During the legislative session, there was a proposal that was being debated that would allow a school district or charter school to offer distance learning in the 2021-22 school year without having to go through the MDE approval process. That provision did not make it into the final bill.

As soon as we learned this, our amazing staff jumped into action. They knew we needed to think outside the box to come up with creative tools for schools to manage outbreaks and quarantines, and provide options for families who do not yet feel safe coming into the school building, but also do not want to leave their home district or charter school. Huge kudos to Jeff Plaman, Sally Reynolds, Mary Barrie, Stephanie Graff, and everyone else who helped revise the application and review process to greatly expedite the ability to offer online learning in the fall. Also huge kudos to all of the divisions and teams that have volunteered their staff time to help the online learning team get through the huge influx of applications that are coming in.

This whole process has, once again, reminded me of what an amazing team of dedicated, uber-intelligent professionals we have working at MDE. It has been the honor of a lifetime to navigate the pandemic with you all by my side. As I come up on my 10-year (!) anniversary at MDE this fall, I am very much looking forward to continuing the work together and maybe even seeing some of your smiling faces in the office. Have a wonderful rest of your summer.

Return to Office Plan – Phase 1

Please read the following documents for details regarding the return to office plan. The MDE COVID-19 Office Reopening Plan, Phase 1 and the MDE Return to Office Plan, Phase 1, PowerPoint presentation can be found on the Human Resources webpage in the Documents section. You will also find the Telework, Health Screening, and Face Coverings policies on the Human Resources main webpage in the Policies section. MDE employees may officially request a new voluntary telework schedule. Complete the Telework Schedule and Acknowledgement Request Form. Prior to returning to the office, please complete the Employee Status and Health Screen tracking form. See the All-Staff chat responses.

One Book | One Minnesota

Fifth Chapter, Summer 2021 – Murder on the Red River by Marcie Rendon

Still looking for that perfect summer read? One Book | One Minnesota has your answer with its fifth title, a riveting mystery! Read the book and gather with MDE colleagues over a lunch book discussion on Tuesday, August 24, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Email Ashley Bieber for a Teams link.

Murder on the Red River by Marcie Rendon features the magnetic Cash, pool shark and truck driver from Minnesota’s White Earth reservation, as she helps solve a murder alongside her cop friend Wheaton. Marcie Rendon is a citizen of the White Earth Nation. In 2020, she became the first Native American woman to receive the McKnight Distinguished Artist award. Murder on the Red River won the Pinckley Women's Debut Crime Novel Award in 2018 and was a Western Writers of America Spur Award Finalist 2018 in the Contemporary Novel category.

One Book | One Minnesota is a statewide book club that invites Minnesotans to read a common title and come together to enjoy, discuss and connect through stories.

Order a copy from your local library or download a copy from Biblioboard and join the conversation with MDE! #onebookmn

Action Required: PowerPoint Default Template

Please take a moment to open Microsoft PowerPoint. If you see the “Default Theme” template (see template circled below) please send a request to the MNIT Helpdesk using the Minnesota Service Hub to remove it. Everyone should be using only the MDE Template or the MDE Template—Instructions from this point on.

Access the Minnesota Service Hub under Quick Links on the home page of Inside MDE. Once logged in, look for Desktop/Computer Support in the Catalog.

Desktop/Computer Support Workstation category

Fill in the Request form as follows:

Click: Request Now
Cube/Office Location: n/a
Request Type: Software Application
What action needs to be taken: Support
Software information: PowerPoint
Comments: I'm still seeing the Default Template in PowerPoint.
Click: Submit request

For further information about PowerPoint or other new Microsoft Office templates, see Updated Microsoft Office Templates Now Available and Questions and Answers on MDE's Microsoft Office Template Updates.

If you have additional questions about the Service Hub application, contact the MNIT Helpdesk. If you have questions about using the MDE templates, reach out to mde.qualityteam@state.mn.us.

Conference Center B Unavailable Until October 1, 2021

MDE has extended the agreement with the Department of Labor and Industry for the use of Conference Center B until October 1, 2021. During this time, conference rooms 15, 16, 17, 18, and 20, along with the vending area and restrooms located in Conference Center B will continue to be unavailable to MDE employees.

If you have any meetings scheduled in CC rooms 15, 16, 17, 18, or 20 during this time, please reschedule them to a meeting room in Conference Center A, or make other arrangements.

If you have any questions, please contact Brian Durand.

Wellness at Work and Home

Sign Up for the Well-Being Challenge Today

The MDE Wellness Team encourages you to take part in the 28-day Well-Being Challenge which begins today, August 2, and goes until August 29. This is a great opportunity to build a healthy habit – and earn 100 points toward your well-being reward while you’re at it. (Remember, when you earn 300 points by Oct. 31, you’ll get $70 off your individual deductible next year!).

Challenge yourself to focus on one of three healthy habits:

Eating healthy: Eat only whole, unprocessed foods each day throughout the challenge.

Getting active: Do some form of exercise each day each day throughout the challenge.

Building gratitude: Write down what you’re grateful for each day throughout the challenge.

Sign up by logging in to your Virgin Pulse account. Follow the prompts to join the well-being challenge. You can select one, two, or all three habits.

The well-being program is offered to all benefit-eligible employees enrolled in the Minnesota Advantage Plan. If you experience difficulties logging in to Virgin Pulse, please contact them at support@virginpulse.com.

Accessibility Community of Interest (ACOI) Meetings

All are welcome to attend ACOI meetings held the third Wednesday of every other (odd) month, from 1 to 1:45 p.m. Below are meeting topics for the remainder of 2021.

September 15 – Topic: Maps Accessibility with guest presenter Kitty Hurley, GIS/Web and Application Developer

November 17 – Topic: SharePoint Accessibility with guest presenter Jennie Delisi, Accessibility Analyst at the State of Minnesota Office of Accessibility

Get Your COVID-19 Vaccine

Minnesota Information

Every Minnesotan age 12 years and older can get vaccinated. Find vaccine locations and access the Vaccine Connector tool at State of Minnesota: COVID-19 Vaccinations.

Wisconsin Information

Find information on getting the COVID-19 vaccine for Wisconsin residents on the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website.

Wanted: Your Stories and Shout-Outs

There is a lot of amazing work going on throughout the agency to support our school communities, our communities and each other during this time. If you have a story to share, or want to give a shout-out to one of your colleagues who has truly stepped up during this unprecedented time, please tell us! We will try to use a few of those stories in a future issue of Staff Lounge. Send your feel good story or shout-out to the communications team.