Class is back in session. Here’s what’s new at St. Paul schools.

With a new school year underway students and parents in St Paul Populace Schools will see a number of changes There are new district buildings candidate cell phone use and high school career opportunities Here s what families should know New construction There are construction projects happening in the district this year but at least two major ones are completed for the fall semester A ribbon cutting will be held Sept for the remodeled Barack and Michelle Obama Montessori and Middle School and on Oct for the new Bruce Vento Elementary School The finished Obama Montessori and Middle School houses both the pre-kindergarten through th grade Montessori operation that has been located at J J Hill Montessori and a new th through th grade middle school Remodeled areas include a general learning space gym cafeteria media center art room and administration office The middle and elementary schools are connected by shared spaces such as the cafeteria and media center The Bruce Vento construction is the district s first new building in a decade Construction of a new -square-foot building has been completed and it will continue to house pre-kindergarten to th grade students and now include an Early Childhood and Area Hub which includes childhood services and society services Equipment St Paul Society Schools adopted its district-wide cellphone initiative earlier this year It states that the use of personal electronic devices such as cellphones and smartwatches will not be permitted during school hours and such devices must be put away High schools can have individualized plans with several allowing cellphone use during non-instructional time The district also is providing new iPads to students and staff Also new this year parents can now track the status of their students school bus using a GPS tracking app To learn more go to spps org families transportation New activities meals The district s Karen Language and Tradition Plan at Wellstone Elementary is going to expand from kindergarten to first grade and the East African Magnet School has added a seventh grade The East African Magnet School which serves pre-kindergarten to seventh grade is expected to add eighth grade in a year noted Jackie Turner SPPS executive chief of administration and operations High school seniors will be able to earn credits toward an apprenticeship this year as part of a district partnership with the International Union of Operating Engineers Local The one-year plan includes a classroom portion on careers in equipment operation and time in a sandbox where students learn to operate heavy machinery In addition to new activities the district also has new lunch and breakfast options this year New leadership Eight St Paul schools will have new principals this school year They are Amanda Herrera Gundale at Obama Middle School Danielle Hughes at Benjamin E Mays IB World School Lesly Gamez at Global Arts Plus Upper Campus Andrea Thiner at Harding Senior High School ndrew Barter at L Etoile du Nord French Immersion Lauren Bolopue at Nokomis Montessori North Phillip Hutcheson at St Anthony Park Elementary and Dr Theresa Thao-Yang at Txuj Ci HMong Upper Campus And Superintendent Stacie Stanley who started last May will be serving in her first full school year Stanley who grew up in St Paul previously was the superintendent for Edina Constituents Schools Related Articles Police Scholar determined with gun as year starts at St Paul high school St Paul offers to put cops outside every school for week after Minneapolis school shooting Twin Cities mom wants to help you have The Talk with your kids Back to school A roundup of east metro school cellphone policies St Paul Masses Schools to host paraprofessional hiring event Thursday