Communications - St. Louis Park Public School District

The St. Louis Park Public Schools Communications and Community Relations Department coordinates all internal and external communications and public relations efforts for the district, including news releases, publications, website and information requests. The department also acts as a resource for district staff, offering assistance with media placement, writing, publication design, photography and other projects. Additionally, the department oversees various community relations activities, including community forums, public information sessions, and districtwide community surveys.

Communications Staff

Rachel Hicks, Director of Communications
Email: hicks.rachel@slpschools.org
Phone: 952-928-6064

Ashley Sukhu, Senior Communications Specialist
Email: sukhu.ashley@slpschools.org
Phone: 952-928-6011

Brand Resources

Brand Guidelines

The Communications Department at St. Louis Park Public Schools has developed a brand identity – a
“look” to be associated with the District – and in order for the brand to convey who we are, it must be used
consistently in every facet of communication. This guide is designed to support and strengthen the District’s
presence, reputation and public perception.

SLP Style Guide

Letterhead

Logos

Business Cards

E-Newsletters

St. Louis Park Public Schools and the District's six schools regularly send communication to families via e-newsletters. To ensure that you are receiving district and school communications via email, please review the following information:

Make sure your email addresses are updated and entered correctly in the PowerSchool Public Portal.
If you feel that you still aren't receiving communications via email, check the Spam folder of your email account.
If you've completed the first two options above and are still not receiving communications via email, please communications@slpschools.org for assistance.

Districtwide and school e-newsletters are posted on the District or school websites shortly after they are sent via email. Use the links below to find the e-newsletter you are looking for:

District e-newsletters

SLP Communicator (monthly districtwide e-newsletter that centers the stories of students, staff, and community members)
SLP Board Briefs (highlights from School Board meetings sent after each regular meting)

School e-newsletters

6425 News (weekly High School e-newsletter)
Aquila Communicator (weekly Aquila Elementary School e-newsletter)
¡LaPrensa! (weekly Park Spanish Immersion Elementary School e-newsletter)
Oriole Times (weekly Middle School e-newsletter)
Peter Hobart Communicator (bi-weekly Peter Hobart Elementary School e-newsletter)
Susan Lindgren Communicator (weekly Susan Lindgren Elementary School e-newsletter)

Emergency Closing Information

St. Louis Park Public Schools will do our best to make a decision about a late start or school closing by 5:30 a.m.; early dismissal and decisions regarding afterschool and evening athletics, events and activities will be made by 2 p.m. The District communicates a school closing, late start or early dismissal by:

Automated phone call to staff and families
Web posting to www.slpschools.org
Information will be posted on the District’s Facebook and Twitter accounts
Communication to WCCO Radio (830) and local TV Channels 4, 5, 9, and 11
Recorded message on School Closing Hotline (phone: 952-928-6055)

If school must close early, buses will take home regular riders. Younger students who walk will be kept at school if there is any uncertainty about whether a parent or neighbor is home to care for them.

The school district is in contact with the National Weather Service, St. Louis Park Transportation, and leaders from other school districts to provide the best response to keep students and staff safe in severe weather conditions.

The school district will not communicate that school is open as scheduled. If a school closing, late start or early dismissal is not announced, staff and students should attend as usual.

Emergency school closing information is also provided to the following media outlets: WCCO 830 AM; WCCO Channel 4; KSTP Channel 5; KMSP/FOX Channel 9 & KARE Channel 11.

If school must close early due to emergencies, the school district website, school closing hotline and the media outlets listed above will carry the announcement. Buses will take those children who normally ride the bus home.

Peachjar Backpack Flyers

Our District cooperates with approved community partners by posting eflyers online and distributing them electronically through our service provider, Peachjar. As part of our efforts to be more environmentally friendly, embrace innovative technology, and maintain fiscal responsibility, we have transitioned from paper to electronic flyer delivery.

To request flyer approval, follow the steps below. Once approved, your flyer will be emailed to parents per the grades you requested, and posted online.

To upload a flyer for approval:

Visit www.peachjar.com
Register as an Enrichment/Community Organization (account type).
- Note: Approved groups will be charged a fee of $25 per flyer per school
Upload your flyer for approval.

Your flyer will be automatically submitted to district communications staff for approval. For optimal results, Peachjar recommends creating your flyer on a 8.5" x 11" document in portrait orientation. Your flyer must be uploaded in PDF format and cannot exceed 6 MB in file size. Peachjar has a variety of templates available that you can use and modify to help create your flyer.

Please note: flyer distribution is available to students in grades K-8. Flyers are NOT distributed to students in grades 9-12 at St. Louis Park High School.

St. Louis Park Public Schools permits the distribution of announcements and other information to students according to School Board Policy 550. Only materials that pertain directly to school, school-related activities or child-centered activities will be approved for distribution. The District will not distribute commercial advertising or political advertising via students.

Additional Information:

Electronic flyers will be delivered continuously throughout the year. If parents request paper flyers, they will be sent home with students and will be delivered the weeks when school is in session.
Please allow one week between your request and electronic distribution; all flyers received by noon Wednesday, will be distributed that week. Flyers received after noon on Wednesday will be sent the following week.
A new approval is required each time you wish to distribute a flyer; however, with Peachjar, you will have the option to distribute the same flyer for more than one week.

Public Request for Information and Copies

All data requests are to be submitted and processed through the Superintendent’s office. St. Louis Park Public Schools charges members of the public for copies of government data. These charges are authorized under Minnesota Statutes, section 13.03, subdivision 3 (c). Payment for gathering of data for review or copies must be made in advance payable to Independent School District 283. The Public Request for Information form is available by contacting the Superintendent’s office at 952-928-6001 or by emailing krutina.flower@slpschools.org or mumm.barbara@slpschools.org.

News Media: Members of the news media can email hicks.rachel@slpschools.org to receive the Public Request for Information form through the Communications Office.