The second-largest school district in Minnesota said it will offer a temporary virtual learning option for students, citing safety concerns tied to an increased presence of federal immigration agents in the Twin Cities.
Saint Paul Public Schools Renee Nicole Good was fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer during a federal enforcement operation in Minneapolis, 51% of students whose home language is Spanish did not show up to school, the outlet reported.
Superintendent Dr. Stacie Stanley said in a YouTube video posted Wednesday on the Saint Paul Public Schools website that over the past several days, she received hundreds of messages about offering a temporary virtual learning option amid ICE operations in the state.
"Our goal is to ensure that all students can stay connected to the school whether that is in-person or virtually," she told parents.
The communications director for Saint Paul Public Schools told Fox News Digital the plan will be reviewed on a weekly basis to determine whether adjustments are needed.
Minneapolis Public Schools initially canceled classes on Jan. 8–9 after the shooting death of Good, but said in-person learning at all buildings resumed on Monday.
Both school districts’ decisions to offer virtual learning come amid lingering concerns among educators and parents about academic setbacks and mental health challenges linked to prolonged remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Saint Paul Public Schools said its temporary virtual option has no set end date, while Minneapolis Public Schools plans to end its online option on Feb. 12.