SPPS board chair recovering from COVID

The chairperson of the St. Paul Public Schools Board of Education is back home and recovering after a brief hospitalization with COVID-19.

The district said Monday that Jeanelle Foster was diagnosed with COVID-19 and briefly hospitalized on Friday before being sent home to recover. Foster has asthma and is fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Foster released the following statement:

"Late last week, I began having concerning symptoms and went to the hospital. Although I am fully vaccinated and have been taking precautions, last Friday I was diagnosed with COVID-19. I have been at home quarantining ever since and will remain under quarantine until I am advised by my physician that it is safe to return to work. Unfortunately, this means that I will be unable to chair or participate in our board meetings at this time, but our board will be in good hands under the leadership of Vice Chair Jim Vue.

"Our district is in the midst of critical conversations about the future of our schools and I want to assure you that, although my illness prevents me from participating fully in these conversations, I will watch them online, as I am able. I appreciate the good wishes I have received already. I am following my doctors’ orders and am eager to return to the district as soon as I am healthy again.

"Although our state’s numbers of new cases are trending downward, the COVID-19 pandemic is clearly not over yet. We, as leaders of SPPS, will continue to follow the advice of our public health professionals as we govern and I encourage all students, staff and families to do the same."