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Author: communications

Published on

DATE:
March 27, 2018

TO:
All Principals
All Secondary Assistant Principals All Attendance Secretaries

FROM:  
Administrators of Schools
Laura Finlinson, Admin istrator of Curriculum & Staff Development
G. Norma Villar, Consultant, Student Intervention Services

SUBJECT: 
Policy AS90 Suspensions

District policy AS90 requires a suspension of 45 school days for students found guilty of a second offense possession or first offense distribution. As of March 26th, 2018, there are 44 school days remaining in the 2017-18 school year. Students in violation of this policy should be suspended for the remainder of this year. Suspended students are not allowed to participate in any school activities, including end-of-the-year events. Seniors will not be allowed to participate in graduation ceremonies, but will be allowed to pick up their diploma the following day.

Please inform your students' parents that 45-day suspensions after March 26th, 2018 will carry over into the 2018-19 school year. This office will send a list to all assistant principals next fall identifying students who have remaining days of suspension.

Questions regarding policy AS90 should be directed to:
G. Norma Villar, Consultant, Student Intervention Services, 801-567-8187.

Published on

Training is to help learn about High-functioning Autism, strategies for home and school. This training is for parents, teachers, related services personnel, administrators and anyone interested in helping kids with High-functioning Autism succeed and thrive. See flyer below for details.

Published on

DATE:        
March 19, 2018

TO:       
All Principals

FROM:   
Laura Finlinson, Administrator of Curriculum and Staff Development
Nancy Ward, Coordinator of Educational Support Services

SUBJECT:   
Volunteer Hours

Volunteer reports need to be submitted to Educational Support Services.

Workmans Compensation insurance costs are based on numbers submitted by schools. It is important that this information be accurate and complete.

PTA figures must be separate from other volunteer hours.

Attached is a copy of the Volunteer Report for the period from December 1, 2017  to March 31, 2018.

 

Please complete this form and return it to
Nancy Ward, Coordinator of Educational Support Services by
April 18, 2018.

Published on

DATE: 
March 23, 2018

TO: 
Elementary Principals
Middle School Principals
High School Principals

FROM: 
Laura Finlinson, Administrator of Curriculum/Staff Development & Special Programs
Fulvia Franco, Program Specialist – Guidance
G. Norma Villar, Consultant, Student Intervention Services

SUBJECT:   
Youth Suicide Prevention and Anti-Bullying Grant

Each school has been awarded up to $500 to be used for Suicide Prevention and Anti-bullying training. The funding is provided by the State Legislature and there are very strict restrictions on the use of these funds. The grant parameters and restrictions are as follows:

  • Two organizations can be utilized - HOPE4UTAH and SOS (Signs of Suicide Prevention Program) -membership fees are $500 and slightly less for SOS
  • Only 10% of the $500 can be used for sustainable supplies (no food or student incentives)
  • Professional books such as the Bully Blocker can be purchased if training is provided
  • No payroll costs can be utilized from the $500 amount
  • Information on what the HOPE4UTAH membership fee covers or provides must be included

All expenditures must occur by April 15, 2018 and all NPO’s, receipts, invoices, or proof of payment must be submitted to Noreen Samowitz, Administrative Assistant in the Curriculum Department, no later than April 30, 2018. Her email address is noreen.samowitz@jordandistrict.org and her phone number is (801)567-8367. Please provide account numbers that need to be reimbursed when submitting your documents.

Published on

DATE:    
March 21, 2018

TO:
All Principals and Directors

FROM: 
June LeMaster, Ph.D., Administrator, Human Resources
Brad Sorensen, Administrator of Schools

SUBJECT: 
Employee Attendance at Relative's Graduation Exercises

This year, high school graduation exercises are on Thursday, May 31st, with the exception of Valley High on Wednesday, May 30th.

Principals and Directors are encouraged to direct parents or grandparents who may wish to attend these graduations, but who are scheduled to work in their own locations to District Policy DP335 NEG and DP335B NEG.  This policy specifically states: "Personal leave shall not be taken during the first five days and last five days that students are in school except...to attend to personal or business matters which require the employee's attendance and scheduling is beyond the employee's control."

Since graduation scheduling is beyond the employees’ control, it is desirable that immediate supervisors will cooperate and provide employees who may fall into this category, an opportunity to attend graduation ceremonies of family members.

Licensed employees are responsible for requesting a substitute through the AESOP system, if applicable.  In the blue “Notes to Administrator” box, the employee should add graduation along with his/her relationship to the graduate.

Any questions should be directed to the appropriate Administrator of Schools.

Cc:  Administrators of Schools

 

JL/am

Published on

DATE: 
March 19, 2018

TO:   
Applicable School Principals and Administrative Assistants (Financial and Membership)
All Administrators of Schools and Administrative Assistants
Travis Hamblin, Planning and Student Services
Michael Heaps, Support Services Manager

FROM:  
John Larsen, Business Administrator
Daniel Ellis, Director of Accounting, Budgets and Audits
Jason Mott, Accountant/Internal Auditor

SUBJECT:
External Audit Visits

Please see attached memo.

 

 

Published on

IMPORTANT PAYROLL DEADLINE REVISION

Due to schools being closed the first week of April for Spring Recess, and not returning until April 9th, April’s payroll will be due on March 30th.

True Time employees’ submittal deadline will also be on March 30th (or their last day worked for that week before leaving for Spring Recess).

The Payroll Department will resume work on April 4th and will be available if you have any questions.

Thank you for your efforts in assisting Payroll.

Published on

DATE: 
Thursday, March 22, 2018

TO:    
All Principals

FROM:  
Laura Finlinson, Administrator of Curriculum and Staff Development
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability

SUBJECT:
USBE Guiding Document for R277-404 SAGE Opt-in Changes

Principals are asked to communicate the following information as well as provide the USBE Guiding Document that accompanies this memo to their teachers.

On January 4, 2018, the State Board of Education amended R277-404 to read: “In accordance with Subsection 53G-15-1403(1)(a), an LEA shall reasonably accommodate a parent’s or guardian’s request to allow a student’s demonstration of proficiency on a state required assessment to fulfill a requirement in a course.”  This opened a 30-day public comment period, which closed on March 12, 2018.  This amendment has since become official and USBE has provided a guiding document to assist schools and teachers as they implement this change in Board Rule.

The guiding document is comprised of two sections.  The first section discusses the various components of Board Rule and Utah Code that play into the Board’s decision to ratify this change.  This section is meant for LEA and school administrators.  Specifically, because of provisions in Utah Code 53G-6-803 that allow parents to have the “right to reasonable academic accommodations from the student’s LEA” including an accommodation that “shall allow a student to earn course credit towards high school graduation without completing a course in school by testing out of the course; or demonstrating competency in course standards.”  It was the consideration of this statute in particular that led the USBE to pass the amendment to R277-404.

The second section is meant for teachers to use as an example of how they might word this amendment in an addendum to their disclosure for this year and their disclosure statement for next year.  Essentially, teachers can choose the course requirement in which they will accept a student’s proficiency rating of a 3 or 4 on the SAGE as a substitute.  Please note that a 3 or 4 on the SAGE for that content area would mean that the student received 100% of the value of the selected course requirement.  If a student does not score a 3 or higher, the score from the course requirement will be used.  Teachers must have a parent’s signature opting their student into this procedure.  Teachers also need to provide a copy of the signed form for the student’s CUM file just like we do for an opt-out form.

As teachers implement this change, the other rules surrounding the administration of state-mandated tests apply.

Teachers may NOT:

  • Use statewide assessments to reward or punish a student.
  • Allow a statewide assessment to have a negative impact on the student’s academic grade.
  • Penalize a student who has been opted out of the statewide assessment.
  • Independent of the parent or guardian, use the demonstrated proficiency of a student on a statewide assessment to fulfill a requirement in a course.

Teachers are not required to implement this amendment to Board Rule; however, they are required to reasonably accommodate a parent’s request to allow demonstrated proficiency on a statewide assessment to fulfill a course requirement.  If teachers do not articulate up front what the reasonable accommodation is for their course, they will need to determine what is reasonable on a case-by-case basis at the request of parents.

Please contact Ben Jameson in the Evaluation, Research & Accountability department with any questions.

Published on

The Great Utah ShakeOut Earthquake Drill

On April 19, 2018, hundreds of thousands of Utahns will “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” in the Great Utah ShakeOut Earthquake Drill.

All schools are encouraged to participate in this drill, or to conduct an earthquake drill sometime in the month of April. Please take this opportunity to incorporate emergency preparedness in classroom lessons and teach proper ways to protect oneself during an earthquake.  The drill will help us to be prepared for a catastrophic disaster in our area.

We encourage all schools to register at www.ShakeOut.org/Utah. After you register your school, please click on the “Resources” tab; where you will find a Shakeout Drill Manual for K-12 schools. This manual will provide you great information for your school’s exercise.

Please review the Jordan School District Incident Command procedures for the Earthquake Action Plan and Standard Operating Guidelines.

Please plan and prepare to take part in this statewide earthquake response exercise.

Published on

It is time for schools to begin accepting applications from GRADUATING SENIORS who are interested in the Utah Seal of Biliteracy. Students should download the application here:  http://worldlanguages.jordandistrict.org/secondary, attach evidence of English proficiency (ACT English score of 18 or higher or 5 on WIDA) and foreign language proficiency (generally AAPPL) and turn all into school counselors. Counselors have been instructed on how to proceed and should send names of students who qualify to Pam Su'a by May 7. Please refer any questions on the Seal to Pam at x88320.

Published on

New ESL Endorsement Courses

Applications are being accepted for the 2018-2018 program. There will be 2 cohorts, one beginning in August and one beginning in January.

Applicants will be placed based on critical need for Office of Civil Rights (OCR) compliance regarding English learners and timely application.

Because of the SUU process, applicants will not be added to a cohort within 30 days of the first night of class.

Information regarding the endorsement and the application are located at http://edsupport.jordandistrict.org/als/teachers/pd/esl-endorsement-options/

Contact deborah.brey@jordandistrict.org with questions.

Published on

Utah Retirement Systems will be available for one-on-one retirement planning sessions at South Jordan Middle School (10245 S. 2700 W.) on Wednesday, April 18, 2018.  See the instructions below to register for an appointment.  Counseling sessions are available at other locations that are also listed on the URS website.     

  1. Go to www.urs.org.
  2. Log into your myurs account by clicking on LOGIN in the upper right corner of the screen.
  3. Click on the Education Tab.
  4. Click on “Individual Retirement Planning Sessions”.
  5. Find the session that works best for you.  Select the session to reserve your appointment.
  6. Please be sure to bring your estimated annual salary, any retirement plan balances outside of URS, and your Social Security statement (get yours atwww.ssa.gov).

Published on

DATE:  
March 12, 2018

TO: 
Building Administrators

FROM:   
Scott Thomas, Administrator
Paul Bergera, Staff Assistant
Lance Everill, Facility Operations Coordinator
Ron Boshard, Risk Management Coordinator

SUBJECT: 
Great Utah Shake Out

On April 19, 2018, hundreds of thousands of Utahan’s will “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” in the Great Utah Shake Out.

All schools are encouraged to participate in this drill or hold an earthquake drill in the month of April. Please take this opportunity to incorporate emergency preparedness in classroom lessons and teach proper ways to protect yourself during an earthquake.  The drill will help us to be prepared for a catastrophe disaster in our area.

We encourage all schools to register at www.ShakeOut.org/Utah. After you register your school, please click on the “Resources” tab; here you will find a Shakeout Drill Manual for K-12 schools. This 17 page manual will provide you great information for your schools exercise.

Please review Incident Command procedures relevant to earthquake drills.

Please plan and prepare to take part in this statewide earthquake response exercise.

Published on

Coming soon to Jordan School District and Administrators like you!

In collaboration with the Friday Institute, USBE, and UEN, JSD will offer a "Leadership in Blended and Digital Learning (LBDL) Academy," designed specifically for administrators to lead schools toward blended and digital learning. Through research-based content and job-embedded experiences, participants will gain skills and knowledge to promote teacher buy-in, best practices, and technology-transformed learning. The instruction will follow a blended-learning model and will consist of 5 face-to-face sessions with additional online content, held 2018-2019. Participants completing the LBDL Academy will receive a USBE EdTech Endorsement. If you are interested in hearing more detailed information, please contact Shelley Nordick: shelley.nordick@jordandistrict.org or 801-567-8110 .

Testimonial Video of LBDL Academy Participants

Published on

Elementary Administrators:

Please invite teachers to participate in “Summer Training for Education Professionals” (S.T.E.P. IT UP)

The Curriculum Department and JEA are collaborating to offer “Summer Training for Education Professionals” ( S.T.E.P. IT UP). This learning opportunity is a training designed for great teachers who want to challenge themselves. The training is scheduled for July 9-12 and will be held at the ASB. Detailed brochures will be sent to each school within the next week. Please distribute the brochures to possible participants. For questions, please contact Shelley Nordick at shelley.nordick@jordandistrict.org or 801-567-8110.

Published on

DATE:  
March 15, 2018

TO:  
All Jordan School District Principals – with bus route students

FROM:
Scott Thomas, Administrator of Auxiliary Services
Herb Jensen, Director of Transportation
Kathy Simmons, Transportation Trainer/Risk Coordinator

SUBJECT: 
State Required Bus Evacuations and School Bus Safety 2017-2018

State required semi-annual school bus evacuations have been scheduled for this spring.  This applies to those students that ride the bus daily to and from school.

The evacuations will be conducted during the week of:

Monday, April 23, 2018 thru Friday, April 27, 2018

Your school’s regular bus driver will perform this evacuation as they drop your students off in the morning, one day during that week.  This procedure takes place at your school and is located in your normal bus drop off/pick up zone.  All professional school bus drivers that transport students are required to perform evacuation procedures in case of an emergency.  Bus evacuation will be through the rear door, side door, front door or a combination.  Students will then, under the direction and supervision of the bus driver, evacuate and meet in a safe place approximately 100 feet away from the bus.

Your assistance is welcome but not mandatory to complete this required evacuation drill quickly, safely and effectively.

We appreciate all you do to help us safely transport your students.

Published on

The IRS revised the W-4 and withholding calculator to reflect changes in the tax law (new tax tables, itemized deductions, increases in child tax credit, the new dependent credit and repeal of dependent of exemptions).

Employees are advised to review their current W-4 withholding.  The withholding calculator on IRS.gov can be useful for employees who wish to update their withholding in response to this new law, or for changes in their personal circumstances in 2018.

Further information from the IRS is attached.