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Author: communications

Published on

DATE:
August 9, 2017

TO:  
Secondary School Principals

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

SUBJECT: 
State Mandated Summative Testing for 9th and 10th-Graders

On August 4, 2017, the Utah State Board of Education voted to reverse their previous decision to use the ACT Aspire as the end-of-year summative test for the 9th and 10th grades. We will now be administering the SAGE to grades 3-10 and 12. 11th graders will continue taking the ACT as their EOY summative test. It is unclear at this time how this decision will effect school accountability reporting, but we expect more information to come at a future date.

The Board cited the following as the reasons for reversing their decision (see attached flier from USBE in JAMs):

  • Board staff discovered in May that ACT Aspire offers the same test for both 9th and 10th grade, changing and limiting the way meaningful growth scores can be calculated. It would be difficult for the same assessment to align substantively to the state-adopted 9th and 10th grade standards.
  • This summer, Board attorneys identified potential legal issues that could come as a result of offering a sole-source contract to ACT. Language in Utah Code 53A-1-611.5 does not meet the strict sole source procurement code required to proceed with an ACT sole source.
  • Independent studies have produced evidence that other tests are equally or more “predictive” of a student’s college readiness. SAGE results in 9th and 10th grade will include student reports with predictive data that includes college readiness (predictive of potential ACT score).

If you have any questions, please contact Ben Jameson at 801-567-8243.

Published on

DATE:
August 10, 2017

TO: 
Elementary School Principals

FROM: 
Herb Jensen, Director of Transportation
Kathy Simmons, Trainer/Risk Coordinator of Transportation

SUBJECT:
Bus Safety Video

Section A.4.a. of the Standards for Utah School Buses and Operations requires students to receive annual bus safety instruction.

Bus safety instruction and awareness for students in grades K-1 will come in the form of an assembly entitled “Safety in the Schools”.  This assembly has already been scheduled for your school.

Bus safety instruction and awareness for all students in grades 2-6 will come in the form of a video, which is available on a DVD at your school’s main office or at the following link, which directs you to the Jordan School District Transportation website:

http://auxiliaryservices.jordandistrict.org/transporation-faq/bus-safety/

While all students in grades 2-6 are required to watch this video, it is also an excellent resource for grades K-1, and should be shown prior to students riding the bus for a field or activity trip.

When all of your students in grades 2-6 have seen the video, please send an e-mail confirmation to: amber.gardner@jordandistrict.org

If you have questions, feel free to contact the Transportation Training Department at (801) 567-8856.

Thank you for cooperation in helping Jordan School District achieve “Safety in the Schools”.

Published on

Principals and Administrative Assistants:

Please note that the Long-Term (46 day +) Home & Hospital has been divided into 2 areas:

  • Home & Hospital is for Gen. Ed. Students and under the direction of Mary Ann Erdmann (ASB)
  • Home Instruction is for students with IEPs and under the direction of Brian King (DO)

Please refer to the attached Flowchart.  If you have any questions, please call Mary Ann Erdmann (Gen. Ed. 88088) or Brian King (Sp.Ed. 88208).

Thanks!

Published on

Welcome Back!! Just wanted to let you know that we will have Surplus Reallocation and Auctions running on PublicSurplus.com starting Thursday, August 24th through Thursday, Sept 7 and then the reallocation items will roll to public auction for the week following. Remember reallocation items are marked with a key icon, everything else in on the public auction. Please check to see if there are any items you may need at your schools. To see our items go to PublicSurplus.com or http://www.publicsurplus.com/sms/list/current?sma=y.

Please keep sending in your surplus paperwork as you get it so that we can continue to schedule pick ups as they are needed. All paperwork needs to be signed by your principal and then sent up to your Area Administrator at the District Office.

If you have any questions, please contact Kris Wishart (801) 567-8709 or Corie Fuller (801) 567-8717.

Thanks again for all your help.

Published on

Beginning this new school year, the Payroll Department will no longer accept paper time sheets for current True Time employees.  Using True Time for all of their pay (even for one hour) will:

  • Prevent duplicate pay and overlapping time
  • Avoid lost time sheets
  • Keep personal information secure in the system
  • Track all hours worked as required by Utah Retirement Systems and overtime pay laws
  • Assist in the accuracy and efficiency of budget reporting

Please email keelee.leuluai@jordandistrict.org (preferred), or call Payroll to set up the proper pay code(s) for True Time. Time sheets received in Payroll for current True Time employees during the school year will be returned, and Payroll will assist and train the employees on how to enter the information from the time sheet into True Time (pool hours, testing, playground, etc).

Please let all current True Time employees at your location know of these changes.

Due to reporting requirements, the following currently do not use True Time: insulin shots, Home & Hospital, USTAR, athletic and activity differentials, and Camps & Clinics (high schools).

Please contact Payroll if you have concerns so we can better accommodate your needs.

We appreciate your ongoing support and assistance in paying Jordan District employees.

Published on

DATE: 
August 3, 2017

TO: 
Principals
Speech-Language Pathologists
Speech-Language Technicians
Speech-Language Interns
Audiologists

FROM: 
Laura Finlinson, Administrator of Curric./Staff Development & Special Programs
Lisa Robinson, Director of Special Education
Kristin Norris, CCC-SLP, TS, Speech-Language-Audiology Program

SUBJECT:  
2017-2018 TENTATIVE Speech-Language-Audiology Assignments

Attached are the TENTATIVE Speech-Language-Audiology Assignments as of August 3, 2017.

Please read these assignments carefully and direct any questions or concerns to Kristin Norris @ 801-567-8372 or kristin.norris@jordandistrict.org.Thank you for your attention to these issues.

Attachments

Published on

DATE:  
August 3, 2017

TO: 
Principals
Speech-Language Pathologists
Speech-Language Technicians
Speech-Language Interns
Audiologists

FROM: 
Laura Finlinson, Administrator of Curric./Staff Development & Special Programs
Lisa Robinson, Director of Special Education
Kristin Norris, CCC-SLP, TS, Speech-Language-Audiology Program

SUBJECT: 
2017-2018 Professional Development Dates

Attached are the dates and location that have been determined for Speech-Language Pathologist and Audiologist Professional Development. Attendance is optional with principal permission.

Published on

Your assigned Mentor Teacher Specialist will be contacting you and your Lead Mentor to update the list of provisional teachers at your school.  The dates/times of the New Mentor Training classes are attached for reference.  Contact Rebecca Smith (801-567-8368) with any questions you may have.

Published on

Don’t forget the annual Administrative Leadership Conference scheduled for August 3-4, 2017 at Elk Ridge Middle School. On Thursday, August 3rd a light breakfast will be served at 7:30 a.m. with the conference beginning promptly at 8:00 a.m. at Elk Ridge.

The activity on Friday, August 4th will begin at Mulligans Golf and Games. Assignments for the activity will be emailed in the next few days.

See you then!

Published on

DATE:
July 31, 2017

TO: 
Principals

FROM:   
Administrators of Schools

SUBJECT:  
Crucial Concerns and Policies 2017-18

Jordan School District Employees are responsible for knowing and adhering to all District policies and procedures. The Crucial Concerns and Policies acknowledgement process has been put in place to provide employees a summary of important policies and procedures to be reviewed each year. The policy review will be available to all District employees in Skyward through “Online Forms.” The review provides summaries of selected policies and asks that employees review the summaries and then sign an acknowledgement of completion and agreement. Employees will be asked to read the summaries of policies but will not be required to answer any questions. In addition to acknowledging completion of the review, employees will also acknowledge agreement to the Employee Acceptable Use Policy and the JSD Social Media Guidelines. You will not have to collect signature pages as you have in the past.

Care has been taken to select important points of the selected policies to save administrators time from having to review each policy and to save employees time from having to read the entire policy. Please emphasize to employees the implications of not being aware of policies and encourage them to review the summaries and read the actual policy where needed. Also emphasize to your staff that the summaries are not policy and it is imperative to read applicable policies in their entirety when dealing with school, student, and personnel issues.

The Crucial Policies and Concerns process will be available to all employees July 21. A message will appear upon login of Skyward Employee Access for the employee to complete an “Online Form.” Employees can complete the steps at that time or can return to the review at another time by selecting “Online Forms” under “Employee Information.” Employees will need to review the policies and complete the acknowledgement before September 30, 2017. Reports of completion will be available through Skyward so you can verify that your staff members have completed this process. If you or any staff members need technical help, please call USER support at
801-567-USER (8737).

The lists of crucial policies and concerns for both classified employees and licensed employees included in the review, as well as instructions for completing the review, are attached.  Please note: JPAS Orientation and Testing Ethics are not included in this review and will need to be shared with appropriate staff. State law now requires child abuse prevention training for all employees using materials approved through the Utah State Board of Education.

Published on

Dear Employees:

In conformity with Utah Code Ann. § 63A-4-204 (4), please find attached a PDF document containing information regarding the coverage for legal liability provided a school district employee of this state by the Risk Management Fund under Title 63G, Chapter 7, Governmental Immunity Act of Utah; and under Title 52, Chapter 6, Reimbursement of Legal Fees and Costs to Officers and Employees.

This information includes:

(A) the eligibility requirements, if any, to receive the coverage,

(B) the basic nature of the coverage for a school district employee, including what is not covered,

(C) whether the coverage is primary or in excess of any other coverage the risk manager knows is commonly available to a school district employee in this state; as well as

(D) comparisons the risk manager considers beneficial to a school district employee between the Risk Fund coverage and other coverage the risk manager knows is commonly available to a school district employee in this state.

We have chosen to provide this information in an electronic format in the hopes that it will be easier for you to distribute, store and refer to if needed.

If you have any questions, please contact Human Resources at 801-567-8150.

Published on

DATE:  
July 17, 2017

TO:  
Principals
All Special Educators and Service Providers

FROM:  
Laura Finlinson, Administrator of Curric./Staff Development & Special Programs
Lisa Robinson, Director of Special Education

SUBJECT:   
SCRAM for 2017-18 School Year

See attached memo for guidelines and multiple deadlines.

Published on

Classroom Setup Safety Reminders

As we are preparing schools and classrooms in advance of students coming for the new school year, it is important keep safety in mind. 

Teachers and staffs need to keep themselves safe during setup.  Use ladders safely, instead of standing on tables or chairs. Lift heavy objects with your legs, or ask for assistance, to prevent back injuries.  Stage classrooms so they are not only stimulating for students, but are also safe and functional.

Please see the attached PDF, 2 page document:  Common Safety Violations in School Classrooms. This can be used as a guide to setup and maintain a safe learning environment.

Have a great school year!

Published on

DATE: 
July 14, 2017

TO: 
High School Principals

FROM: 
C. Brad Sorensen, Administrator of Schools, Herriman K-12 Feeder

SUBJECT:   
Athletic Trainer ID Badges

Due to the heavy involvement of our athletic trainers at each high school, it has been requested for Athletic Trainers to receive an annual ID badge to have better access in and out of building facilities.  Because they are not employees of the district, cabinet has approved an exception for one athletic trainer per high school to receive an ID badge if the school chooses to grant them access.

The following steps must still be followed in order to obtain an ID badge:

  1. Identify the “one” athletic trainer that will be issued a badge. Please provide my office with the name of your athletic trainer before August 18th.
  2. Fill out the HR Volunteer Information Form. Under the “other” category, write in “athletic trainer”. Both principal and trainer must sign this form prior to submission.
  3. Send athletic trainer with signed form to HR to complete the fingerprinting & background check process. The $37 fee needs to be paid by the trainer; they will be provided a receipt and can then be reimbursed by the school. Fingerprinting is done between the hours of 7:30-4:30.
  4. Picture will be taken at HR and sent to Sandi Abplanalp to create ID badge and send it to the school to distribute.
  5. Hours of access for the badge will be on Monday-Friday from 3:00pm - 10:00pm and Saturdays from 7:00am - 12:00pm. If additional hours are needed for a Saturday game, please notify Sandi at least one week in advance.
  6. This process will need to be completed when a new trainer is assigned. It is the school’s responsibility to retrieve the old badge and notify Sandi Abplanalp to deactivate the badge.

Published on

To All Full-time JSD Educators:

Jordan Education Foundation (JEF) announces that applications for the JEF 2017-18 Classroom Grants will be open on August 1, 2017. The Google Form Application will be listed on our website and available to access on August 1: www.jordaneducationfoundation.org.

APPLY EARLY, even though the application period will stay open through November 20, 2017.

Historically, over the past few years, the Gates Foundation and a couple of other major funding foundations (including Chevron that will match applications in September and October) will randomly pick a day to match donations. If your application is already listed on Donors Choose, then JEF can send in an amount to be matched and stretch the JEF dollars designated for Classroom Grants. Thus increasing the number of teachers receiving grants.

You increase your chances of being funded by applying early.

See the attachment for details or call us at the Foundation Office 801-567-8125 with questions. Thank you for being an educational professional in Jordan School District.

Steven Hall, Director