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Author: communications

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Administrators:
As JSD continues to transition into the digital age, we are pleased to roll out the new process of reporting required emergency drills, which you conduct throughout the year.  This process will no longer require you to make multiple copies of the drill conducted, then send a copy to your AOS and the Risk Management Coordinator, as well as retaining a copy for your file.  Rather, this process will do all of that electronically when you hit the "submit" button once the form has been completed.  Steps for accessing and reporting emergency drills are provided for you.
Remember, you are required to conduct a fire drill within the first 10 days of the start of school, then again within the first 10 days after winter recess.  For questions, please contact Peggy Margetts at 801-567-8753 or atpeggy.margetts@jordandistrict.org.

Published on

DATE:
July 1, 2016

TO:    
Principals
Head/Financial Secretaries
Special Education Teachers (Resource and Cluster)
Speech-Language Pathologists

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

SUBJECT:  
Special Education Budget Allocations 2016-17

See attached memo and budget guidelines.

 

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  1. We will hold a beginning of year information meeting for your 17-hour Literacy Assistants. Please remind them they may attend whichever meeting best fits their schedule.
    July 28  -  9:00 a.m.  -  PDC 102
    September 1  -  9:00 a.m.  -  PDC 102
  1. JSAS will no longer be used to record Guided Reading Levels. Beginning in August, we will ask teachers to record GRLs in Skyward.  We will hold several trainings over the next couple of months to demonstrate the process and provide detailed instructions.  The process is very simple and will allow teachers and Administrators easier access and more report options than JSAS.  Please watch for more information coming soon.
  1. As a reminder, the ELA Pre/Post and Benchmark assessments are optional. Please remember if the Reading and/or Writing Pre/Post tests are not administered, teachers must use the Math Pre/Post assessment for their SLO.
  1. If you choose to use them, the 2016 – 2017 ELA Pretest (SLO) and Benchmarks are posted on the CBL website, along with several resource items. Teachers may use these materials to prepare before school starts.  The tests will be posted to Mastery Connect on July 26 and pushed out again for traditional teachers later in August.  In order for teachers to see the assessments (applies to Math, too) in MC, they must create a Language Arts tracker (and a Math tracker).  If their tracker is created after the test is pushed out, please have them contact one of the Literacy Specialists, or myself, to manually add the test to their tracker.
  1. Grade level specific literacy professional development will be held again this year. There will be three dates per grade level (October, February, and April).  The Curriculum Department will pay for substitutes (or time sheet off-track teachers) for 1 teacher per grade per school.  Once locations have been finalized and meetings entered into JPLS, you will receive a notice with all the pertinent details to share with teachers.  Please watch for more information coming soon.
  1. Thank you for encouraging teachers to attend our Summer Literacy Conference! The first day was a great success and teachers seemed to be very appreciative of the information shared in each class.  We will be repeating the Conference in its entirety on August 8 and again on August 9.  The program schedule is posted on the CBL website and registration through JPLS is still open.  Please feel free to send all who might be interested.

 

 

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Principals:

Please share this information with your teachers. Because of changes to the law, SAGE scores may no longer be used as the SLO rating for teachers. Therefore, all classroom teachers will need to use SLOs. Preliminary guidelines are described below. Expect more details in the coming months.

Elementary teachers will have the option of using math or reading to measure student growth.  Teachers may select their SLO subject now and give the pre-test for only that subject. Teachers also have the option of giving both pre-tests and reporting the one with the highest rating. It is recommended that pre-tests be given within the first three weeks of school.

The process for reporting SLO ratings will be similar to last year; however, teachers will not be required to turn scores in to folders. Details and instructions for completing this process will be available at a later date. For now, please make sure that pre-test scores are recorded in Mastery Connect.

The 2016-2017 Secondary SLOs will be available to teachers throughout the year and can be administered by quarter, semester, or unit. Scores for both pre-test and post-test should be entered into Mastery Connect as soon as students have completed the tests.

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All administrators will be assigned to a 6-member team for the TopGolf activity on Friday, August 5th, at 9:45 a.m. If you are unable to participate due to health or other issues, please call Anthony Godfrey at 801-567-8316.

Although all equipment will be provided, you are welcome to bring your own clubs.

Team assignments will be sent out next week.

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Principals:

In an effort to increase participation in School Community Councils the Jordan School Board School Community Council committee has created a flyer and poster to provide information to those interested in learning more about School Community Councils. The flyers are to be distributed at your Back-To-School Night and other activities at the beginning of the school year.

The poster, in both English and Spanish, is attached to this JAM. Please post in prominent locations in your school.  

You will receive your school specific flyer and instructions of how to distribute it to your patrons through email.

Published on

DATE:
July 18, 2016

TO: 
Principals
All Special Educators and Service Providers

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

SUBJECT:  
SCRAM for 2016-17 School Year

See attached memo for guidelines and multiple deadlines.

Published on

The attached letters will be mailed to licensed employees who will begin the 2016-17 school year on step 1, 2 or 3. Employees on these steps qualify for additional supply money and additional hours for preparation at the start of the school year. The principal may use up to one half day (4 hours) in required meetings with these employees. Direct questions to your Administrator of Schools.

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DATE:   
July 7, 2016

TO: 
Jordan School District Administrators

FROM: 
District Administration

SUBJECT:     
2016 Annual Administrative Leadership Conference

You are invited to attend the annual Jordan School District Administrative Leadership Conference scheduled on Thursday and Friday, August 4 and 5, 2016 at Sunset Ridge Middle School (8292 S. Skyline Arch Drive) in West Jordan.

A program agenda is enclosed for your reference. The conference will follow a full-day format on both days. We will begin in the auditorium at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday after a light breakfast. Lunch will be provided, and meetings will adjourn by 3:30 p.m.

At the start of the day on Friday, time has been set aside for you to take care of any business items before our conference resumes. Our activity will begin that day at 10:00 a.m. at TopGolf (920 Jordan River Bldv.) in Midvale. A flyer explaining TopGolf has been enclosed. The vast majority of TopGolf participants are non-golfers, and all equipment is provided on site. Each administrator will be assigned to a team of six. If you are unable to participate due to health or other issues, please call Anthony Godfrey at 801-567-8316. We are very grateful to Doug Young and Lifetouch for sponsoring this activity.

As noted on the agenda, Craig Zablocki will be our keynote speaker on Friday afternoon.  Interns assigned to your building are invited to attend all day on Thursday and in the afternoon on Friday if they wish to do so.

Appropriate dress for the conference is business casual. We look forward to seeing you then!

 

Published on

DATE:    
July 30, 2016

TO: 
Principals

FROM: 
Administrators of Schools

SUBJECT: 
Crucial Concerns and Policies 2016-17

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 20. 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, 2016. 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. A training kit will be provided to all schools for this purpose when it becomes available in August or September.

 

Crucial Policy and Concerns Review for Licensed Employees

Jordan School District employees are responsible for knowing and adhering to all District policies and procedures. The following is a list of policies and concerns that are to be reviewed annually. A review of these policies will be available to all employees through Skyward’s Online Forms. Employees will receive a message upon login to Skyward Employee Access to complete the process. In addition, the form will be available through Skyward Employee Access by selecting “Online Forms” under “Employee Information.”  The summaries provided in the review are not policy, so it is imperative to read applicable policies in their entirety when dealing with school, student, and personnel issues. The Jordan School District Policy Manual can be found at http://policymanual.jordandistrict.org/.

Call USER support at 801-567-USER (8737) for assistance.

Personnel Policies

DP324 NEG Sick Leave – Licensed

  • DP335 NEG Personal Leave – Licensed
  • DP336 NEG Leave of Absence (1 Year) – Licensed
  • DP337 NEG Leave of Absence (15 Days) – Licensed
  • DP322 Family and Medical Leave Act
  • DP311 Evaluation of Licensed Employees
  • DP316 NEG Orderly Termination Procedures -- Licensed
  • DP318 Resignations – Licensed
  • DP356 Substance Abuse-Free Work Environment
  • DP358 Employee Discrimination and Harassment
  • DP353NEG Assault or Abuse of Employees
  • DP371 Employee Information Network Acceptable Use Policy and Social Media
  • DP374 Employment Background Checks
  • DP346 Industrial Accidents
  • AA409 Scope of Employment
  • AA444 Employee Involvement in Private, But Public Education-Related Activities

Student, Instructional, and School Management Policies

  • AS70 Child Abuse-Neglect Reporting by School Personnel
  • AS97 Management of Concussions and Traumatic Head Injuries
  • AS85 Medication in the School Setting
  • AA419 Student Conduct and Dress
  • AS67 Discipline of Students
  • AA418 Discipline of Students – Staff Responsibilities
  • AS90 Drugs and Alcohol
  • AS94 Student Discrimination and Harassment
  • AS95 Conduct related to School Activities
  • AS96 Extracurricular Activity Privileges
  • AA408 Fees
  • AA445 Student Information Network Acceptable Use Policy
  • AA432 Student Attendance and Teacher Disclosure Statements
  • D200 Philosophy of Instruction
  • DE505 Acceptable Use of Copyrighted Materials in Jordan School District
  • AA437 Parental Involvement and School Community Councils
  • DA158 School Trespass
  • AS93 Open Enrollment (School Choice)
  • DA151 Use of Public School Buildings and Grounds as Civic Centers

Video Presentations

  • Universal Precautions Video
  • JSD Social Media Guidelines Video
  • Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Overview Video
  • Globally Harmonized System (Hazard Communication Training) Video

 

Crucial Policy and Concerns Review for Classified Employees

Jordan School District employees are responsible for knowing and adhering to all District policies and procedures. The following is a list of policies and concerns that are to be reviewed annually. A review of these policies will be available to all employees through Skyward’s Online Forms. Employees will receive a message upon login to Skyward Employee Access to complete the process. In addition, the form will be available through Skyward Employee Access by selecting “Online Forms” under “Employee Information.”  The summaries provided in the review are not policy, so it is imperative to read applicable policies in their entirety when dealing with school, student, and personnel issues. The Jordan School District Policy Manual can be found at http://policymanual.jordandistrict.org/.

Call USER support at 801-567-USER (8737) for assistance.

Personnel Policies

  • DP326 NEG Sick Leave – Classified
  • DP335BNEG Personal Leave—Classified
  • DP337B NEG Leave of Absence (Personal – 15 Days) – Classified
  • DP336B NEG Leave of Absence (1 Year) – Classified
  • DP322 Family and Medical Leave Act
  • DP371 Employee Information Network Acceptable Use Policy and Social Media
  • DP374 Employment Background Checks
  • DP346 Industrial Accidents
  • DP356 Substance Abuse-Free Work Environment
  • DP358 Employee Discrimination and Harassment
  • DP353NEG Assault or Abuse of Employees
  • AA409 Scope of Employment
  • DP312 Evaluation of Classified Personnel
  • DP316B Orderly Termination – Classified

Student, Instructional, and School Management Policies

  • AS70 Child Abuse-Neglect Reporting by School Personnel
  • AS97 Management of Concussions and Traumatic Head Injuries
  • AS96 Extracurricular Activity Privileges
  • DA151 Use of Public School Buildings and Grounds as Civic Centers
  • DE505 Acceptable Use of Copyrighted Materials in Jordan School District

Video Presentations

  • Universal Precautions Video
  • JSD Social Media Guidelines Video
  • Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Overview Video
  • Globally Harmonized System (Hazard Communication Training) Video

Published on

DATE:    
July 14, 2016

TO:
All Principals

FROM:
Administrators of Schools
Dr. Anthony Godfrey, Associate Superintendent of Schools
Travis Hamblin, Human Resources
Luann Leavitt, Consultant of Planning and Student Services

SUBJECT: 
Dates for 1st, 6th and 14th day counts

Following are the dates for the 1st,  6th and 14th day counts for the 2016-2017 school year.

  • 1st Day A, B, C Tracks - Tuesday, July 26, 2016
  • 6th Day A, B, C Tracks - Tuesday, August 2, 2016
  • 1st Day A, B, C, D Tracks - Monday, August 15, 2016
  • 14th Day A, B, C, D Tracks - Monday, September 12, 2016
  • 1st Day Traditional (high schools) - Monday, August 22, 2016
  • 14th Day Traditional (high schools) - Monday, September 12, 2016
  • 1st Day Traditional (ES & MS) - Tuesday, August 23, 2016
  • 14th Day Traditional (all schools) - Monday, September 12, 2016

Staffing will also be reviewed on the following dates:

  • Monday, October 3, 2016
  • Tuesday, January 3, 2017

The official October 1 revised count is taken from Skyward and verified by the Utah State Board of Education.

Published on

DATE:  
July 7, 2016

TO:  
Principals

FROM:  
Administrators of Schools
Laura Finlinson, Administrator of Curriculum and Staff Development
Clyde Mason, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability

SUBJECT:  
Parental Exclusions – Procedures Reminder

A link to the parental exclusion (opt-out) form for state assessments has been posted on the Evaluation, Research and Accountability Department’s webpage:  http://assessments.jordandistrict.org/ .  An additional link to the parental exclusion (opt-out) form can be found on the Jordan School District’s webpage in the “General Information” section under the “Parents and Students” tab.  The General Information link is titled “Parental Exclusion (Opt-Out)”.  http://jordandistrict.org/parents-students/generalinfo/.

Parents or guardians who choose to not have their student participate in one or more state-mandated assessments can download the 2016-17 Parental Exclusion from State Assessments form from either of the above links, complete and sign the form, and return the completed form to the school principal.  The completed form needs to be submitted to the principal before the date scheduled for the state-mandated assessment(s).

A parent’s use of the 2016-17 Parental Exclusion from State Assessments form is not mandatory.  If a parent or guardian chooses to not complete, sign and submit the form, or if the parent/guardian submits a different opt-out document, the principal should contact the parent or guardian to determine which 2016-17 state-mandated assessment(s) the parent does not want their student to participate in.  The principal should then mark the assessment(s) on a 2016-17 Parental Exclusion from State Assessments form.  The principal should make a notation on the form of their conversation with the parent and indicate that the parent chose to not complete and/or sign the 2016-17 Parental Exclusion from State Assessments form.  The principal should attach any applicable documents or email communications from the parent to the 2016-17 Parental Exclusion from State Assessments form and maintain a folder of the completed forms and documents.

Finally, principals need to provide a copy of the completed 2016-17 Parental Exclusion from State Assessments form to the school’s testing coordinator.  The testing coordinator should be directed to 1) make necessary changes in the SAGE TIDE system and 2) inform the Evaluation, Research, and Accountability Department, using the established Google Docs procedure, that the student is being opted out of the specified state-mandated assessment(s).  If the testing coordinator needs help with this Google Docs procedure, she/he can reference the two videos posted on the Evaluation, Research, and Accountability Department’s webpage under the “Testing Coordinators” tab:  http://assessments.jordandistrict.org/testing-coordinators/.

Questions regarding the above should be directed to Brooke Anderson at brooke.anderson@jordandistrict.org or 801-567-8393.

Published on

DATE:
July 6, 2016

TO:
All Principals
Elementary Head Secretaries
Registrars
Attendance Secretaries

FROM:
Administrators of Schools
Dr. Anthony Godfrey, Associate Superintendent of Schools
Luann Leavitt, Consultant of Planning and Student Services

SUBJECT:
Enrollment 2016-17

This memo is a reminder of the issues you may face when enrolling students for the upcoming school year.  This should help when assisting patrons in enrollment.

Kindergarten:  The student must be at least 5 years of age on or before September 1, 2016 to enroll in Kindergarten.  Utah State Law 53A-3-402 which states: (6) Except as provided in Section 53A-1-1001, a board may enroll children in school who are at least five years of age before September 2 of the year in which admission is sought.  Active military children are an exception.  Contact Planning & Student Services with questions.

Legal Guardians:  Please make sure the child is enrolling with their Legal Guardian.  Check the birth certificate and Identification to make sure the enrolling adult belongs to the enrolling child.  If they are not their legal guardian, either a Durable Power of Attorney needs to accompany the paperwork or legal guardianship through the courts.  Contact Planning & Student Services with these questions at 801-567-8251.

Custodial Parents:  Please make sure you obtain legal documentation (signed by a judge) in divorce situations when necessary.  The Court orders parents’ behavior in their enrollment decisions, not schools.  If you have questions or need help interpreting court documents, contact Luann in Planning & Student Services at 801-567-8251 for assistance.

Foreign Exchange:  Students coming from other countries without a legal guardian need to be referred to the Planning & Student Services Department for enrollment.  Contact Shelly at 801-567-8183.

Please be consistent in your enrollment process with all students.  Ask questions to determine individual situations, show patience and understanding and contact Planning & Student Services for any issues you may need help in resolving.  We know this is a busy time for you and we are here ready to help with individual situations.  Thank you.

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Principals and Administrative Assistants:

The Alternative Language Services (ALS) Department is providing a training for secretaries and all office staff who work with English learners and other students who are eligible for services through ALS (migrant, immigrant, refugee, homeless, and Native American). The training will cover the identification process and procedures for each population, as well as other relevant information needed to help schools provide support for these students and help keep schools in compliance with state and federal laws.

See flyer below for dates and times.

Published on

DATE:    
July 1, 2016

TO:   
Principals

FROM: 
Administrators of Schools
Laura Finlinson, Administrator of Curriculum and Staff Development
Clyde Mason, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability

SUBJECT: 
2016-17 Required Testing Ethics Professional Development Procedures

Instructions, materials, and documentation forms for the required 2016-17 Testing Ethics professional development, are being sent to schools via the Jordan Administrative Memo (JAM).  These materials will also be available online at http://assessments.jordandistrict.org/ethics/ .  The four required procedures for completing this testing ethics professional development are listed on the “2016-17 Principal’s Test Ethics Checklist” form provided in the materials.

It is important that all school leaders and teachers be reminded that the professional testing ethics required for all State-mandated assessments such as SAGE, ACT, and WIDA Access, also apply to all District-mandated assessments such as benchmark tests, SLO assessments, and other District-created assessments including MasteryConnect® assessments.  Students must not be given secured assessment questions as homework or discussion items.  Any use of secured assessment questions for instruction, discussion, or homework compromises the validity and integrity of the assessment questions and constitutes a violation of professional testing ethics protocol.

Principals are to make sure that teachers understand that professional testing ethics must be followed when working with District-mandated as well as State-mandated assessments. Principals are also to remind teachers that any potential disciplinary action specified for violating professional testing ethics on State-mandated assessments, also applies to any violation of professional testing ethics on District-mandated assessments.

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All elementary school teachers, counselors and administrators are invited to attend

Guest Speaker:
Craig Zablocki
Please see attached bio on Craig or check him out online at http://www.craigzablocki.com/testimonials/

Date:  
August 17, 2016

Venue:
Riverton High School Auditorium

Time:
1:00 - 3:15 pm

Published on

All middle school teachers, counselors and administrators are invited to attend

Guest Speaker:
Craig Zablocki
Please see attached bio on Craig or check him out online at http://www.craigzablocki.com/testimonials/

Date:  
August 17, 2016, the first contract day for teachers

Venue:
Riverton High School Auditorium

Time:
8:00 am - Check-in, light breakfast provided
8:45 am - Welcome in the auditorium
11:15 am - Dismissed to return to schools