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Author: npage

Published on

DATE:   
July 27, 2023

TO: 
All Elementary Principals

FROM:  
Administrators of Schools
Carolyn Gough, Administrator, Teaching and Learning Department
Norman Emerson, Instructional Support Services/Fine Arts Consultant

SUBJECT: 
Utah Symphony Performance at Abravanel Hall for 5th Grade Students

We are pleased to announce Utah Symphony concerts for the 5th grade students at Abravanel Hall. The performance dates are February 26 and 27, 2024 at 10:00 and 11:30 a.m. Your school’s date and time are provided on the attached spreadsheet. Please note that there are no assigned seats. School groups will be seated upon arrival.

Study materials for use in preparing your students will be provided by the Utah Symphony prior to the performance.

Please have your administrative assistant complete a transportation request on Skyward (your school's date and time are shown on spreadsheet). The number of teachers (which may also include a parent and two chaperones for each class) should be included in your school’s final count. When entering your busing request, please include the correct group name (e.g. Daybreak, 115 Curr). This will ensure that the Teaching and Learning Department will cover the busing fee.

Transportation requests should be completed as soon as possible. Due to the number of buses that are needed for the Symphony concerts, there will be a moratorium on other transportation requests for these dates.

Published on

DATE:  
August 10, 2023

TO: 
School Administrators
District Department Directors
Financial Secretaries
Administrative Assistants

FROM: 
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Kurt Prusse, Director, Purchasing
Caleb Olson, Consultant, Planning & Enrollment

SUBJECT:  
Student Data Privacy Resource Review Process

Utah law (53E-9-301, 53E-9-303) requires local education agencies (LEAs) to create a publicly available metadata dictionary that contains a listing of:

  • All personally identifiable student data collected and shared by the LEA
  • A comprehensive list of all recipients with whom the LEA has shared personally identifiable student data, including the purpose for sharing the data, the justification for sharing the data (including if the sharing was required by federal law, state law, or local directive), and how the sharing is permitted under federal or state law.

This means that any third-party resource that receives personally identifiable student data from the District must be cataloged and, where necessary, reviewed for compliance with USBE data privacy expectations.

Prior to making purchases or entering into purchase arrangements, school staff should check the District’s LearnPlatform registry; software listed on the registry as approved can be submitted for purchase without any additional review. Software that is not listed on LearnPlatform must be reviewed BEFORE the purchase request is submitted. Someone with knowledge of the software should submit a review request to Planning & Enrollment using this review request form prior to entering a requisition in Skyward. The individual who will be using the software (and therefore has some knowledge of what the software does and what data it will use) should enter the review request; this is not an assignment that should default to administrative assistants.

Teachers with specific questions about the process should be directed to your location’s digital coach. Administrators and administrative assistants with specific questions about the process may contact Caleb Olson (x88251).

Published on

DATE:   
August 10, 2023

TO: 
Principals
Assistant Principals

FROM: 
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services

SUBJECT: 
Panorama Survey Windows 2023-24

The Panorama SEL Survey window dates for the 2023-24 school year are as follows:

  • Fall Survey:          September 4 – September 29, 2023
  • Winter Survey:     January 22 – February 16, 2024
  • Spring Survey:     April 15 – May 17, 2023

It is recommended that schools inform patrons regarding the administration of any survey prior to its administration. The survey conducted within Panorama is to assist schools in providing accurate student and school-wide interventions when needed as well as to inform schools regarding student perception regarding their wellness. These surveys may not be a part of any grade and are never required and always optional for parents/students to take.

The following information is being provided to assist you in your preparations and administration of the survey:

Accessing Surveys:

Student Surveys: 

    • Students will use their Student ID numbers as their Access Codes.
    • Students will use their codes to access surveys at panoramaed.com/utahjordanThe surveys connected to this link will go live in the morning on the first date of the survey window.
    • If a student has trouble accessing their survey, have the survey administrator/proctor contact the Support team with the name of the student, their school, their grade level and their ID number at support+utahjordan@panoramaed.com

Administering Surveys:

    • The Survey Coordinator Training deck has been updated for you including the new survey window dates. Jordan Survey Coordinator Slide Deck
    • Survey questions may be shared with anyone interested and are found on slide 11 in the Coordinator Slide Deck (above).

Tracking Response Rates:

    • You may view your school’s response rates in real-time. You can also download the completion lists to see who has and hasn't completed the surveys. Here's a walkthrough video to teach you how: Completion List Video.

 

Published on

The 2023-2024 School allocations have been provided for your review. See attached file for allocations and your carryover balances. See JAM for explanation of changes to allocations this school year.

School allocations will be updated in November after the October 1 headcounts are finalized by the State. Budget adjustments can be submitted using the attached form to Natalie.Grange@jordandistrict.org.

If you have questions please contact Natalie Grange at 88312 or at Natalie.Grange@jordandistrict.org.

Published on

DATE:  
August 10, 2023

TO:  
Principals
Assistant Principals

FROM:    
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services

SUBJECT:  
School Safety Specialist

HB61 requires that each school have a designated Safety Specialist. This person will work with the assigned administrator over safety and serve on the school’s safety committee and is to be selected by the school principal. Administrators should thoughtfully and carefully select a willing individual to be the School Safety Specialist. The School Safety Specialist:

  • Should be a full-time employee
  • Can be from any employee group or type (licensed or educational support)
  • Will receive a stipend for the 23-24’ school year ($3,000 for a full-time employee before benefits/taxes)
  • Serves as a co-chair/backup to the administrator assigned school safety on the school’s safety committee
  • Will be trained and provide training and leadership to school staff regarding school safety
  • Will be trained and a part of your school’s threat assessment team.
    • They will need to be trained in Comprehensive Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG). This training is $85 per person paid for by the school. (Student Services will set up/pay for the training and work with your administrative assistant for reimbursement through a journal entry)
    • It is recommended that all school safety committee members be trained in CSTAG.
  • Will assist with safety assurances and compliance

Identify the administrator assigned to school safety and the School Safety Specialist using this form (also shared with principals via Google Sheets on 8.7.2023) as soon as reasonably possible.

Generally, the administrator assigned to school safety should serve as the school’s safety committee chairperson with the safety specialist serving as the co- or vice-chair. The school committee should meet regularly to discuss, implement, plan, and implement required school safety practices.

The District Safety Specialist will facilitate ongoing training and support. Questions regarding the School Safety Specialist should be directed to Travis Hamblin at travis.hamblin@jordandistrict.org or 801.567.8439.

Published on

DATE:  
Thursday, August 10, 2023

TO: 
Elementary School Administrators

FROM: 
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability

SUBJECT:  
Ordering KEEP Entry & Exit Materials for FDK Teachers

With elementary schools adding full day kindergarten classes, it has become necessary to order more KEEP Entry & Exit testing materials from the state. Materials will include test administration manuals and student materials manuals for both the Entry and Exit assessments. If schools have hired or are planning to hire additional kindergarten teachers for the 2023-24 school year, principals or their designee are encouraged to order more KEEP testing materials.

Please use the link below to submit orders by Friday, August 25th. KEEP testing materials will be delivered via district mail to the recipient indicated on the order form.

Link: Ordering KEEP Testing Materials

KEEP Entry training is available via a self-paced Canvas course from USBE. The course may be accessed here.

Please contact Ben Jameson in Evaluation, Research & Accountability with any questions or concerns about KEEP testing.

Published on

Did you know the most common type of auto claim is also the most avoidable? From FY2014 - FY2020, the Risk Fund had 2,150 claims reported where the driver carelessly struck a stationary object or vehicle. This accounts for roughly 28% of all auto claims reported to Risk Management! All of these are avoidable accidents that typically happen because the driver is in a hurry or distracted. The attached flyer outline some tips to help avoid them.

 

Published on

Fall Mentor Training will be available online through Canvas July 31 - September 5, 2023. Mentor Training will be provided to new mentors based on administrator recommendation. After checking with potential mentors, please complete the Google Form by Friday, August 11th to add names of mentors you would like to have complete mentor training. We have a limited number of seats. Educators will be added first come, first served. You may add up to three mentors per form. Teachers will get paid $150 stipend for completing the mentor Canvas training.

You can access a list of currently trained mentors on your school’s mentor list shared with you via Google sheets. If you need help accessing your mentor list, please contact Michelle Williams in Teaching and Learning: 801-567-8365.

Fall 2023 Mentor Training Request Google Form Link

Published on

Elementary Principals:

Through the 2018-19 negotiations process, the Board allocated funds to pay each elementary teacher $400 for parking lot duty each year. Following are additional details and clarification for the implementation of this payment.

  • Although parking lot duty requirements will vary from school to school, the payment is the same districtwide.
  • Administrators are encouraged to reduce parking lot duty for teachers as much as possible while still maintaining necessary coverage.
  • All full-time K-6 licensed educators districtwide who are responsible for parking lot duty are eligible for the $400 stipend. Half-time educators are eligible for a $200 stipend.
  • All elementary school Special Education cluster teachers and Preschool teachers are eligible for an $800 stipend.
  • Licensed educators (psychologists, BTS teachers, etc.) who have not been assigned parking lot duty in the past may choose to participate and be paid a stipend but should not be required to do so.
  • Administrators and classified staff are not eligible for a stipend.
  • The stipend will be paid out on September paychecks.
  • Teachers are required to complete parking lot duty unless they coordinate with the principal to give their assignment and stipend to another willing teacher.
  • Teachers can take on as many parking lot duty assignments (and stipends) from other teachers as will fit in the calendar.
  • Teachers can only give up their parking lot duty assignment and stipend or accept an additional assignment and stipend in coordination with the principal.
  • Teachers can only give up or accept an entire assignment and an entire stipend.
  • Principals should adjust the parking lot duty schedule as necessary to allow as many teachers to take on as many extra assignments as needed.
  • Special Education cluster teachers and Pre-school teachers cannot give up their parking lot duty assignment.
  • Stipends for parking lot duty are included in retirement pay calculations.

In order to streamline payment, please ask your administrative assistant to complete the attached Excel workbook. Please scan the completed submission sheet and send with your regular September payroll to the Payroll Department by September 5, 2023 so that teachers can be paid the stipend on their September 25th check. Please list each educator in your building and beside each name indicate the dollar amount ($0, $200, $400 or increments of $400, or $800) the teacher should be paid.

The budget code for Parking Lot Stipends is 10 E XXX 0050 1024 131

Please contact your Administrator of Schools with any questions.

Published on

DATE:    
March 28, 2023

TO: 
All Principals and All Counselors

FROM:   
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Stacee Worthen, Secondary Counselor Consultant

SUBJECT:  
2023-2024 Comprehensive School Counseling Program (CSCP) Calendar

CSCP dates are planned in advance so that individual counseling teams will include them in their school and CSCP calendars. It is essential that counselors are allowed to prioritize CSCP meetings as they work to perform their other duties and tasks assigned to them.

Please see the memo below for all dates.

Published on

DATE: 
July 27, 2023

TO: 
Secondary Principals
Secondary Media Specialists

FROM: 
Administrators of Schools
Carolyn Gough, Administrator, Teaching and Learning Department
Norman Emerson, Instructional Support Services Consultant

SUBJECT:
Networking Meetings for Secondary Library-Media Specialists

In order to prepare and train secondary library-media specialists (teacher-librarians) to effectively provide services to their schools and to build consistency across the District’s library programs, several networking meetings have been scheduled for the 2023-24 school year. The participation of your school’s teacher-librarians in these meetings is appreciated.

The meetings will be held on the following dates from 8:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.:

  • September 13, 2023 (PDC 112-Auxiliary Services Building)
  • October 18, 2023 (Viridian Center)
  • November 29, 2023 (PDC 112-Auxiliary Services Building)
  • January 10, 2024 (Herriman High School)
  • February 21, 2024 (Valley High School)
  • March 19, 2024 (UELMA/UCET Conference)
  • April 17, 2024 (Valley High School)
  • May 15, 2024 (PDC 113-Auxiliary Services Building)

Please share this information with your school’s teacher-librarian.

Please feel free to contact Norman Emerson (801-567-8364) if further information is needed. Thank you for your continued support of the library media programs in Jordan District.

 

Published on

DATE:  
July 27, 2023

TO:  
Elementary Principals
Elementary Media Assistants

FROM: 
Administrators of Schools
Carolyn Gough, Administrator, Teaching and Learning Department
Norman Emerson, Instructional Support Services Consultant

SUBJECT: 
Quarterly Training Meetings for Elementary Media Assistants

In order to prepare and train elementary library media assistants to effectively provide services to elementary schools and to build consistency across elementary library programs, several training meetings have been scheduled for the 2023-24 school year. The participation of both of your library assistants in these meetings is appreciated and expected. The meetings are to be included in the assistants' allotted 17 hours. With the exception of August 21, 2023, the meetings have been scheduled on Fridays.

The meetings will be held at the venues shown below from 8:30-10:30 a.m.:

  • August 21, 2023 - ASB Auditorium
  • October 13, 2023 - Elk Ridge Middle School
  • January 26, 2024 - Viridian Event Center
  • April 26, 2024 - JATC South

Please share this information with your school’s elementary media assistants.

Please feel free to contact Norman Emerson (801-567-8364) if further information is needed. Thank you for your continued support of the library media program in Jordan District.

 

Published on

DATE:
August 3, 2023

TO:
School Administrators
Elementary Administrative Assistants
Secondary Attendance Secretaries
Secondary Registrars

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director, Student Services
Caleb Olson, Enrollment Consultant, Student Services

SUBJECT:
Initial Enrollment Without Birth Certificate

Utah Code (§53G-6-603) states that: Upon enrollment of a student for the first time in a particular school, that school shall notify the enroller in writing that within 30 days the enroller shall provide to the school either: (a) a certified copy of the student's birth certificate; or (b) (i) other reliable proof of the student's: (A) identity; (B) biological age; and (C) relationship to the student's legally responsible individual; and (ii) an affidavit explaining the enroller's inability to produce a copy of the student's birth certificate.

The original or certified copy of a birth certificate issued by the Bureau of Vital Statistics is required for initial enrollment into any Jordan School District school. A copy of the certificate should be made and kept in the student’s cumulative folder. When a student transfers between Jordan District schools, it is not necessary to have the parent again supply the birth certificate (especially when the school is able to confirm that a copy of the birth certificate is available in the student’s cumulative folder when it transfers); however, building principals may choose to require birth certificates from transfer students or students entering the initial grade offered by the building provided this requirement is consistently applied to all students.

When a parent or guardian cannot provide a birth certificate at registration, the following steps should be followed:

  • The student is enrolled and allowed to attend school.
  • The parent/guardian is immediately given the 30-day grace period letter. This should be provided in-person at the time of registration.
  • If a birth certificate has not been provided within 30 calendar days, the 10-day warning letter should be provided. If it cannot be provided in person, it should be sent via certified mail. An additional copy of the letter may be sent to the email provided by the parent at registration if delivered via MoveIt.
  • If a birth certificate has not been provided by the end of the 10-day window, the student should remain enrolled and allowed to attend. School staff should notify law enforcement by certified letter. Once notification has been sent, the school’s statutory obligation has been met.

In some instances, the parent/guardian may not have a birth certificate. In this case, “other reliable proof” may be used. The documentation provided must prove the student’s identity and age. The steps below should be followed when using other documentation:

  • The student is enrolled and allowed to attend school.
  • The 30-day and 10-day letters should be provided as explained above.
  • If other reliable proof is brought to the school, the “Affidavit of Birth” document must be completed and notarized. A copy of the documentation and the affidavit should be placed in the student’s cumulative folder.
  • Law enforcement should be notified if documentation is not provided by the end of the 10-day warning window.

Parents and guardians do not need to be sent to Planning & Enrollment for approval of their “other reliable proof” documentation; however, school staff are welcome to consult with Planning & Enrollment about the particulars of documentation provided to the school. Notary services are also available at Planning & Enrollment if they cannot be provided at the school.

The 30-day and 10-day letters, as well as the “Affidavit of Birth” documents, are available on the Planning & Enrollment website in the School Resources section under the “Resources & Forms” tab.

If no documentation is available, code requires the school to assemble a review team to work with the enroller to determine the student’s biological age. Administrators should contact Planning & Enrollment for assistance with this process.

Please contact Planning & Enrollment at 801-567-8183 with questions or concerns.

Published on

DATE: 
August 3, 2023

TO:  
School Administrators
Elementary Administrative Assistants
Secondary Attendance Secretaries
Secondary Registrars

FROM: 
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director, Student Services
Caleb Olson, Enrollment Consultant, Student Services

SUBJECT: 
New Student Grade Level Placement

When a student enrolls in Jordan School District they should be placed according to their age (see “Appropriate Age Chart” in online Planning & Enrollment Manual). This would include students that enroll from another state or country. Exceptions include:

  • A military child who does not meet the deadline but has previously attended kindergarten or a higher grade as a resident in another state. (53G-4-402 and 53E-3-902)
  • A student who was accelerated or retained in a previous school or district within the state of Utah. Jordan District will honor the acceleration or retention and continue to place the student in the next consecutive grade.
  • A student who was home schooled should be placed based on the parent’s request. Examples include, but are not limited to:
    • The student attended a public school in the 7th grade but was in home school for the 8th grade. The parent(s) or guardian(s) requests placement in the 8th grade. The school would place the student according to the request.
    • The student attended public school in the 7th grade but was in home school for the 8th grade. The parent(s) or guardian(s) states that the student completed both the 8th and 9th grade during the past school year, and requests placement in the 10th grade. The school would place the student according to the request.
  • A student who has never been in an educational setting should be placed according to their age.
  • A student may be enrolled in the first grade even though the child did not meet the entry date for kindergarten the previous year, provided a full year of kindergarten was successfully completed in another state or private school (not daycare or preschool). The parent(s) or guardian(s) shall provide convincing evidence that the child has the academic, social and emotional skills necessary to succeed in first grade AND provide a statement from the previous school that verifies the student’s successful completion of the kindergarten curriculum.

Jordan School District does NOT enroll:

  • Any student who has previously received a diploma.
  • Any student who is not five (5) years of age before September 2nd of the year they will be entering school (R277-419-2).

If the parent(s) or guardian(s) disagree with the student’s placement they may request acceleration or retention testing. Acceleration and/or retention testing is conducted to determine academic ability (see “Accelerations and Retentions” in online Planning & Enrollment Manual).

Please contact Planning & Enrollment (801-567-8183) with any questions you may have.

Published on

DATE:    
August 3, 2023

TO: 
School Administrators
Elementary Administrative Assistants
Secondary Attendance Secretaries
Secondary Registrars

FROM: 
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director, Student Services
Caleb Olson, Enrollment Consultant, Student Services

SUBJECT: 
Third Party Information Release Opt-Out

Please see the attached memo.