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Author: npage

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

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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.

Published on

The Annual Jordan School District Administrative Leadership Conference is this Tuesday, August 1st, 2023 at JATC-South 12723 Park Ave, Riverton, UT 84065. The conference agenda is attached.

Please take note of the following items:
*A light breakfast will be served at 7:30 a.m.
*Bring a fully charged electronic device in order to access conference materials and level specific items.
*In addition to the main parking in front of the building, the side parking lot will be opened to allow for additional space.  We would encourage teams to carpool as they are able.

 

Published on

For the Admin Assistants: Training for the new Digital English Learner Identification process has been scheduled for Friday, July 28th, from 9:00 - 11:00 am in the Presentation Room at the ASB.

Space will be limited to one in person attendee per school with any additional requests attending via Zoom. Register HERE to receive training documents and access to the zoom link.

We will be available at the end of training for questions and any one on one assistance.

Published on

Attached you will find information and guidelines regarding the Extended Year Stipend that is available to Special Education Teachers and SLP's. Please be sure to read the instructions carefully.

The state has allotted 5.5 extra days to work either two weeks before or two weeks after your contract ends. The eligible timeline for these days this fall is July 31-Aug 4 and Aug 7-Aug 11, 2023. You can work them all before contract, all after contract, or a combination of both. Please keep track of the days you worked in the fall so when spring comes you will know how many you have left.

The days you work are turned in on a Qualtrics survey that the state sends us to generate the payroll information. The link for this survey is included in the attached memo.

Published on

DATE:   
July 27, 2023

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

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

SUBJECT:  
Assigning Discipline Officers for New-to-School Students

Each year in August, Information Systems runs a utility to assign students a discipline officer in Skyward. The assignments are made off of assistant principal alphabet assignments reported by each school. In order to be assigned as a discipline officer, an individual must:

  1. Be a District-appointed administrator or administrative intern. Individuals completing internship hours through an assignment by Human Resources who have not been officially appointed as an administrative intern by the District should not be assigned as discipline officers.
  2. Have the “Discipline Officer” box marked on their individual profile on the school’s “Staff” screen.

Schools will receive an email from Lisa Corbett in Information Systems asking for confirmation of their assistant principal alphabet assignments.

After the initial utility has been run, Information Systems cannot easily “mass assign” discipline officers for schools. The utility, if run later in the year, would overwrite any custom assignments made by the school. In order for elements of the discipline process to run in Skyward, however, a discipline officer must be assigned for students who enroll after the utility has been run. This should be done as part of the registration process. An individual with responsibility for entering the student into Skyward should verify that the “Entity Info” screen has an appropriate individual assigned under ‘Discipline Officer”. At the same time, assignments can be made for “Counselor” and “Advisor” (if those fields are in use at the school location).

This process will need to be completed for students who are new to the District and for those who are transferring from another District location. Making this a part of the enrollment process will help ensure that discipline can be reported and processed accurately.

Questions on entering discipline officers may be directed to the help desk in Information Systems at x88737. General questions on recording discipline may be directed to Caleb Olson in Planning & Enrollment at x88251.

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The Leadership in Personalized and Digital Learning (LPDL) Academy is designed specifically for administrators to lead schools toward personalized and digital learning through research-based content and job-embedded experiences. Sign up today for the 2023-2024 cohort. Open to principals and assistant principals. For questions contact Jared Covili, 801-567-8191.

Cohort 5 Leadership in Personalized and Digital Learning - Link to Register

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JSD Policy AA424 - Literature Selection and Review, which was recently revised, stipulates that the literature review committee must be composed of parents and teachers from each feeder system. We are asking each elementary school principal to help us in this process by recommending one teacher from grades K-3rd and one teacher from grades 4th-6th as well as one parent who has children in grades K-3rd and one parent who has children in grades 4th-6th. These recommendations will be reviewed by the Administrators of Schools and two committees (K-3rd and 4th-6th) will be formed with 6 selected teachers and 6 selected parents for each. Please complete the Literature Selection and Review Committee Teacher and Parent Recommendations Form by Wednesday, August 2nd.

Literature Selection and Review Committee Teacher and Parent Recommendations Form