Please see the attached document for important information regarding License Renewal, Early Notification (Resignation or Retirement), and the Teacher Transfer Fair.
Author: npage
Job Posting for Administrator of Teaching & Learning – Due by November 14, 2021
As a reminder, the job posting for the Administrator of Teaching & Learning position is now open in Frontline (Job #2651). The posting will close on Sunday, November 14, 2021 at midnight. If you are interested, please remember to submit your application before the deadline.
Staff Changes in Human Resources – November 2021
We wanted to make you aware of a few staffing changes in Human Resources.
Brittany Bauer has moved to the “HR Licensing Specialist” position and will be assisting the HR Administrators with underqualified teacher tracking/progress.
Jane Olsen replaced Brittany Bauer as the “HR Reporting & Data Analyst” providing HR reporting data.
Rebecca Eastman is new to JSD and will be replacing Jane Olsen as the “HR Generalist” responsible for FMLA and leave processing. Rebecca has a Bachelor's in Human Resource Management and a Bachelor's in Psychology. She comes to us from a small company called Vista Treatment Centers where she assisted in HR related functions. Please direct employees with questions regarding leaves to Rebecca at 801-567-8249 or rebecca.eastman@jordandistrict.org.
2021-22 Volunteer Application Process
If a volunteer is interested in volunteering in a class or at the school, the following process must be followed:
Step 1
The volunteer watches the Code of Conduct video, completes the "Volunteer Application Form" and turns it into the principal BEFORE they schedule an onboarding appointment. Do not ask Volunteers to schedule a fingerprint appointment without principal approval.
Step 2
The Principal determines if the volunteer will have "Significant Unsupervised Access" to students. Not all volunteers need a background check.
Significant Unsupervised access includes field trips, one-on-one or small group classroom volunteer or other related volunteering.
Volunteer assignments which may not be considered "significant Unsupervised Access" may include a holiday party or an event with a large number of adults present at the school. In these instances, the school office would collect the volunteer application and code of conduct form and retain those at the school.
Step 3
If the principal determines there will be "significant unsupervised access", the principal must sign the volunteer form, give it to the volunteer and have the volunteer schedule a volunteer fingerprint appointment with Human Resources.
In order for HR to complete the background check, the volunteer MUST bring the volunteer form (SIGNED BY THE PRINCIPAL) with them to HR. Please do not allow volunteers to schedule a fingerprint appointment without a principal signing the volunteer form.
Volunteers who schedule an appointment without providing to HR the principal-signed volunteer application may be asked to reschedule their appointment.
Step 4
Once the volunteer is fingerprinted, HR will email the school once we receive the results. Please plan on at least two weeks prior to any volunteering event. Volunteers not completing the process prior to a field trip may not be allowed to attend.
New Parent Orientation November 9, 2021
We invite parents who are newcomers (refugee, immigrant, or asylee) to our school district to attend this months’ parent orientation, at the ASB, Entrance C -- Presentation Room, to receive information on how they can best help their child in school. Interpreters will be provided. To best be prepared for families attending, please fill out this RSVP form. If a parent would like to attend virtually, that is also an option. There are translated flyers here. Please distribute to your community.
2021 EARS Funding Reporting
2021-22 Updates to the Financial Accounting Manual
All updates to the Financial Accounting Manual are highlighted in yellow. Please review with pertinent fiscal and administrative staff. Significant modifications were made in the following sections.
- Purchasing page 7
- Fixed Assets page 13
- Purchase cards page 17
- Mileage page 21 – Clarification regarding staff members that can claim mileage reimbursement based on their work assignment.
- Staff Appreciation Account page 27 – Clarification regarding how to fund this account and guidelines for allowable expenditures.
- Annual School Allocations from Districts page 31 – Section added to describe programs, budgets, and allowable uses.
- Journal Entries page 39
- Federal Program Work Certifications page 46
- Check Request Support page 55
- Camps and Clinics page 64
- Student Travel Procedures page 72- updated travel procedures
- Grant Processes and Grant Responsibility Acceptance Form page 92- **Significant revisions
Link to Updated Financial Accounting Manual
November 17, 2021 – Education Support Professionals (ESP) Day
A reminder that November 17, 2021 is Education Support Professionals (ESP) Day! Please recognize and celebrate the amazing school support staff who go above and beyond for our schools and departments!
2022-2023 Approved Leave
Jordan School District Board authorizes up to four (4) full-time employees to be selected for leave.
Sabbatical Leave
Sabbatical leave provides a 1-year leave for professional study. Educators who have completed at least 7 years of continuous service in JSD may apply. Employees on sabbatical leave receive one-half of their salary. Please read Policy DP333 Neg – Sabbatical Leave for complete information. Applications are reviewed by the Local Professional Improvement Committee and approved by the Board.
Educational Leave
Educators who have worked in Jordan School District for at least three (3) consecutive years may apply for an Educational Leave. Educational leaves are for continued study and must include an outline of studies along with the application. Please read Policy DP332 NEG – Educational Leave for complete information. Educational Leave is without pay.
Applications for 2022-2023 Sabbatical and Educational Leaves are due February 1, 2022. Additional questions can be referred to Chris Westra, 801-567-8657.
W-2 Opt-Out Information for 2021
Administrator/Director: Please post the attached flyer so all employees can see it.
Don't Forget! Opt out of your District printed W-2 by going to Skyward's Employee Access by midnight on December 12th.
Opt out and win one of many prizes! A drawing for the prizes will be held on December 13th. Winning employees will be contacted.
Elementary Parent Teacher Conference Report Form – Fall 2021
Elementary Principals:
Please return the attached form to Cherice Thomson (cherice.thomson@jordandistrict.org) within two weeks after your conference dates. Thanks!
Community Nursing Services COVID-19 Booster Doses – November 2021
Educators and community members,
COVID-19 BOOSTER appointments are available now! Please feel free to share with anyone you know. Follow the scheduling link below to find where Community Nursing Services is offering opportunities within SLCO.
Following formal recommendation from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)/CDC and in line with direction from the Utah Department of Health, Community Nursing Services (CNS) Immunization Program began offering COVID-19 BOOSTER doses to eligible individuals 10/22/2021.
PFIZER and Moderna
Both PFIZER and Moderna COVID-19 booster doses are recommended for people at highest risk for severe COVID-19 including:
- people who are 65 or older, and
- people 18 and older who live in a long-term care facility, and
- people 18 and older with underlying medical conditions that put them at high risk for severe illness from COVID-19, and
- people 18 and older who live or work in a setting that puts them at a higher risk of exposure to COVID-19, such as healthcare workers and teachers.
Note that recommendation applies to individuals who received either the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 or Moderna vaccine for their primary series at least 6 months prior.
“Data reviewed by the FDA and ACIP showed booster doses can prevent further hospitalizations and death for those individuals who are at highest risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Data shows that the vaccines continue to provide very good protection against severe COVID-19 illness in the general population. Most Utahans do not need a booster at this time, but a booster can help add another layer of protection to those people at the highest risk of severe COVID-19,” said Dr. Leisha Nolen, UDOH state epidemiologist.
Note the underlying conditions below. As with initial roll out, individuals will need to self attest to eligibility for such conditions.
- Cancer
- Chronic kidney disease
- Chronic lung diseases
- Neurological conditions, such as dementia
- Diabetes
- Down syndrome
- Heart conditions
- HIV infection
- Liver disease
- Overweight
- Pregnancy and recently pregnant
- Sickle cell disease or thalassemia
- Smoking, current or former
- Solid organ or blood stem cell transplant
- Stroke or cerebrovascular disease
- Substance use disorders
- Weakened immune system
Johnson and Johnson
For the nearly 15 million people who got the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, booster shots are also recommended for those who are 18 and older and who were vaccinated two or more months ago.
Options
There are now booster recommendations for all three available COVID-19 vaccines in the United States. Eligible individuals may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. Some people may have a preference for the vaccine type that they originally received and others, may prefer to get a different booster. CDC’s recommendations now allow for this type of mix and match dosing for booster shots without preference.
Though CNS will not be providing individual on-site BOOSTER clinics within schools similar to the initial roll out, we would like you to be aware of some CNS locations in SLCO where appointments are now available for those eligible. Note that BOOSTER doses are readily available throughout the state at varied locations including pharmacies, health departments, providers offices, etc.
COVID-19 vaccine appointment scheduling link
Safety Share – Ice and Snow – November 2021
Use extra caution to keep on your feet this winter. See flyer below for tips and hints!
2021-22 Teacher Salary Supplement Program (TSSP) Information
The Utah State Board of Education is pleased to announce that the Teacher Salary Supplement Program (TSSP) Service Site application submission is available October 1, 2021 through April 30, 2022.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Math
Science areas (specifically identified)
Computer Sciences
Deaf Education
The Qualifying Educational Background requires educators to have a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree in the content areas listed in statute to qualify for a supplement. Educators working less than a full-time assignment teaching in one of these courses could receive a partial salary adjustment based on the number of hours worked in the course. In addition to the $4,100 salary adjustment, the Legislature appropriated funding to cover the employer- paid benefit costs associated with retirement, worker's compensation, Social Security, and Medicare. Qualifying teachers that received the supplement are required to pay all personal payroll deductions as they do with their standard based salary.
Before submitting an application at the TSSP Service Site, please review the Utah State Board of Education website regarding the program details, qualifications and legislation. Participants are responsible to know and understand the TSSP Terms and Conditions found at the USBE website below:
Utah State Board of Education Website TSSP Terms and Conditions
Updates Regarding Vaccine Boosters – October 2021
Please read the following message from the Salt Lake County Health Department
Dear Educator or School Staff Member:
COVID-19 vaccine boosters are now available for all vaccine brands AND you may now receive a booster of a brand different from your original vaccine.
Everyone who received Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine at least 2 months ago is eligible for a booster.
You may get a booster if you received the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech OR Moderna vaccine at least 6 months ago AND you are:
- 65 years and older OR
- 18 or older and have underlying medical conditions OR
- 18 or older and live in a long-term care setting or a high-risk setting OR
- 18 or older and work in a high-risk setting, including teachers.
If you have questions about whether you should receive a booster, please consult with your personal health care provider.
A booster is available from your local pharmacy, your health care provider, by appointment or on a walk-in basis at one of Salt Lake County Health Department’s five immunization clinics, or via one of three community vaccination sites offered by Community Nursing Services (CNS).
If you don’t know which vaccine you initially received, your vaccine’s brand is listed on your vaccination record card. If you don’t have your vaccination record card, request your personal immunization record via one of the methods listed on the Salt Lake County Health Department’s immunization webpage under “Records.”
Thank you,
Salt Lake County Health Department
If you have any questions please contact Mike Anderson, 801-567-8316 or michael.anderson@jordandistrict.org.
Intentional Social Emotional Learning Practice
DATE:
October 28, 2021
TO:
Principals
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
McKinley Withers, Health and Wellness Consultant
SUBJECT:
Infusing Intentional Social Emotional Learning
We are so lucky to work in education! Our essential, meaningful work is laid out in front of us: to prepare our students for a successful, thriving life in adulthood. When a student is dysregulated (upset/crying/afraid), they cannot access the part of their brain they need to think, complete tasks, process rewards and consequences, or reason. As learners, it is their job to make mistakes. It is their job to get dysregulated so we can support them in learning how to appropriately regulate themselves.
Social and emotional skills are absolutely essential for success. Most “bad” behavior happens because kids don’t yet know another way to deal with a particular situation or how to be in control of their impulses. These skills have to be learned! Often we see these skill deficits as “bad” behavior. Consider this: Listening is a skill that has to be learned through practice. Calming down is a skill that has to be learned and practiced...the list goes on!
The brain considers safety the number one priority at all times! And guess where most of the danger is these days? Not out in the jungle with the lions. Not with the bears. The danger is here at school. It’s learning how to be part of the social world. It’s the fear of getting in trouble, or failing at something that others find easy. It’s the stress of having to learn and pass tests and follow rules. It’s hard and every student needs an environment where they can practice the skills necessary for navigating their world.
Please review the attached Social and Emotional Learning Skills document to familiarize yourself with the "skills" we will discuss. Prior to next week's principals meeting, please complete the following skill "pre-assignment":
Say It Out Loud
- When you use a skill in your everyday work (or fail to use a skill), say it out loud!
- Intentional social and emotional learning starts with noticing. Verbalizing your skills in front of students helps you AND your students grow their social and emotional competence. Some examples could be, "I was feeling a little bit frustrated and I took a minute to calm down," "I am writing this down on a sticky note to make sure I follow through."
- When you notice a student using a skill, say it out loud! Having their use of skills be reinforced (no matter how small) helps them on their journey of social and emotional development. Some examples could be: "I noticed that you stated your feeling," "I can see you are breathing slowly to calm down." You'll know it when you see it and taking a few minutes to notice helps!
2021-22 Extra Mile Pay Program for Licensed Educators
Administrators:
Please share this information with the licensed educators in your building/department. The window closes on November 19, 2021 at 11:59 p.m.
Assistant Principal Meetings November 4 & 9, 2021
Reminder: The next Assistant Principal meetings will be held on November 4 (1:00-3:30pm) and November 9 (8:00-10:30am). All meetings will be held in-person at the JATC-S. No virtual option will be provided. As a reminder you only need to attend one of the sessions offered per month. Both sessions will provide the same information. If you haven't had a chance to sign up please CLICK HERE and it will take you to the Google Doc. If you have any questions please call Nadine Page at 801.567.8182 (x88182). Thank you!
Principal Meeting – November 2, 2021
Breakfast/beverage service will be provided starting at 7:30 a.m. Plan to meet in the auditorium to begin the day. Lunch will be provided. See you there!
Important Payroll Dates for November 2021
Please see document below for important dates and reminders.