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Author: npage

Published on

DATE:
Monday, August 16, 2021

TO:
All School Administrators

FROM:
Shelley Nordick, Ph.D., Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability

SUBJECT: 
State Test Administration Data Systems Not Functioning

School administrators are asked to convey the following information to your teachers:

There are currently some issues with rostering between Skyward and the state data system (UTREx). This means that rosters in test administration systems will not be current for the first week of school rendering those systems unavailable for use with students. The affected systems include:

  • Acadience Reading (paper/pencil testing will be used until the situation is resolved)
  • Acadience Math (for data entry only; this is already a paper/pencil assessment)
  • RISE (including benchmarks)
  • Utah Aspire Plus and high school benchmarks
  • Utah Compose
  • KEEP Entry (paper/pencil scoring should be used until the situation is resolved)
  • UTIPS (civics test)

School Administrators will be notified when the situation has been resolved by the state. Please contact Evaluation, Research & Accountability with questions or concerns.

 

Published on

DATE:
August 13, 2021

TO:
High School Principals
Assistant Principals Responsible for Driver Education

FROM:
Brad Sorensen, Administrator of Schools

SUBJECT:
Behind-The-Wheel & Testing Clarifications

We recently received clarification from the USBE regarding Behind-The-Wheel instruction and testing of students to receive their Driver License. Please make sure that your instructors are aware of the expectations (53-3-505.5) when it comes to the required six hours as outlined in state code.

A simple practice to meet the state’s requirements regarding the six hours of Behind-The-Wheel training could be the following:

  • 4 – 45-minute sessions of road driving and observation to equal at least 3 hours
  • 3 – Two Hour sessions on the driving range for a total of six hours (2 hours of range equals 1 hour of behind-the-wheel)

Additionally, we want to make sure that all Road Exams take place after the six hours of Behind-The-Wheel instruction has been completed. As a district, we recognize that we are not required to offer the Road Exam but as a courtesy to our community and the DLD, we want all students to have the opportunity to take the Road Exam at least once with our endorsed examiners who are registered on the SDC System.

According to the DLD and USBE, a Road Exam will take between 20-30 minutes to administer and must be administered by someone different than the road instructor. We recognize that this may require some adjustments to your current practices but we would like all schools to make the necessary adjustments prior to the beginning of the second quarter of the 2021-22 school year.

Schools may want to consider designating one person to exclusively be the examiner that administers the Road Exam for your school if possible.

For more immediate updated information regarding Driver Education, please refer to the USBE website.

Published on

DATE:
August 12, 2021

TO: 
Elementary Principals
Elementary Administrative Assistants

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

SUBJECT:  
Elementary Calendar Change

A correction has been made to the Elementary calendars. The four “Flexible Fridays” (September 10, November 19, February 11, April 29) will be the designated early-out days for their respective weeks. This is a change from the Thursday before the “Flexible Friday” as was previously published.

Updated calendars are available at http://planning.jordandistrict.org/calendars/. They are also attached to this memo. Schools should ensure that the staff and community members are aware of the change.

Published on

The following are new administrative assignments:

New Assignments effective for the 2021-22 academic year:

  • Tami Pyfer, Chief of Staff for Unite and former Education Advisor to Governor Herbert, appointed part-time Community Engagement Specialist.
  • Kenneth Auld, former principal of Logan High, appointed Human Resource Administrator.
  • Sally Wilde, Language Arts teacher at Herriman High, assigned as an administrative intern to Bingham High.
  • Chad Stolle, Geography/Spanish teacher at Mountain Creek Middle, assigned as an administrative intern to Sunset Ridge Middle and Southpointe High.
  • Trudy Jack, Director at Franklin Discovery Academy, assigned as an administrative intern to Ridge View and Rosamond Elementary.
  • Paulina Labra, Instructional Coach in Granite School District, assigned as an administrative intern to Oquirrh Elementary.
  • April Thompson, Instructional Coach at Butterfield Canyon Elementary, assigned as an administrative intern to Aspen and Terra Linda Elementary.
  • Veronica Holyoke, Instructional Coach at Aspen Elementary, assigned as an administrative intern to Bastian and Butterfield Canyon Elementary.

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 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 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 2, 2021 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, or increments of $400) 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

Please take note of the following assignments:

Jared Covili - Consultant, Digital Teaching & Learning • 801-567-8191 • jared.covili@jordandistrict.org

Kelsey Peak Virtual Middle School, Kings Peak Virtual High School

Elementary Schools

Deanna Taylor • 801-567-8773 • dtaylor@jordandistrict.org
Antelope Canyon, Columbia, Falcon Ridge, Fox Hollow, Hayden Peak, Heartland, Majestic, Mountain Shadows, Oakcrest, Oquirrh, Rocky Peak Virtual, Terra Linda, West Jordan, Westland

Larisa Nageli • 801-567-8774 • larisa.nageli@jordandistrict.org
Aspen, Copper Canyon, Daybreak, Eastlake, Elk Meadows, Golden Fields, Jordan Hills, Jordan Ridge, Midas Creek, Monte Vista, Riverside, South Jordan, Welby, Westvale

Bonnie Muir • 801-567-8726 • bonnie.muir@jordandistrict.org
Bastian, Blackridge, Bluffdale, Butterfield Canyon, Foothills, Herriman, Mountain Point, Ridge View, Riverton, Rosamond, Rose Creek, Silver Crest, Southland

Secondary Schools

Ross Rogers • 801-567-8759 • ross.rogers@jordandistrict.org
Fort Herriman MS, Hidden Valley MS, Mountain Ridge HS, Oquirrh Hills MS, Riverton HS, South Hills MS,  JATC South, Kari Sue Hamilton

Colby Hawkins • 801-567-8273 • colby.hawkins@jordandistrict.org
Bingham HS, Copper Mountain MS, Elk Ridge MS, Herriman HS, Mountain Creek MS,  River's Edge, South Jordan MS, Valley HS

Kiera Beddes • 801-567-8264 • kiera.beddes@jordandistrict.org
Copper Hills HS, JATC North, Joel P. Jensen MS, South Valley School, Sunset Ridge MS, West Hills MS, West Jordan HS, West Jordan MS

Digital Learning Specialists - Instructional Coaches & Digital Coaches

  • Larisa Nageli supports elementary instructional coaches • 801-567-8774 • larisa.nageli@jordandistrict.org
  • Colby Hawkins supports secondary digital coaches • 801-567-8273 • colby.hawkins@jordandistrict.org

Published on

We hope you are all getting off to a great start this year. Here are a few literacy updates to be aware of as you move into this new year.

  • We are pleased to welcome Sara Henderson to the T&L team. She is replacing Cindy Stevenson and she will be helping with all literacy needs. Please feel free to reach out to her.
  • As you take inventory of Really Great Reading supplies for the teachers at your school, please let us know if you need any additional teacher manuals or student workbooks.
  • Teachers who teach self-contained support classrooms will need to use the Really Great Reading curriculum this year for tier 1 instruction. If materials have not been ordered for any of these teachers, please let us know and we will order right away.
  • Teachers in 3rd grade will now be using HD Word Plus. These materials were purchased for your 3rd grade teachers. If you purchased HD Word for third-grade teachers last year, please send those materials back to us at the ASB and put “Attention to Sara Henderson” on the box. We can reimburse you for that purchase.
  • If you have been sent any extra materials for Really Great Reading or 95% Group, please send them back to the ASB and put “Attention to Sara Henderson” on the box.
  • We have had a shipping delay on the magnetic student syllaboards boards that go with Really Great Reading. We are expecting the shipment to arrive sometime in October. Kindergarten will not need these boards before this time, but 1st-3rd will. As a temporary solution the company has given us free access to the digital Letter Tile Free Play. Please let all 1st-3rd grade teachers know they can have students access the website at the following address and that the password is the same for all students.
    Website: tile.rgr.fun
    Password: jsd.jsd
  • We will be holding a Literacy Launch training for anyone who was not able to attend in the summer. The dates for that training are September 8th and 9th and the class will be held at the ASB in the auditorium. Anyone who needs to attend can sign up on JPLS.

Additional Heggerty and MSRC classes are scheduled on September 7th and 14th from 4:30 - 7:30 at the ASB for any teachers who still need this training. Teachers can register on JPLS.

Published on

DATE:   
August 12, 2021

TO:    
Principals
Administrative Assistants
Attendance Secretaries
Registrars

FROM:   
Administrators of Schools
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Scott Festin, Consultant, Planning & Enrollment
Caleb Olson, Consultant, Planning & Enrollment

SUBJECT: 
Reporting Completion of 10-Day Accounting

Accurate enrollment counts are used to generate future projections. Please see attached memo.

Published on

The Special Education Department is offering professional development to support co-teaching instruction.

Interested schools will need to submit the attached application no later than September 3, 2021 to Amanda Bollinger. The co-teaching cohort will be capped at 13 teams/26 individuals. A signature on the completed application indicates that the principal is committed to supporting the teachers’ commitments in the co-teaching PD described in the attached document.

Published on

Earlier this summer the Field Trip Office launched BusHive, the new field/activity trip software for all field/activity trip requests. During the first week in July, Kitt sent BusHive online training resources and videos to designated point(s) of contact at all schools. If your school did not receive the training videos and you would like Kitt to resend them to you, feel free to contact him at kittisack.soumpholphakdy@jordandistrict.org or give him a call at 8-8809.

An in-person BusHive training option will be conducted on Wednesday, August 18 from 10:30-11:00 a.m. If your school's point of contact is interested in attending, please contact Kitt via email or by phone as mentioned above or Michele at michele.yuill@jordandistrict.org or at 8-8804.

Published on

This year Community Nursing Services (CNS) will be our preferred provider for Flu Shot Clinics in your school. Two flu shot clinics have been scheduled already:

District Office
October 4, 2021
11:00 am - 2:30 pm

ASB
October 6, 2021
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm

If you would like to schedule a Flu Shot Clinic for your school and receive preferred pricing, please complete the attached 2021 Flu Shot Scheduling Form and return to CNS attention Yvette. Her information is included on the attached form.

Published on

Custodial Workshops Reminder

3rd Wednesday every other month during the school year
8:30 AM to 10:00 AM.

September 15, 2021
November 17, 2021
January 19, 2022
March 16, 2022
May 18, 2022

New Location: Transportation Building
8480 S 4361 W West Jordan

The purpose of these workshops is to communicate any new information pertinent to the custodial operations of each building. All Head Custodians should attend these meetings.

In an effort to insure that these workshops are productive trainings, the Custodial/Energy Services Department would like to address any ongoing, widespread problems or concerns that you might have.

  • If you are aware of any training needs that should be addressed in these custodial workshops, please e-mail me at peart@jordandistict.org.
  • We are also looking for very specific positive examples of individuals that are doing things right. If you have someone on your custodial staff that deserves some public recognition for the exceptional job they are doing, please e-mail me at peart@jordandistict.org.

Thanks!

Steve Peart
Director of Custodial/Energy Services
801-567-8770
steve.peart@jordandistrict.org

Published on

DATE:    
Thursday, August 12, 2021

TO:  
Middle School Administrators

FROM:  
Shelley Nordick, Ph. D., Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability

SUBJECT:   
Research Project

The Research Review Committee has reviewed a research project in which your school has been asked to participate.

Project Title: Exploring the Impact of Hour of Code on Students’ Computer Science Interest and Perceptions

Applicant: Jessica Marie Yauney, Brigham Young University-Provo

The project has been approved by the District Research Review Committee. The applicant has been directed to contact you to discuss the extent of the project and to obtain your permission to conduct the study at your school. Participation in the study is at your discretion. If you have questions or concerns relating to participation, please contact Ben Jameson at 801-567-8243.

Thank you for your assistance.

Published on

DATE: 
Thursday, August 12, 2021

TO:  
All School Administrators

FROM:  
Shelley Nordick, Ph. D., Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability

SUBJECT:
Research Project

The Research Review Committee has reviewed a research project in which your school has been asked to participate.

Project Title: Perspectives on Maternity Leave Policies for Educators in three Utah School Districts

Applicant: Jordan Chaves

The project has been approved by the District Research Review Committee. The applicant has been directed to contact you to discuss the extent of the project and to obtain your permission to conduct the study at your school. Participation in the study is at your discretion. If you have questions or concerns relating to participation, please contact Ben Jameson at 801-567-8243.

The project will involve interviews and focus groups with teachers across various district schools.

Thank you for your assistance.

 

Published on

All schools are required to conduct a fire drill within the first 10 days of the school year.

This provides a great opportunity to review plans, emergency response/Incident Command assignments, evacuation maps, rally locations outside, communications, and related supplies.

Please take special care to orient new students and staff, individuals with special needs and younger students that may not have been exposed to alarms and emergency response protocols.

REMEMBER/CONSIDERATIONS

  1. Call the District 24-hour Alarm Response 801-567-8865 at least 30 minutes in advance, to inform them of the drill, so the fire department is not dispatched.
  2. It is required that the fire alarm is activated for fire drills.
  3. All occupants are required to evacuate, with the only exception for the staff member responsible for notifying the local fire emergency contact and handling emergency communications.
  4. Clearly announce the “drill” within the school, and always make a clear distinction between drills “actual emergencies”.
  5. Complete the 2021-22 Report of Emergencies – Drills, Actual Events or Meetings Form, on Google Drive. Link: 2021-22 Report of Emergencies – Drills, Actual Events or Meetings
  6. Conduct drills according to the District Incident Command System (ICS) Manual, located in the Google Drive Incident Command Folder. Link:  JSD Incident Command Folder
  7. Bookmark the Emergency Report Form and Incident Command Folder.
  8. Conduct a debrief meeting afterward to review successes and plans for areas of improvement. Use the same report form to record related meetings.

Utah Administrative Rules (R277-400-6 & 7) drill requirements for elementary and secondary schools are listed at the top of the 2021-22 Report of Emergencies – Drills, Actual Events or Meetings Form for your reference.

Please contact Emergency Operations Manager Lance Everill for assistance: lance.everill@jordandistrict.org, office 801-567-8623.