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Author: shooper

Published on

DATE:
May 21, 2025

TO:
Principals
Assistant Principals
School Safety Specialists

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Matt Alvernaz, School Safety Coordinator

SUBJECT:
Monthly Drill Schedule

This schedule is designed so that our district will remain in compliance with state regulations.  The design is set up so the district can help prepare and support each of your schools throughout the year to better implement these drills.  This schedule is to be followed throughout the district.

Secondary schools are required to have FOUR (4) evacuations a year.  You may do more if desired.

Elementary schools are required to conduct an evacuation EVERY OTHER MONTH.  These evacuations can follow any drill and DO NOT have to be in conjunction with a fire drill.  Due to this regulation and the mandated fire drill after winter break, an evacuation drill will need to be conducted in both December and January in order to remain in compliance.  This only applies to elementary schools.

Two virtual Drill Preparation trainings will be held back-to-back on the first Wednesday of each month at 3:00 PM and again at 3:30 PM.  The ZOOM LINK will remain the same for each session throughout the year.  School Safety Specialists and Administrators over safety are expected to attend.  Other administrators or interested employees are always welcome to attend as well.

If there are any questions, concerns, or conflicts, please contact the District Safety Coordinator Matt Alvernaz at matt.alvernaz@jordandistrict.org or by phone at (801) 567-8623.

Published on

DATE:
May 21, 2025

TO:
Principals
Assistant Principals
School Safety Specialists

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Matt Alvernaz, School Safety Coordinator

SUBJECT:
School Safety Needs Assessments

State legislation now requires schools to conduct a School Safety Needs Assessment (SSNA) every three (3) years.  Every school completed the first SSNA 2024.  Moving forward, schools will now be assigned a year in which to complete the next SSNA.  The SSNA needs to be completed by October 15th of the assigned year and must be done with Law Enforcement and the assessment tool provided by the State Security Chief.  Additional information regarding the SSNA tool will be shared when it is received from the State. Any questions or concerns, please contact the School Safety Coordinator, Matt Alvernaz at malvernaz@jordandistrict.org or 801-567-8623.

Please see the attached memo for the year that your SSNA will be due.

 

Published on

TO:
High School Administrators
Middle School Administrators

FROM:
April Gaydosh, Administrator of Human Resources
Brad Sorensen, Administrator of Schools
Cody Curtis, Administrator of Schools

The Human Resource Department would like to announce the newly established process for administering extra period stipends to educators within the Jordan School District for the 2025-2026 school year. It is imperative that all administrators adhere to this procedure and documentation to ensure compliance and efficient processing.

Process Details:

  1. Pre-Approval Requirement:
    • Before offering any extra period stipends, administrators must obtain pre-approval from their Administrator of Schools. This step is crucial to ensure alignment with district policies and resource allocation.
  2. Completion of Required Documentation:
    • Once pre-approval is obtained, both the educator and the school administrator must complete the attached "Extra Period Stipend Agreement" form.
    • A copy of the signed agreement must be retained at the school location for the entire academic year.
  3. Enrollment Dashboard Update:
    • The approved stipend must be recorded in the Enrollment Dashboard. This ensures transparency and accurate tracking of stipends across the district.
  4. Submission for HR Processing:
    • After the agreement is signed, the school is responsible for submitting the Extra Period Stipend form to Human Resources.
    • This submission will be processed in the Skyward system, ensuring the stipend's inclusion in the educator's monthly payroll.
  5. Monthly Dashboard Reflection:
    • Once the form is processed through HR, the FTE will be reflected on both the Enrollment Dashboard and HR Dashboard each month that the educator receives the additional stipend. 

Important Reminders:

  • The stipend is contingent upon factors such as student enrollment, budget constraints, and scheduling needs, and may be revoked if necessary.
  • All requests for extra-period stipends must be documented and processed according to the guidelines outlined herein.

Please ensure that all relevant personnel are informed of these changes and that the procedures are implemented immediately. Should you have any questions or require further clarification, do not hesitate to contact the HR department.

Attachments:

Thank you for your attention to these important updates and for your continued commitment to supporting our educators.

Published on

DATE:
Thursday, June 5, 2025

TO:
High School Administrators

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

SUBJECT:
2025 ACT Results Available in Tableau

The results for the 11th grade administration of the 2025 ACT are now available in Tableau. School administrators may view the following ACT data from 2017 to 2025:

School administrators may access the ACT dashboards at the following link.

Questions about the ACT dashboards may be directed to Ben Jameson in Assessment, Research & Accountability.

Published on

DATE:
June 4, 2025

TO:
All administrators

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
McKinley Withers, Health and Wellness Consultant
Angie Rasmussen, Student Safety and Wellness Specialist

SUBJECT:
Summer SafeUT Expectations & CLOSE ALL TIPS

Administrators,

Throughout the summer, SafeUT tips will continue to be sent through the Dashboard to all individuals assigned. Issues and tips received through SafeUT should continue to be addressed throughout the summer (notifications are not urgent unless otherwise specified and can be addressed within normal working hours). After-hours and urgent notifications will follow regular protocol.

As staff members change at each of your schools, it is important to keep our SafeUT Dashboard up to date. We will automatically add any changes for your school’s administrators, counselors, school psychologists, and school-based clinicians to your school’s dashboard starting July 1st. If you have additional updates, changes, or would like to add or remove individuals, you are encouraged to reach out with any requests.

Please email McKinley Withers or Angie Rasmussen for any SafeUT changes or updates outside of the known updates mentioned above. In your email, include the staff member’s name, email address, and title in your email. For any individual who would like text message notifications, please include a cell phone number. Non-administrative individuals may also request to remove text message alerts.

Please keep in mind that it is critical that ALL SafeUT tips are “closed” in a timely manner and your school's SafeUT Dashboard is up to date because:

  • When tips are not closed, it appears that the school did not address or respond to the concern.
  • The data is used for funding decisions.
  • SafeUT uses the feedback to improve how tips are distributed, which impacts our work.

Here are some helpful tools for this process:

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Angie Rasmussen (angie.rasmussen@jordandistrict.org) or McKinley Withers (mckinley.withers@jordandistrict.org).

Published on

DATE:
 June 4, 2025

TO:
All School Administrators

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
McKinley Withers, Health and Wellness Consultant
Angie Rasmussen, Student Wellness and Safety Specialist

SUBJECT:
Summer Content Monitoring (BARK) Alerts

During the summer months, from June 6th until August 11th, content monitoring (BARK) notifications will have the following changes:

  • Notifications to schools will only include administrators and not counseling or mental health professionals during this time. This change is to remove notifications for those who are off contract.
  • Notifications will go to ALL administrators (rather than to students within an assigned caseload) at each school.
  • Notifications that are not considered urgent will not be sent after 2pm to ensure that intervention is reasonable and timely for school personnel.
  • Content monitoring (BARK) alerts will be reviewed twice per week in June (while school is not in session) and once per week in July. Notifications will be sent to administrators on those days before 2pm.
  • Imminent or urgent alerts will continue to be handled, and we will work directly with administrators when immediate intervention is required.

Should you have any questions please reach out to Angie Rasmussen at angie.rasmussen@jordandistrict.org.

Published on

DATE:
June 2, 2025

TO:
District Department Administrators

FROM:
John Larsen, Business Administrator
Daniel Ellis, Director of Accounting, Budgets and Audits

SUBJECT:
New Technology Device Allocation

Beginning in the 2025-26 year, departments will be responsible for their technology needs and will no longer work directly with Information Systems for such purchases. Each department will be given an annual allocation which will carry over year to year to cover the technology needs of the department (excluding Special Education, CTE, and Nutrition).

Budgets will be added at the beginning of the year to account 32 E xxx 9932 4750 650 for your department’s respective location. All purchases should be made from this account. Budgets will be prorated based on where your department was in the previous replacement schedule, and allocations will be done on a headcount basis after the initial year.

Purchasing guidelines must still be followed, and technology pricing sheets can be found by visiting https://purchasing.jordandistrict.org/vendors/product-pricing/references/. For pricing on Apple products, please contact Tonya Hodges (801-567-8706) in purchasing.

If you have questions or need assistance, please call Dan Ellis at (801)567-8389.

Thank you.

Published on

TO:
Elementary Principals

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator, Teaching and Learning
Norman Emerson, Consultant, Teaching and Learning

The Annual BTS Principal Luncheon will be held on August 8, 2025, from 10:30-12:00 in the Tech Atrium at Juniper Elementary. Join us for a "Thriller" experience.

Published on

TO:
Principals
Assistant Principals

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Michelle Lovell, Consultant, Elementary Language Arts
Mandy Thurman, Consultant, Elementary Language Arts

We have the opportunity to host Kelly Stewart, our Wit & Wisdom trainer, for a special professional development designed specifically for principals and assistant principals on July 22nd, with the option of a morning session or an afternoon session. Kelly will share practical insights and proven strategies to help school leaders ensure successful implementation in their schools. Please complete the attached form with your availability by Friday, June 13th.

Published on

DATE:
June 5, 2025

TO:
Principals
Assistant Principals

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Stacee Worthen, Counselor Consultant
Fulvia Franco, Guidance Consultant
McKinley Withers, Health and Wellness Consultant

SUBJECT:
Ensuring Confidentiality in School Counseling, Psychology, and Clinical Support Staff

School counselors, school psychologists, and clinical support staff work to provide a safe environment for students to address emotional concerns, academic challenges, personal struggles, mental health concerns, and 504/IEP requirements. To effectively fulfill this role, the school counselor, school psychologist, and clinical support staff requires a dedicated, confidential, and private workspace that fosters open communication and protects student confidentiality.

Dedicated, confidential, and private workspaces:

  • Comply with federal laws, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), IDEA, and ADA (Section 504) mandating schools protect student privacy
  • Supports awareness of ethical standards and legal mandates regarding student confidentiality
  • Increase student trust and openness
  • Improve counseling, mental health, and assessment effectiveness
  • Provide a line of sight which helps protect students and staff from allegations of wrongdoing and impropriety while increasing safety and accountability

Workspaces must include the necessary equipment to ensure a continuation of work and confidentiality. Please see the attached memo for a list of the necessary equipment.

Ensuring dedicated, confidential, and private workspaces creates a stronger support system for students and staff through confidentiality. If you have any questions or concerns about this requirement, please reach out to Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services, at travis.hamblin@jordandistrict.org or 801.567.8439.

Published on

TO:
Administrators
Licensed Special Education Staff

FROM:
Lisa Robinson, Administrator of Schools
Kim Lloyd, Director of Special Education

The Special Education Summer Conference for the 2025-26 school year will be held on Monday, August 4, 2025, at West Jordan Middle School. Check-in begins at 7:30 am, and the conference begins at 8:00 am. Attendees will receive a $200 stipend, and lunch will be provided. Administrators are also welcome to attend. There will be sessions specifically for Administrators throughout the day.

All Certified/Licensed Special Education staff and school administrators are invited to attend. Please register through the PD Catalog by July 31st.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your teacher specialist.

Published on

DATE:
May 29, 2025

TO:
School Principals and Administrative Assistants

FROM:
Administrators of Schools

SUBJECT:
Principal Year-end Checkout Materials for 2024-25

Attached is the list of items to be completed for principal checkout.

  • Items highlighted in yellow will be reviewed at checkout with your Administrator of Schools.
  • Items highlighted in green require you to bring the requested items to your checkout.

If you have any questions, please contact your Administrator of Schools’ administrative assistant.

Published on

TO:
Elementary Administrators

FROM:
Michelle Lovell, Consultant in Teaching & Learning

Required literacy trainings for elementary teachers are now available for registration for new teachers and teachers moving to a new grade level. If a teacher is moving grade levels and has already taken any trainings, they DO NOT need to take them again.

To register for these trainings go to pd.jordandistrict.org. Trainings can be found by searching for the titles or clicking on the links in the attached memo. Please be sure that all new teachers are aware of the different trainings that they will need for their grade level and the dates that they are being offered. These are currently the only offerings for these classes this year. New teachers should sign up for one date for each training listed under the grade level they will be teaching.

In-service rate will be paid for Heggerty, MSRC, and Wit & Wisdom classes taken outside of contracted hours. Substitutes will be provided for all classes taught during contracted hours. A stipend of $600.00 will be paid to teachers for the completion of the in-person and online book work for LETRS training.

Published on

TO:
Administrators

FROM:
Michelle Love-Day, Director of Language & Culture Services

Beginning in August 2026, the Language & Culture Services team will hold a Spanish for Educators class. We are excited to help you communicate with your students to break down learning barriers.

  • The course is 5 weeks long:
    • Session 1 - Sept. 1 - Oct. 13, 2025
    • Session 2 - Oct. 27- Dec. 1, 2025
    • Session 3 - Jan. 5 - Feb 10, 2026
    • Session 4 - Feb. 23 - Mar. 23, 2026
    • Session 5 - Apr. 6 - May 4, 2026
  • Classes will be held from 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
  • Locations are currently to be determined

Please complete the interest form at the link below to help us gauge interest and determine class times/locations.  Classes will only be for licensed educators only.

Published on

TO:
Elementary Administrators

FROM:
Michelle Lovell, Consultant in Teaching & Learning

The Wit & Wisdom workbooks for the 2025-26 school year are scheduled to arrive in schools within the next couple of weeks. We request that any leftover workbooks from previous years be stored at their respective schools, as we anticipate utilizing these resources in the future. Thank you for your cooperation in managing these educational resources effectively.