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Category: Elementary Info

Published on

DATE:   
Thursday, August 7, 2025

TO:  
All School Administrators

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

SUBJECT:   
2025-26 Parental Exclusion Forms

2025-26 Parental Exclusion from State Assessments forms have been released by the state. Elementary and secondary versions may be found attached with this memo (including Spanish versions for each level). In addition, the forms may be found on the Assessment, Research & Accountability website.

Parents must notify schools of their desire to opt their student out of a state-mandated assessment on an annual basis. Parental exclusions should be recorded on your school’s opt out log so that both school and district personnel have one source of truth for all parental exclusions. Schools are discouraged from keeping parental exclusion lists that are separate or different from the opt out log received from Assessment, Research & Accountability.

Please direct questions about parental exclusions to Ben Jameson in Assessment, Research & Accountability.

Published on

DATE:  
Thursday, August 7, 2025

TO:  
All School Administrators

FROM:   
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Assessment, 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: Online Mental Health Training to Improve Physiological Stress Outcomes in Schoolteachers: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Applicant: Katelyn Jackman, Brigham Young University-Provo

The project has been approved by the District Research Review Committee. The applicant will contact teachers via email directly to invite them to participate in the research project. The applicant has been directed to contact principals to discuss the extent of the project and arrange a private area in which to meet with teachers. 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

TO:
Building & District Administrators
Administrative Assistants

FROM:
Caleb Olson, Consultant, Planning & Enrollment

The 2025-26 updates of the “Assistant Principal Directory” have been finalized and are available below.

These links will be valid all year and any updates will be saved to these locations.

If changes or corrections need to be made, you may contact Caleb Olson in Student Services or make the changes on the web version of the directories at the link below.

Link to the Web Version of the Directory to make changes

 

Published on

DATE:     
August 7, 2025

TO:   
Elementary Administrators

FROM: 
Steffany Ellsworth, Support Services Manager, Information Systems

SUBJECT:   
Save Valuable Time with Chromebook Badges for K-2 Students

Elementary Principals, are your K-2nd grade teachers losing valuable learning time because they are helping students log into their Chromebooks? If so, Clever Badges may be the solution! Clever Badges allow students to login to their Chromebooks using a QR code held up to the camera. It’s fast, it’s easy, and it allows teachers to focus on curriculum, not login issues.

Discover the magic of Clever Badges! This short 1 minute video gives an overview of Clever Badges.

If you are interested in implementing Clever Badges at your school, please let Information Systems know by filling out this brief Google Survey.

More information on Clever Badges

  • Teachers have the ability to print Clever Badges, void and regenerate badges as needed.
  • Clever Badges are specific to individual students, and anyone with the QR code can access their Google account. Thus it is important to protect the badges like a password and keep them in a secure location.
  • Implementing Clever Badges at your school is fast and easy. Once you’ve completed the request form, we’ll contact you with instructions to get your teachers started.

Published on

TO:
All District Administration

FROM:
Anthony Godfrey, Superintendent
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent

Please take the time to fill out the requested survey. See the information and links below regarding the facts for this survey.

What: The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) is conducting a brief survey of local education agency (LEA) school and district administrators to assess the Utah Educational Leadership Standards and determine whether a revision process should be considered.

Who: District Superintendents, Charter School Directors, appropriate District Directors, Principal Supervisors, and school-based administrators, including Principals, Assistant Principals and Administrative Interns.

When: The survey will be open for responses through August 8th, 2025.

Information: 

As required by state code, it is noted that this survey response is being requested to seek input on the Utah Educational Leadership Standards, but it is not a survey that is required by federal or state code. The information being requested is not available elsewhere.

For more information, please reach out to Julie Lundell, the USBE School Leadership and Improvement Specialist.

Published on

DATE:
July 31, 2025

TO:
All Administrators
All Administrative Assistants

FROM:
John Larsen, Business Adminhistrator
Daniel Ellis, Director of Accounting and Audits
Natalie Grange, Accounting Administrator

SUBJECT:
2025-2026 School Allocations

The 2025-2026 School allocations have been provided for your review. See attached file for allocations, your carryover balances, and estimated headcounts. An explanation of changes to supplies budgets and staff appreciation and PD meals being moved to to in lieu are included in the memo.

School allocations will be updated in November after the October 1 headcounts are finalized by the State. Budgets will not be adjusted for the virtual schools.

Budget transfers 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:
July 31 2025

TO:
All Administrators
All Admin Assistants

FROM:
Steffany Ellsworth, Support Services Manager, Information Systems

SUBJECT: 
Exciting News! Introducing Our Enhanced Point of Sale System

We are thrilled to launch a new and enhanced Point of Sale (POS) system in your school offices! This upgrade brings a host of fantastic new features designed to make managing lunch and fee payments smoother and more efficient for everyone.

What this means for parents:

  • Low Lunch Balance Notifications - Parents can now set up alerts to notify them when their student’s lunch balance is running low, helping to ensure their students account is funded.
  • Recurring Lunch Payments - Say goodbye to forgotten payments! Parents will have the option to set up recurring lunch payments.
  • Convenient Office Payments - For those who prefer to pay in person, the ability to process lunch payments directly in the school office is a new, convenient option.
  • Step-by-Step Guide for Parents - Feel free to download and share this step-by-step guide (written in both English & Spanish) with parents. This guide directs parents how to update their account on the new eFunds site and set up recurring payments or save credit card information. It has also been included in the annual Registration for Schools.

Key Benefits for Our Schools:

  • Modern Payment Options - You can now accept a wider range of payments, including tap payments, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and chip reader transactions for added security.
  • Automated Receipt Entry - A huge-time saver! You’ll no longer need to manually enter receipts for payments taken in eFunds into Skyward Fee Management. The new system handles this automatically, streamlining your administrative tasks.

Training and Support:

Training on the upgraded POS interface was provided in early July. If your office staff missed this training, please call to schedule training with Information Systems. If you have any questions, or require assistance getting your school up and running with the new interface, please don’t hesitate to contact our office at (801) 567-8737 or extension 88737.

Published on

DATE:   
August 1, 2025

TO: 
Principals
Head Financial Secretaries
Special Education Teachers (Resource and Self-Contained)
Speech-Language Pathologists/Technicians

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

SUBJECT:    
Special Education Budget Allocations 2025-26

Welcome back! Listed below are the special education budget allocations for Resource, Self-Contained Teachers and Speech-Language Pathologists/Technicians for the 2025-26 school year. (Cluster Leaders and school psychologists do not receive a Special Education budget.) Remember that special education monies must be spent in ways that provide the most benefit to special education students with the goal to improve student achievement and performance.

Please review the attached Memo for instructions on spending the allocated budgets and guidelines for what the money can be spent on.

Published on

DATE: 
July 31, 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 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 as well.

MONTH DRILL TYPE NOTES
August Fire First 10 days of school
September Secure
October Lockdown Evacuation required for elementary schools
November Shelter
December Hold Evacuation required for elementary schools
January Fire First 10 days of school after winter break
February Secure
March Lockdown Evacuation required for elementary schools
April Earthquake Great Shakeout. Evacuation is optional
May Drill of Choice Choose whichever drill appropriate for your school

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

TO:
Principals

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Amanda Bollinger, Associate Administrator, Teaching & Learning
Amy Lloyd, K-12 Math Consultant, Teaching & Learning

Principals,

We’re excited to share that our new K-5 Open Up math curriculum materials are on the way! Although shipment has been delayed, we’re working closely with the company to expedite delivery.

Materials will arrive in two shipments:

One copy of student manuals per teacher was delivered last week
The manipulative & center kits will be delivered by August 15, 2025

A list of the items included in the manipulative kits is attached for your reference and it has been shared with teachers as well. Thank you for your patience and enthusiasm as we prepare for a great year ahead!

Published on

DATE:  
July 31, 2025

TO: 
Principals
Administrative Assistants

FROM:  
Odette Desmarais, Administrator of Schools
Meredith Doleac, Administrator of Schools
Becky Gerber, Administrator of Schools
Lisa Robinson, Administrator of Schools

SUBJECT: 
Parking Lot Duty Guidelines for Elementary Schools 2025-26

Through the 2018-19 negotiations process, the Board allocated funds to pay each elementary teacher $400 for parking lot duty each year. The stipend will be paid out on April paychecks. The following are additional details and clarifications 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 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 previously been assigned parking lot duty 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 April 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 preschool teachers cannot give up their parking lot duty assignment.
  • Stipends for parking lot duty are included in retirement pay calculations.

A Google sheet will be shared with elementary administrative assistants and principals. Please complete the payroll sheet by April 6, 2026, so that teachers can be paid the stipend on their April 25th check. The elementary AOS administrative assistant will verify the payroll sheet and submit it to payroll. 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

TO:
All Administrators

FROM:
Bonnie Brennan, Director of Insurance Services

Health Special Risk, Inc. is offering two supplemental accident insurance, at-school coverage and 24-hour coverage. See attached flyer (English and Spanish) for additional information. Please consider including the information in your school packets.

Published on

2025 PD Day ScheduleTO:
All Administrators

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning

The District-wide Professional Development Day on Aug. 12, 2025 is just around the corner. If you haven't already, please choose from an available keynote speaker using the link below.  All keynotes begin at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 12. The topics and location information for each keynote speaker are included in the registration information. You will receive a confirmation of your keynote choice and location to remind you of your selection.

You are required to attend your 2-hour morning keynote. It is optional to attend one of two 1-hour sessions AFTER your keynote. 

  • An optional 1-hour session presented by Jordan School District Insurance Services will be held at Mountain Ridge High School from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. NO SIGN-UP REQUIRED.
  • An optional 1-hour session presented by Utah Retirement Systems (URS) will be held at both Herriman High School and Bingham High School from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. NO SIGN-UP REQUIRED.

You are also required to attend the afternoon session at YOUR school.

  • The afternoon sessions at each of your individual home schools start at 1 p.m. and will focus on Jordan School District’s newly adopted “Portrait of a Graduate.”

Published on

TO:
Administrators

FROM:
Lisa Robinson, Elementary AOS
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 Mountain Creek 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 PD Catalog by July 31st.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your teacher specialist.

Published on

TO:
Administrators
Administrative Assistants

FROM:
Paul Bergera, Director of Transportation

When scheduling Field/Activity Trips for the 2025-2026 school year, please make note of the following moratorium dates and times when Transportation will not be able to accommodate Field/Activity trips. (See attachment below)

Please contact us with any questions. Mike Westover at 801-567-8809, Michele Yuill at 801-567-8804 and Janet Sadler (for billing inquiries) at 801-567-8334.

Thank you so much for your assistance and support.

 

Published on

TO:
Administrators
Administrative Assistants

FROM:
April Gaydosh, Administrator Human Resources

Welcome to the 2025-2026 contract year! As an annual reminder, in accordance with DP326 NEG I. 1. and 2. and DP324 NEG I. 1. and 2., participation in the Employee-Funded Sick Leave Bank requires a contract employee to annually donate one day of accumulated annual leave into the Sick Leave Bank. The Employee-Funded Sick Leave Bank is not intended to be used for in-and-out absences, elective medical procedures or other medical care that could be scheduled during non-contract time.

Each year, contract employees wishing to opt out of participation in the sick bank must annually complete the appropriate online form in Employee Access no later than September 1 for current employees and October 1 for first-year licensed employees, including administrators. This opt out request must be submitted annually.

Prior to completion of this form, it is strongly encouraged to review all District Leave Policies. See the Opt Out Tutorial below.

 

Published on

DATE: 
July 17, 2025

TO: 
Principals

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

SUBJECT:   
Early Warning System – Panorama Information, Surveys, & Training Opportunities

Each regular school within an LEA (District) is required to implement a Student Intervention Early Warning System (53F-4-207). Panorama meets all the criteria established by HB84-School Safety and will be the District’s early warning system. Panorama Student Success will be paid for by the District. The optional Positive Behavior tool in Panorama is paid individually by each school that chooses to use it.

Panorama Student Feedback Surveys

  • 53#-9-203 requires prior written consent when a student registers for surveys related to an early warning system. This consent will be included in both the online and printed registration process. Please refer to the “Parental Consent Required for Student Surveys” JAM sent on June 19, 2025 for more information.

The Panorama student feedback survey windows for the 2025-26 school year are as follows (please share with your survey coordinator and other relevant staff):

Fall Winter Spring
Sept. 8 – Oct. 10, 2025 Jan. 29 – Feb. 27, 2026 April 20 – May 15, 2026

Survey information, questions, results, and survey window dates can be found here.

Information and instructions for administering the student feedback surveys may be accessed here.

Training Opportunities:

Training regarding the basics of Panorama may be scheduled for school administrators, teams, grade levels, or faculty by reaching out to Travis Hamblin (travis.hamblin@jordandistrict.org) directly.

 

Published on

DATE:   
July 17, 2025

TO:
Principals
Assistant Principals
Panorama Survey Coordinators
Administrative Assistants

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

SUBJECT: 
Panorama Student Feedback Survey Dates and Opt-In Report

Panorama (Early Warning System) and social-emotional surveys may only be administered to students whose parents have opted-in. Parents are asked to opt-in to the student feedback survey during the registration process. When the online registration process closes on Oct. 1 schools will manually enter the opt-in information into Skyward.

The Panorama Student Feedback survey windows for the 2025-26 school are as follows:

  • Fall September 8, 2025-October 10, 20225
  • Winter January 29, 2026 – February 27, 2026
  • Spring April 20, 2026 – May 15, 2026

The following information is provided to inform and assist you as you administer student surveys:

  • The list of students who may take the survey (opted-in) will be provided to Panorama prior to and mid-window during the administration of the survey by Student Services. Only opted-in students will be able to log in and take the survey.
  • Schools should print out the list of students who have opted-in and provide teachers with the list of students in their classes that have opted-in. The registration opt-in information can be accessed through Skyward using this data mining report.
  • Using the list provided to them by the main office, teachers will be able to manage the administration of the survey. Using the opt-in list, teachers will be able to identify why students may not be able to log in and take the survey.
  • If there are students wishing to take the survey and they are on the opted-in list, but are having log-in issues – the school survey coordinator should contact Panorama directly for assistance at support+utahjordan@panoramaed.com. Student Services does not have the ability to manage access to surveys.
  • Students may choose to not take the survey even though their parents have opted them into the survey. Student feedback surveys administered through Panorama are never required and are always optional.
  • Parents/Guardians should always be informed/notified regarding the administration of any survey.

Survey coordinators and administrators should view the Administering Panorama Survey presentation for information, instructions, and guidance regarding the student feedback surveys. Other Panorama and student feedback survey information including survey questions, survey response results, and general early warning information may be found on the Student Serves website here.

Should you have any questions please reach out to Travis Hamblin (travis.hamblin@jordandistrict.org) or Michelle Reyes (michelle.reyes@jordandistrict.org).

Published on

DATE:
July 8, 2025

TO:
All Principals, Directors, and Supervisors

FROM:
John Larsen, Business Administrator
Sarah Palmer, Director of Payroll

SUBJECT:
DP375 – Vacation Schedule for Administrative Personnel

Clarification of administrator vacation days carryover:

  • Administrators receive 20 frontloaded vacation days on July 1st of each year. These frontloaded days are earned throughout that current year.
  • Administrators may carryover up to 20 earned vacation days from the previous year. Any earned days over 20 not used by December 31st of each year will be forfeited.

Therefore, as of December 31, 2025, any unused vacation days above 40 days will be forfeited. These 40 days consist of the 20 days that were frontloaded on July 1, 2025 for the 2025-26 year, as well as up to 20 unused earned days that were allowed to be carried over from the previous 2024-25 year.