Jordan School District
SafeUT is still available as a resource for students, parents and schools during this stressful time. There are master's level clinicians available to chat or call 24/7/365 and will continue to be available throughout the outbreak.
With schools closed they will be following the summer protocol until further notice.
There have been several recent inquiries about interview questions. The approved questions are available on the admin only website. These questions have been generated and vetted by administrators over the years. We use these questions for consistency. Questions that are not on the list need to be submitted to a Human Resource Administrator and can be used after they are added to the list.
DATE:
March 12, 2020
TO:
All Principals
2020 Graduating Interns
FROM:
June LeMaster, Ph.D., Administrator, Human Resources
Brad Sorensen, Administrator of Schools
Laura Finlinson, Administrator of Schools
SUBJECT:
Intern Graduations 2020
It is a long-standing practice in Jordan School District to allow full time, in state partnership university teacher interns to take one (1) day leave to attend either their own university commencement or convocation, without penalty. This year, this practice is expanded to allow all full time university interns including teacher interns, school psychologist and counselor interns, etc., the same privilege. Interns attending both in state and out of state university commencement ceremonies are allowed one (1) day; therefore, some interns may need to choose between commencement and convocation.
If a substitute is needed for coverage, the intern is responsible for requesting a substitute through Absence Management (formerly AESOP). The absence reason entered should be “other” and in the blue “notes to administrator box”, the intern should add the following information “District excused 0050 - personal graduation”. For additional assistance, please contact Juli Martin at 801-567-8219.
See dates for the in state 2020 University Commencement and Convocation Ceremonies on the attached memo.
DATE:
March 12, 2020
TO:
All Principals and Directors
FROM:
June LeMaster, Ph.D., Administrator, Human Resources
Brad Sorensen, Administrator of Schools
Laura Finlinson, Administrator of Schools
SUBJECT:
Employee Attendance at Relative's Graduation Exercises
This year, all high school graduation exercises are on Thursday, June 4, 2020, with the exception of Valley High School graduation on Wednesday, June 3, 2020.
Principals and Directors are encouraged to direct parents or grandparents who may wish to attend these graduations, but who are scheduled to work in their own locations to District Policy DP335 NEG and DP335B NEG. This policy specifically states: "Personal leave shall not be taken during the first five days and last five days that students are in school except...to attend to personal or business matters which require the employee's attendance and scheduling is beyond the employee's control."
Since graduation scheduling is beyond the employees’ control, it is desirable that immediate supervisors will cooperate and provide employees who may fall into this category, an opportunity to attend graduation ceremonies of family members.
Licensed employees are responsible for requesting a substitute through the Absence Management system (formerly AESOP), if applicable. In the blue “Notes to Administrator” box, the employee should add “graduation” along with his/her relationship to the graduate.
For additional assistance, please contact Juli Martin in the sub office at 801-567-8219.
Cc:
Administrators of Schools
JL/am
The following are new administrative assignments:
TEACHING AND LEARNING
Many of you have probably heard how we should take precautionary measures with the ongoing outbreak of the Coronavirus. Not only should we be washing our hands frequently, but there are a number of other additional measures we should consider as well.
The virus has had an immediate impact on the global supply chain for a number of goods and services you purchase for yourself and that we purchase as a District. You may have already noticed empty shelves at your favorite store for some of these items such as toilet paper, cleaning products, bottled water, food items or hand sanitizer. Don't worry, the warehouse will have plenty of those types of items for your schools and departments. Although not as currently noticeable, your electronic and technology items will also be suffering sooner rather than later. Let's get ahead of it now!
Many of the technology items we use every day such as Chromebooks, iPads, iMacs, laptops or LED projectors are either assembled in China other Southeast Asia countries, or have components manufactured in these countries. We are seeing a number of factories shut down in these countries because of the widespread Coronavirus outbreak. This has lead to a ripple effect in the electronics global supply chain, causing stock depletion with our distributors. Experts have no idea when production of these electronic components or devices will resume.
It is time to plan ahead for your technology needs for the 2020-21 school year now if you do not want to experience long lead times next year. It is highly recommended that you order your needed technology for next year now while there is still plenty of stock in our distributor warehouses and while prices are still low. We anticipate seeing less supply and higher prices by the time school starts in the Fall (or sooner), and depending on the length of the outbreak, it may take until late 2021 for supplies to recover.
Current pricing for many technology items is available on the Purchasing Department webpage under Vendors > Technology Pricing. Please feel free to reach out to Tonya Hodges if you have any questions or need assistance with quotes. She can be reached at tonya.hodges@jordandistrict.org or at 801-567-8706.
DATE:
March 4, 2020
TO:
School Psychologists, Elementary Counselors, School Social Workers, Secondary Counselors, and Health and Wellness Team
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Fulvia Franco, Program Specialist – Guidance
Stacee Worthen, Secondary Counselor Specialist
McKinley Withers, Health and Wellness Specialist
SUBJECT:
March School Psychologist, Elementary Counselor, School Social Workers, Secondary Counselor, and Health and Wellness Team Meeting
A meeting for school psychologists, elementary counselors, school social workers, secondary counselors, and the Health and Wellness Team has been scheduled for Friday, March 20, 2020, from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Jordan School District’s Auxiliary Services Building (7905 South Redwood Road). Denia-Marie Ollerton, CMHC, Safe UT Clinical Supervisor, will provide us with training on intervention with a student in a suicidal crisis. The training will also address JSD procedures for responding to students expressing suicidal ideation. We are requesting that school counseling teams in the secondary schools work with their administration to allow up to half of their team to participate in this training.
Part-time Staff: I would appreciate it if you could adjust your schedules in order to attend this meeting.
cc:
Principals
The last two custodial workshops for this school year will be on March 18th and May 20th in the ASB presentation room from 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM. These workshops serve to train all the Head Custodians, and to update any new information pertinent to their positions. 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. Additionally we are also looking for positive examples of individuals that are doing things right.
Thanks!
Steve Peart
Director of Custodial/Energy Services
801-567-8770
steve.peart@jordandistrict.org
DATE:
March 6, 2020
TO:
Applicable School Principals and Administrative Assistants (Financial and Membership)
All Area Administrators of Schools and Administrative Assistants
Caleb Olson, Planning and Enrollment
Steven Harwood, Support Services and Programming Manager
FROM:
John Larsen, Business Administrator
Daniel Ellis, Director of Accounting and Audits
Jason Mott, Accountant/Internal Auditor
SUBJECT:
External Audit Visits
Please see attached memo.
All are invited to attend the first Social and Emotional Learning Accelerator on Friday, March 6th, from 1-3pm at JATC South. Please see the attached agenda.
The following are new administrative assignments:
DATE:
Thursday, March 5, 2020
TO:
Elementary Principals
FROM:
Shelley Nordick, Ph.D., Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability
Rebecca Smith, Consultant of Gifted and Talented
SUBJECT:
6th Grade Universal Gifted/Talented Testing (CogAt) Dashboard
A new series of dashboards containing 6th grade CogAt, or Cognitive Abilities Test (gifted/talented screener), data have been pushed out to school administrator Tableau Viewer accounts. You may remember that the universal testing of 6th graders took place in November 2019. These dashboards may be found here:
Explore > Universal 6th Grade Gifted and Talented Screener (CoGat) > 2019 6th Grade CoGat Final Analysis
CogAt data are reported using age stanines. A stanine is a method of scaling test scores on a nine-point standard scale. The 7th, 8th and 9th stanines are considered above average. Students in those stanines would benefit from advanced learning opportunities and most would qualify for the ALPS program. There are three subtests that make up the CogAt battery: Verbal, Quantitative, and Nonverbal. These dashboards will uncover student performance in each of these subtests as well as a composite score, which comprises all three subtests together. In addition, school leaders will be able to view student group performance and compare scores against the district average as well as other elementary schools.
Finally, school leaders will have access to student-level data for each subtest as well as the composite score. School administrators are encouraged to use these data to identify students in need of extended learning and to develop long-term interventions and strategies to further support advanced learners in their progress and growth.
For questions about the CogAt assessment system and the ALPS program, please refer to Rebecca Smith in the Gifted and Talented Department. For questions about the dashboards or data, please contact Ben Jameson in the Evaluation, Research & Accountability Department.
DATE:
March 2, 2020
TO:
All Principals
FROM:
Administrator of Schools
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Caleb Olson, Consultant of Planning and Enrollment
Scott Festin, Consultant of Planning and Enrollment
SUBJECT:
Student Enrollment for February 2020
Please see document below.
Please see document below.
DATE:
March 4, 2020
TO:
All School Administrators
All School Lead Administrative Assistants
FROM:
John Larsen, Business Administrator
Kurt Prusse, Director of Purchasing
Dan Ellis, Director of Accounting
SUBJECT:
School P-Card Authorization and Distribution
With more and more schools transitioning away from checkbooks to the consolidated financial system, we are pleased to expand the P-Card (procurement or purchasing card) option to more positions at schools.
The next page lists all school positions now authorized to have a P-Card and the allotted number of cards per school. The Principal, in consultation with the Lead Administrative Assistant, should determine who receives the allotment of cards among the positions listed. Just because a position is listed does not mean the person should receive a P-Card.
Although many would like to have P-Cards, it is simply not prudent to distribute large quantities of them. Therefore, we are targeting those positions we feel will benefit everyone the most (i.e. those making large numbers of small purchases throughout a year). Purchase Orders, NPOs, and reimbursing employees remains the better option instead of infrequent, irregular use of a P-Card.
This remains an optional program. If these positions do not need or want a P-Card, that is fine. Additionally, receiving a P-Card is a privilege not a right. If a supervisor, Accounting, or Purchasing feel the P-Card is being misused or that P-Card rules are not being followed, it can be revoked.
Thank you for your support, understanding, and assistance in this effort. If you have any questions or concerns, please call Kurt (x88701), Dan (x88389) or John (x88148).
DATE:
Thursday, February 20, 2020
TO:
Elementary Principals
FROM:
Shelley Nordick, Ph.D., Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability
SUBJECT:
MOY Acadience Reading Dashboards
A new series of dashboards containing an analysis of district and school BOY and MOY Acadience Reading data have been released to elementary school administrator Tableau Viewer accounts. These dashboards may be found at the following location in your Tableau Viewer account:
Explore > 2020 BOY and MOY Acadience Reading Analysis > 2020 Acadience Reading MOY Analysis
This dashboard contains data related to proficiency and growth for both the BOY and MOY benchmark periods at the school and district levels. In addition, school administrators may view data by grade level measure. An achievement gap analysis is also available for the following student groups: students with a disability, economically disadvantaged, ELL, gender and race/minority.
Explore > 2020 BOY and MOY Acadience Reading Analysis > 2020 Acadience Reading Goals for District and Schools
This dashboard contains a progress report for the district and each school on how close they are to meeting the state goals. In addition, there is a very interesting dashboard that compares district and school growth to the national average for each composite score level.
Explore > 2020 BOY and MOY Acadience Reading Analysis > [Your School’s Name] – Teacher and Student Level MOY Acadience Reading Data > Teacher and Student Level Data
This dashboard contains BOY and MOY data by teacher and student. chool administrators may filter down to teacher and class as well as student groups to see both proficiency and growth scores. Using the student group filters, school administrators may also identify students who are in need of extra time and support. In addition, school administrators may view a proficiency movement dashboard (similar to the Correlation Report on Amplify).
Please contact Ben Jameson in the Evaluation, Research & Accountability Department with any questions about these dashboards or if you would like to schedule a time to explore your data together.
DATE:
Thursday, February 20, 2020
TO:
All Principals
FROM:
Shelley Nordick, Ph.D., Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability
SUBJECT:
School Administrator Exploration of JPAS Data
We are excited to announce the availability of a series of Tableau dashboards that contain JPAS data for the past three school years at the district, school and teacher levels. These dashboards may be found in the following location in your Tableau Viewer account:
For School-Level Aggregate Data:
Explore > JPAS Analysis, 2017-2019 > JPAS Analysis Dashboard, 2017-2019
For Teacher-Level Data:
Explore > JPAS Analysis, 2017-2019 > [Your School’s Name] JPAS Analysis – Teacher Level
Because school administrators have never had access to JPAS data like this before, the Evaluation, Research & Accountability Department is offering data exploration sessions to principals and assistant principals to assist them in better understanding the data and its implications for instruction and professional development. All school administrators are strongly encouraged to attend a session.
School administrators need only attend one session:
| Date | Time | Level | Comments |
| Tuesday, Mar. 24, 2020 | 8:00 - 11:00 am | Elementary | All sessions will be held at the ASB in PDC 103.
Register on JPLS using course # 101544.
School Administrators need attend only one session.
Bring a device and your Tableau login information. |
| 12:30 – 3:30 pm | Elementary | ||
| Wednesday, Mar. 25, 2020 | 8:00 - 11:00 am | Elementary | |
| 12:30 – 3:30 pm | Secondary | ||
| Thursday, Mar. 26, 2020 | 8:00 - 11:00 am | Secondary | |
| 12:30 – 3:30 pm | Secondary |
All Schools are invited to attend a training on the Milestone surveillance software. Principals, hall monitors, school resource officers, or the appropriate designee are welcome. Anyone who needs training on how to access the camera system, pull recordings, setting up views, and any additional questions you may have, please invite them.
Training will be approximately 60 minutes and will be held in the Presentation Room at the Auxiliary Services Building. Please use Entrance C.
Tuesday, March 3, 2020, 10:00 a.m.
DATE:
February 12, 2020
TO:
School Psychologists, Elementary Counselors, and School Social Workers
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Fulvia Franco, Program Specialist – Guidance
SUBJECT:
February School Psychologist, Elementary Counselor, and School Social Workers Meeting
A meeting for school psychologists, elementary counselors, and school social workers has been scheduled for Friday, February 28, 2020, from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Jordan School District’s Auxiliary Services Building (7905 South Redwood Road). Gayle Threet, JSD Project AWARE counselor, will provide us with training for working with children and youth whose parents are incarcerated, and Valerie Hale, Ph.D., a psychologist in private practice, will provide us with training on working with children and youth in high conflict divorce situations.
Part-time Staff: I would appreciate it if you could adjust your schedules in order to attend this meeting.
cc:
Principals
The following is a new administrative assignment:
SECONDARY
