Skip to content

Category: High Schools

Published on

DATE:
November 12, 2026

TO:
All Employees

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
John Larsen, Business Administrator
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Buddy Alger, Director of Student Services
Jared Covili, Consultant, Innovative Coaching
Steffany Ellsworth, Assistant Director of Information Systems
Caleb Olson, Consultant of Student Services

SUBJECT: 
Migration to Qmlativ Student Information System - Coming Summer 2027!

We are excited to announce that our district is migrating to a new student information system, Qmlativ, on August 2, 2027. This migration is designed to make daily tasks smoother and much more efficient.

Key Upgrades in Qmlativ

  • Customizable Live Tiles: Personalized dashboards with direct shortcuts to daily tasks.
  • Simplified List Screens: Streamlined filtering and custom-built views to maintain student records quickly.
  • Modern Interface: Clean, intuitive design for improved navigation.

Training and Support Plan
We are preparing a comprehensive training and support program to ensure a smooth transition for all staff.

  • Pre-Launch Training: Includes hands-on sessions, role-specific resources, and access to a sandbox environment prior to go-live.
  • Post-Launch Support: Provides ongoing helpdesk support, refresher training sessions, and online Q&A opportunities.

 Next Steps
While our migration team is hard at work configuring Qmlativ and verifying the accuracy of migrated data, no immediate action is required on your part. Further updates, Qmlativ demonstration videos, and specific training schedules will be shared in the coming months.

Should you have any questions, please reach out to our Information Systems help desk at (801) 567-8737 or extension 88737.

Published on

DATE:
November 12, 2026 

TO:
Administrators of Locations with Employees Paid with Federal Dollars 

FROM:
John Larsen, Business Administrator
Dan Ellis, Director of Accounting
Natalie Grange, Accounting Administrator 

SUBJECT:
Federal Program Work Certification

Background:
Per Federal Office of Management and Budget Circular 2 CFR section 200.430 Compensation: entities that accept federal dollars must certify that wages charged against federally funded  programs were in fact related to the federal program charged. This certification can be done by a supervisor “having first-hand knowledge” or by the employee. 

Instructions:
The District must certify the total wages paid to an employee if the employee was paid with any federal dollars. The attached list by location shows checks issued between May 1, 2026 - October 31, 2026 for any employee meeting this criterion. Your list may include an employee not paid with federal dollars at your location but may have been paid with federal dollars at a  different location, as we must certify total wages. 

Please review the attached list of employees meeting the above criterion at your location.  Please verify the employee, account code, and check date for accuracy. If you have “first-hand knowledge” that the listed employees did/do indeed work for the listed federal program, please sign, date, and return to Natalie Grange by Friday, December 11, 2026. If you do not have this “first-hand knowledge,” please ask the employee to verify and sign next to their name. 

Employees not on your certification list did not receive any compensation from Federal dollars and are not required to be certified. The list may include former employees so their wages charged to a federal program can be “certified.” 

The next certification process will be November 2026 - April 2027 to be done in May 2027.

If you have questions, please call Natalie Grange at 801-567-8312.

Published on

TO:
Building Principals

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Nate Foster, Health & P.E. Specialist
Curtis Jenson, Assistant Director of Teaching & Learning

Jordan School District schools are responsible for ordering their own Botvin LifeSkills Training (LST) student workbooks for the 2026–27 school year.

Botvin LifeSkills Training is the Utah State Board of Education (USBE) approved program used to meet the underage drinking and substance abuse prevention requirements outlined in Utah Code §53G-10-406.

Jordan School District implements this program in the following grades:

  • Elementary Schools: Grade 4
  • Middle Schools: Grade 8
  • High Schools: Grade 10

Ordering Instructions

Each school should coordinate with the appropriate grade-level teachers and complete the following steps:

  1. Determine student quantities. Identify the number of workbooks needed based on current enrollment in the applicable grade.
  2. Complete the USBE Botvin LifeSkills Training Student Guide Order Form. Include accurate school information, shipping information, and the appropriate program level and quantity.


Published on

DATE: 
November 10, 2026

TO: 
All Administrators
School Resource Officers

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

SUBJECT:
District Inter-City SRO Training

The District Inter-City School Resource Officer training is coming up and attendance from each SRO and at least one school administrator is strongly encouraged.  The number one request from our SROs was administrator involvement. The invitation includes elementary administrators as well. Many of the students we discuss have younger siblings who are often impacted by the same issues and subject to the trends we see.

This is a great opportunity for the cities to collaborate and discuss students and/or issues of concern that cross borders.  We also cover trends, current events, and how we can improve district/city relationships.

Date: November 20th
Time: 7:30 AM to 9:30 AM
Location: Jordan Learning Center

Please contact District School Safety Coordinator, Matt Alvernaz at matt.alvernaz@jordandistrict.org or by phone at (801) 567-8623 if you have any questions.

Published on

TO:
All Principals, Jordan School District
Administrative Assistants

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Jordan District Nurses

SUBJECT:
CPR/First Aid/AED Certification - Instruction Updates

Beginning in January 2027, we will be transitioning to the American Red Cross program for district employee certification in CPR, First Aid, and AED.

Please notify any employees who have already enrolled in the National Safety Council (NSC) online course that they will need to pass their in-person skills check at either the November 20 or December 4 class.

Additional information about registering for the American Red Cross classes will be sent out in December. Please watch for those details. If you have any questions about the transition, please call Shannel Hooper at extension 88204.

Published on

TO:
Administrators

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning

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 2027-2028 Sabbatical and Educational Leaves are due February 1, 2027 and will be available in Skyward starting December 2026. 

Additional questions can be referred to LeAnn Nelson, 801-567-8367.

Published on

 

DATE: 
November 12, 2026

TO: 
All Administrators
All Administrative Assistants

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

SUBJECT:   
Qmlativ Invoice Filter

Recently changes were made within Qmlativ to allow departments and schools to see supporting documents and transactions posted within your accounts. As a result, there are more items appearing on your Invoice List screens related to other locations. In order to reduce the number of items seen please refer to the attached instructions to create a list view filter to reduce the items. These instructions can also be found on Information System’s website under Documentation – Accounting - Qmlativ, or at the following link.

If you have any questions, please contact Dan Ellis at (801)-567-8389.

Published on

TO:
Assistant Principals

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Brad Sorensen, Administrator of Schools
Cody Curtis, Administrator of Schools
Odette Desmarais, Administrator of Schools
Meredith Doleac, Administrator of Schools
Becky Gerber, Administrator of Schools
Lisa Robinson, Administrator of Schools
April Gaydosh, Administrator of Human Resources
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning

We have a unique opportunity to bring author and presenter Jan Hoegh back to Jordan School District to train APs, instructional coaches, and T&L specialists on using proficiency scales in the classroom. This meeting replaces the regular December Administrator Meeting.

December Training Details

    • Dates: Tuesday, December 15 OR Wednesday, December 16, 2026
    • Time: 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM
    • Location: Jordan Learning Center (3706 W 9800 S, South Jordan, UT 84009) — Additional parking at ERMS
  • Lunch provided
  • Registration: Sign up for your preferred day using the Administrator Meeting sign-up sheet below.
  • Note on Reassignments: If you were registered for December 10, you have been automatically moved to December 16. Feel free to switch dates if needed.
  • Administrator meeting sign up sheet.

Upcoming Spring Opportunity

  • Virtual Book Study: All principals and APs are welcome to join a virtual book study with Jan Hoegh on February 26, March 19, and April 23, 2027 (times TBD). Indicate your interest on the sign-up form to receive a book.

Published on

DATE:  
Thursday, November 12, 2026

TO:   
All School Administrators

FROM:  
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Assessment, Research and Accountability
Michelle Love-Day, Director of Language & Culture Services

SUBJECT:  
WIDA ACCESS 2.0 Test Administration Training and Preparation for Schools

School administrators are asked to pass this information on to anyone who will be proctoring or coordinating the WIDA Access testing in your school this year.

As part of a federal requirement and the state’s accountability system, districts are required to administer the WIDA Access 2.0 annually to all ML students who have earned a Language Proficiency Level (LPL) of less than 4.2 and a Speaking score of less than 3.5.  The 2025-26 WIDA test administration window begins on January 5th and ends on March 5, 2027.

Test Preparation:
Schools are encouraged to help their students prepare for the WIDA ACCESS by using online sample tests and the test prep guide created by Language & Culture Services.  School testing coordinators should begin gathering information about accommodations for the WIDA ACCESS now (see the Accessibility and Accommodations Manual beginning on page 9).

Test Administration Training:
School test coordinators who will be coordinating the WIDA ACCESS test administration are asked to attend a mandatory test administration training.  Participants may choose to attend any one of the training sessions listed below, including one online training.  Training participants will need to bring a device.  Please note that if schools choose to send a classroom teacher, principals will need to cover the cost of the substitute teacher.  Test pool hours may also be used for this.

Those who are to be trained to administer the WIDA ACCESS should register for a date using this link so that we may create their accounts in the testing and training platforms prior to their selected training date.  Following are the training dates and times:

Date Time Location  

Participants should use this link to register for a training date and time.
Thursday, Dec. 3 8-11 am Auditorium
Wednesday, Dec. 9 8-11 am PDC 112
12:30-3:30 pm
Friday, Dec. 11 8-11 Zoom

Please contact Ben Jameson or Michelle Schreiner in Assessment, Research & Accountability with questions about the WIDA Access test administration and training.

Published on

TO:
Administrators and Administrative Assistants

FROM:
Sarah Palmer, Payroll Director

All Time Tracking through Nov 1st must be submitted and fully approved by Nov 16th to be included in the Nov 25th pay check.

NOTE: This deadline is critical in ensuring employees are paid on time. If Time Tracking is submitted and/or approved past this date, the TT will not be processed in time for payday. We recommend that TT is submitted and approved on a weekly basis to prevent disruption of pay.

The Time Tracking Tutorials are located on the Payroll webpage at payroll.jordandistrict.org/employee.

Published on

TO:
All Licensed Administrators

FROM:
Cabinet

All licensed administrators are invited to complete this form by November 20, 2026. This formal process of gaining your input will serve as a conversation starter with your Administrator of Schools about work assignments for the coming school year (2027-28) in Jordan District. Personal preference is one of many factors considered when determining administrative assignments. This does not take the place of the need to sign up for a formal Principal interview.

Published on

DATE:
November 5, 2026

TO:  
All Secondary Principals

FROM:
Lisa Robinson, Administrator of Schools
Brian King, Ph.D. Director of Special Education
Maddie Karanevich, Assistant Director of Special Education
Katie Mintiloglitis, Program Administrator, Elementary

SUBJECT:
Professional Development Opportunity for Secondary Special Education Teachers - Using UFLI Resource for Struggling Readers

As secondary educators, we frequently encounter older students who face significant barriers to reading independence because of missing critical, foundational literacy/phonics skills.  In response, we are teaming up with Teaching & Learning to introduce concrete tools to support these low readers, including UFLI (University of Florida Literacy Initiative).

While originally designed for elementary settings, UFLI's explicit, systematic approach to word recognition can be powerfully adapted to close gaps for middle and high school students.  This brief session will introduce the program's core principles and offer a quick overview of Scarborough's Reading Strands to show how decoding bridges directly into higher-level comprehension.

We have also pulled together some resources that help with the specially designed instruction in your classrooms.

Attendance is optional.

When:  November 13, 2026
Time: 1- 3 p.m
Where:  Transportation PD room (8480 S 4361 W, West Jordan).
[Directions: Take 4000 W to Farm Rd.  Take Farm Rd. to the gates of the Transportation property.  You will enter on the south end of the building]

Registration Link: https://pd.jordandistrict.org/browse/special-ed/courses/secondary-ufli-and-special-education

Published on

TO:
Building Administrators

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Michelle Love-Day, Director of Language and Culture Services

To Administrators over MLs:

Title III Compliance Workshops held by LCS will be starting up again this year on November 11th. If you need any support or a space to work on your Title III Compliance Report, please join us!

All workshops will be held at the District Office in Room 129.
November 11th: 9:00 am -12:00 pm
November 18th: 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm
December 3rd: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
December 10th: 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm
January 7th: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
January 13th: 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm

*Title III Compliance Reports are due for initial review by January 31st. Please reach out to your school's Language Teacher Specialist if you have any questions. lcs.jordandistrict.org/language

Published on

TO:
All Administrative Assistants

FROM:
John Larsen, Business Administrator
Kurt Prusse, Director of Purchasing

With the new Qmlativ finance system, finding things is different from the old SMS system. Here is a brief tutorial of how to check on the status of a PO and whether or not it has been paid. You will be able to see if it has been paid for or is still waiting for some other approval or process. When a purchase order is paid, it will not move to a History status; it will remain Open until the end of the month. The tutorial will walk you through how to see this.

If there are other helpful tips you need, please don't hesitate to contact the Purchasing Department so we can help you. It may be something other people are struggling with too. There are other useful tutorials on our website that may be of help to you.

Published on

TO:
Administrator, Administrative Assistants

FROM:
April Gaydosh, Administrator of Human Resources
Rebecca Eastman, Leaves Specialist

If you are a contracted employee and need to take Annual/Personal Leave on a Critical Day before or after Winter Recess for any reason not listed in policy DP335NEG or DP335B, you must submit a request as follows:  

How to Request
During the window, the employee must send the request through email. Please include your name, school, position, and the date you are requesting the leave. Requests left on voicemail or over the phone will NOT be accepted.

• Licensed employees submit their request to licensedpersonalleave@jordandistrict.org

• Education Support Professionals submit their request to classifiedpersonalleave@jordandistrict.org

 The employee will receive an email confirmation within two working days after submitting the request. If the employee does not receive a confirmation email, then Human Resources has NOT received your request and your leave will not be approved.

*Critical Days are the first student attendance days before or after a school holiday. If a non-student attendance day falls before or after a school holiday, the Critical Day is the day before or after that non-student attendance day when students are in attendance.

Licensed
Licensed Annual/Personal Leave Taken on a Critical Day 26-27

ESP
ESP Annual/Personal Leave Taken on a Critical Day 26-27

Published on

TO:
All Principals

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent

Principals,
We would like to remind you about the Jordan Parent Advisory Committee (JPAC) meeting this week. Please make sure your SCC Presidents are aware of the meeting. If they are unable to be there, they may ask another SCC parent representative to attend in their place.

Date: Thursday, November 5, 2026
Time: 6:30–8:00 pm
Location: Jordan Learning Center, 3706 W. 9800 S., South Jordan. (The Learning Center is located directly across the street from Elk Ridge Middle School.)

Published on

TO:
Principals & Administrative Assistants

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

District allocations for individual schools were updated in Skyward on October 30. Adjustments were made based on the October 1 headcount. Carryforward balances and transfer requests are included in the total allocation.

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

TO:
Administrators

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Brandon Larsen, Performing & Fine Arts Consultant, Teaching & Learning

The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) is now accepting nominations for the 2027 Sorenson Legacy Awards for Excellence in Arts Education (SLA Awards).

This is a fantastic opportunity to recognize outstanding leadership and teaching across Jordan School District. Awards highlight excellence in Dance, Music, Theatre/Drama, Visual Arts, and Film/Media, as well as specialized categories for administrators, exemplary arts programs, and elementary teachers who integrate the arts into general instruction.

• Who Can Nominate: Principals, teacher peers, parents, and students.
• Nomination Link: Sorenson Legacy Awards Nomination Form
• Deadline: November 30th at 11:59 PM

Please share the nomination link and attached flyer with your staff and school communities. Final candidates for each category will be selected in December to complete a full application.

For questions regarding the nomination process or award applications, please contact Liz Bunker at liz.bunker@schools.utah.gov.

 

Published on

TO:
All Elementary, Middle, and High School Administrators

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

See the memo for how your school may be involved in this research project.