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Category: High Schools

Published on

DATE:   
June 4, 2024

TO:  
Principals and Assistant Principals

FROM:   
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Michelle Reyes, Prevention Specialist, Student Services

SUBJECT:    
Attendance Summer Tips and Resources for Families

The arrival of summer provides an opportunity to take a deep breath, rest, and prepare for the coming school year. It is also an ideal time to set the tone for the upcoming year for staff, students, and families surrounding attendance. Utilize the summer to dive into data, identify students who struggled to attend, reach out to families, build relationships of trust, and make a plan to build the capacity of staff to address attendance issues.

The White House Summit-Every Day Counts Summit 2024 addressed the issue of chronic absenteeism and increasing student engagement. Presenters from research-based initiatives and districts leading the way with improving chronic absence shared best practices surrounding attendance. The key ingredient to moving the needle is increasing student connectedness.

Attendance Works has created a model for outreach and intervention regarding connection with students and families to reduce chronic absence. Included are models for summer, the first month of school, and ongoing practices and events.

AT A GLANCE-
Things you can do now to help with attendance later:

  • Drive with Data-Review attendance data from the 2023-2024 school year, note students chronically absent this year in need of support.
  • Make a Plan-Make a plan to provide extra support to these students and families throughout the summer and for the upcoming year.
  • Personalized Invites-Send personalized invites and make personalized phone calls to these families informing them of and inviting them to important upcoming events (orientations, first day, back to school night, etc.)
  • Build relationships-As you visit with families listen to what they need, look for opportunities to build the relationship, and remove barriers they may be facing.
  • Assign a mentor-Assign these students a champion in the school to mentor them from the first day of school.
  • Set one school goal aimed at attendance for the 2024-25 year.

For more guidance or help, contact Michelle Reyes-michelle.reyes@jordandistrict.org or (801)567-8205.

Published on

DATE:
June 13, 2024

TO:
Principals
Assistant Principals
Counselors

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

SUBJECT:
Student Records: Gender, Pronouns, Names

A student’s education record belongs to the parent/guardian and is available for use in the school setting to carry out the educational mission of the school and district. Please review the items below regarding certain fields of the student education record in Skyward and when or how changes to these fields may be appropriate.

Sex and Gender:
There are currently two fields in Skyward where information about sex and gender are recorded: “GENDER” and “GENDER IDENTITY.” The definitions of these fields for Skyward may not necessarily match how staff, students, and patrons understand and use the terms. 

GENDER: This field has the same legal definition as “SEX” or “BIOLOGICAL SEX” or “SEX ASSIGNED AT BIRTH”. This field must match the sex marker on the student’s legal birth certificate and may only be changed when the sex marker on the legal birth certificate is officially changed.

GENDER IDENTITY: This field will be blank by default and will not necessarily be the same as “SEX”. It can be updated by a parent/guardian (through the summer registration process or through written parent/guardian request to school administration) to show the student’s preferred or expressed gender identity. Please note that this field does not override any other fields in Skyward and the value of the “GENDER” field described above will display on class rosters and other reports.

Name and “Other Name”:
NAME: This field in Skyward must match the student’s legal name as shown on the birth certificate. It may only be changed in one of two ways:

  1. When the student’s legal birth certificate is officially changed through the court system, or
  2. When the parent/guardian completes a “Name Change Affidavit” and submits it to the school.

In the event that the name is changed through either of these methods, school administration should ensure that office staff processing the request contact Information Systems prior to changing the field in Skyward to avoid complications and service disruption for the student.

The Name Change Affidavit should be saved to the student’s digital cumulative folder in Skyward.

OTHER NAME: This field in Skyward allows a parent/guardian to indicate (by written request) an alternative name that they would like their student to be called. Updating this field does not automatically overwrite other fields in Skyward; however, unlike the “GENDER IDENTITY” field, certain reports (such as the Class Roster report or the Teacher Gradebook screen) contain an option to allow the “OTHER NAME” field to display in place of the legal name. 

The “OTHER NAME” field may be used by schools in programs, documents, and certificates. If no “OTHER NAME” entry exists, the legal name should be used.

The written documentation of the parent request to update the “OTHER NAME” field should be saved to the student’s digital cumulative folder in Skyward.

Name Use and Pronouns:
When a student requests that a teacher or staff member use a different name or pronouns to refer to the student, the following guidelines may be helpful:

  • When the requested name is an alternative form of the legal name or “OTHER NAME” in Skyward, the teacher or staff member may use the name.
  • When the requested name or pronouns do not appear to align with the “GENDER” on record in Skyward, the teacher or staff member should consult with the building principal regarding the requested name.
  • Teachers or staff members who have questions about using a student’s name or preferred pronouns (either communicated by the student, by a parent/guardian, or entered in the “OTHER NAME” or “GENDER IDENTITY” fields in Skyward) should communicate with their building principal or principal’s designee, who should be the primary point-of-contact between the school and the parent/guardian on this issue. Building principals should communicate with their Administrator of Schools as needed. 
  • Utah code §53E-9-205 prohibits policies or actions of the school from “shield[ing] a student's education record from the student's parent” or “interfer[ing] with a parent’s…freedom of access to information regarding the parent's child.” In the event the student expresses concerns about a parent/guardian receiving information about a student’s preferred name, preferred pronouns, or gender identity, the student should be referred to school administration, counselors, or social workers for further support.

NOTE: The rights listed above as belonging to or able to be exercised by the parent/guardian transfer to the student at age 18.

Published on

DATE:
June 13, 2024 

TO:
Principals
Assistant Principals

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

SUBJECT:
UPDATED: HB182 Compliance Regarding Surveys and Preferred Pronoun Use

Utah Code §53E-9-203 prohibits schools and school employees from administering any “psychological or psychiatric examination, test, or treatment, or any survey, analysis or evaluation” (emphasis added) where the purpose is to cause a student to identify information in one of the following eight areas:

  1. political affiliations or, except as provided under Section 53G-10-202 or rules of the state board, political philosophies;
  2. mental or psychological problems;
  3. sexual behavior, orientation, or attitudes;
  4. illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior;
  5. critical appraisals of individuals with whom the student or family member has close family relationships;
  6. religious affiliations or beliefs;
  7. legally recognized privileged and analogous relationships, such as those with lawyers, medical personnel, or ministers; and
  8. income, except as required by law.

HB 182, which passed in the 2024 Utah legislative session and takes effect on July 1, 2024, amends the third item in this list to read as follows (emphasis added):

  1. sexual behavior, orientation, gender identity, or attitudes;

To ensure compliance with HB 182 after July 1, 2024, the following guidance for “beginning-of-year” activities or documents should be noted and communicated to staff:

  • Students should not be asked or otherwise surveyed (including questions on “About Me” or “Getting to Know You”-style assignments and activities) as to their sexual or gender identity or preferred pronouns.
  • Documents or disclosure statements that include this type of survey question about gender identity or preferred pronouns should not be approved by administrators when conducting annual reviews and approvals as required by District Policy AA 432 - Student Attendance and Teacher Disclosure Statements. 

Additionally, staff should be reminded that HB182 also establishes a requirement that any survey related to an early warning system (i.e. Panorama), social emotional learning question, or the school climate system requires parental OPT-IN during registration at the beginning of the school year, adding an additional clearance step to the prohibitions listed above. The opt-in information is included in summer registration materials for District-sponsored surveys.

 

Published on

TO:
Administrators

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Jared Covili, Consultant in Teaching & Learning

Check out the attached flyer for the latest updates from Teaching & Learning for the summer. Learn Tips and Tricks, Sign Up for Upcoming PD, and Learn about Important Updates from the T & L team.

 

Published on

DATE:    
June 6, 2024

TO:
Principals
Assistant Principals
School Resource Officers

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

SUBJECT: 
District SRO Training

The annual District School Resource Officer training will be held as shown below and is required for each SRO and at least one administrator. Additional administrators are welcome if desired.

Date: September 6th
Time: 7:30 AM to 9:30 AM
Location: ASB Presentation Room

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

DATE:       
June 6, 2024

TO:
Principals
Assistant Principals

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 applies only to elementary schools.

It is important to make sure your location reports all drills, actual emergencies, and related planning and debrief meetings for this school year using the Google Form, 2024-25 REPORT EMERGENCY - DRILLS, ACTUAL EVENTS, or MEETINGS.  Please include all related details.

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:
Secondary Administrators
District Administrators
Secondary Financial Administrative Assistants
District Administrative Assistants

FROM:
Jeri Gamble, Customer Support in Information Systems

SKYWARD YEAR END ROLLOVER/ONLINE PAYMENTS
Skyward Finance Rollover will be July 1. It’s best to stay out of Skyward Finance if possible. If you need to get in, do not make any changes since it may cause errors in the rollover process.

Skyward Student Rollover will be Tuesday, July 9. Skyward Student will not be available during this time.

Parents will not be able to make online payments from Monday, July 1 – Tuesday, July 9 while we complete year-end processes and the rollover.

PURCHASE REQUISITION REMINDERS
JUNE 5
June 5 was the last day to enter and principals approve 2023-24 purchase requisitions. Make sure you are selecting 2024-25 when entering new purchase requisitions.

JUNE 7
Purchasing: Last day for Administrator of Schools to approve FY 2023-24 Purchase Requisitions.
Payroll: True Time 1st approvals due.

JUNE 10
Inventory (Secondary Schools and Departments): Last day to enter, and to approve, any 2023-24 Inventory Requisitions.

JUNE 11
Payroll: True Time final approvals due.

JUNE 15
Insurance: Last day of open enrollment.

Published on

DATE:       
June 6, 2024

TO: 
All Administrators & Threat Assessment Teams

FROM:   
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
McKinley Withers, Health and Wellness

SUBJECT:   
Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG) Workshop Dates

CSTAG training consists of two (2) training levels and both levels must be completed by all administrators and threat assessment team members. The CSTAG Level 2 workshop is for all who have completed the Level 1 training (the six (6) hour web-based training from Navigate360). This workshop will build upon your knowledge of threat assessment by providing practical application and implementation of the CSTAG process in your school.

The Level 2 workshop will:

  1. Review CSTAG level 1
  2. Focus on implementation and use of the threat assessment process
  3. Focus on sustainable ways to use CSTAG in your school
  4. Review and training on the decision tree
  5. Review the CSTAG forms and best practices for documentation
  6. Practice using real-world scenarios

If you have already completed level two(2), we are offering a new training opportunity, CSTAG level three (3)!

Here are the upcoming trainings being offered this summer and for the upcoming school year:

**CSTAG Level 2**
New Admin/Intern Session: Friday, August 2nd,
Location: District Office Rm 129, In-Person only, 9-11am
Friday, September 20th, JATC South in person, (8am-10am)
Friday, December 6th, Virtual session (Zoom) only, (1-3pm)
Friday, February 28th DO Room 129, (8am-10am)
Friday, May 2nd DO Room 129, (1pm-3pm)

**CSTAG Level 3**
For those CSTAG team members who have completed levels 1 and 2 and would like a refresher and deeper dive into using threat assessment in your schools. Bring your questions so we can solve all your CSTAG problems!
Wednesday, June 19th DATE CHANGE! (sign up currently in Canvas, previously was set for June 12th)
Location: District Office Room 129, 8-10 am
Friday, September 20th, JATC South in person, (1pm-3pm)
Friday, December 6th Virtual Session (Zoom) only, (8am-10am)
Friday, February 28th DO Room 129, (1pm-3pm)
Friday, May 2nd DO Room 129, (8am-10am)

Register for all sessions on Canvas (https://pd.jordandistrict.org/).

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

Published on

DATE:  
June 6, 2024

TO:    
Principals
Assistant Principals

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

SUBJECT:   
School Safety Specialists

53G-8-701.6 which requires each school to designate a school safety specialist from the employees of the campus was updated this last legislative session. The intent of the memo below is to assist in the process of determining who will fill this role at your school. Please take note of what needs to be done to select the individual needed.

Published on

TO:
Administrators
Administrative Assistants

FROM:
June LeMaster, Administrator of Human Resources

A friendly reminder for the Employee-Funded Sick Bank Policy,

  1. Employees are automatically enrolled in the sick bank each year through the annual donation of one (1) annual leave day to the sick bank.

More information regarding the Employee-Funded Sick Bank can be found in policies, DP326NEG -Sick Leave-Educational Support Professionals and DP 324NEG -Sick Leave-Licensed.

For those who wish to opt out of participation in the Employee-Funded Sick Bank, keep an eye out for instructions starting in the July issues of JEM and JAM.

*First Year Educational Support Professionals and hourly employees are not eligible for sick bank, therefore, a sick bank day will not be deducted (if applicable).

Published on

TO:
All Administrators
All Administrative Assistants

FROM:
Scott Thomas, Administrator of Auxiliary Services

According to the Centers of Disease Control, approximately 2,000 workers suffer eye injuries everyday!

How many of these injuries could have been prevented by wearing safety glasses? Check out the document below!

 

Published on

DATE:   
June 06, 2024

TO: 
All Administrators

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

SUBJECT:   
Required Threat Reporting

Any employee or person in a position of special trust that has reason to believe there is a substantial threat against a school, school employee, or student attending a school, or is aware of circumstances that would reasonably result in a substantial threat is required to immediately report the suspected threat to the school administrator or law enforcement officer. (§53-22-106)

Administrators shall immediately report the suspected substantial threat to law enforcement and shall coordinate with law enforcement’s investigation of the report.

Please share this information and the new reporting requirement with your staff at your 2024-25 opening staff meetings.

Published on

DATE:     
June 06, 2024

TO: 
Administrators

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

SUBJECT:  
Parental Consent Required for Student Surveys

Effective July 1, 2024 prior consent from a student’s parent for any non-academic survey must be obtained. This includes any survey that is a psychological exam, test, analysis, or any survey, analysis, or evaluation where the student may reveal information, whether personally identifiable or not, concerning the student or student’s family members political affiliation, mental or psychological philosophies, sexual behavior/orientation/gender identity or attitudes, illegal/anti-social/self-incriminating or demeaning behavior, critical appraisals, religious affiliations or beliefs, legally privileged and analogous relationships (such as lawyers, medical personnel, or ministers, or income (except as required by law) (§53G-9-702)

Prior written consent must be obtained at the time a student registers at a school for surveys related to the early warning system (Panorama), surveys that include social emotional learning questions, and school climate surveys. Written consent must be obtained for any student who registers at a school even when they are transferring from one school in the district to another. Rewards for participation or consequence for non-participation in surveys is prohibited.

The early warning system (Panorama) student feedback survey consent form is included in the registration process. To view the consent form, click here. Surveys not related to the early warning system (Panorama), social emotional learning, or school climate are not required to be included in registration. However, a minimum of two (2) weeks’ notice must be provided prior to the administration of any other survey and only those students whose parents have given written consent may take the survey.

Schools should inform their staff of the new parental consent requirements for surveys.

Published on

DATE:      
July 11, 2024

TO:
Principals

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

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

During this year’s legislative session HB84 – School Safety was passed requiring each regular school within an LEA (District) 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.

See the memo below for all of the information.

Published on

DATE:  
June 6, 2024

TO:   
Principals
Assistant Principals

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

SUBJECT:
Incident Action Plans

Beginning the 2024-25 school year schools are required to create an action plan for each new incident of bullying.

Each action plan must include:

  • A communication plan to keep each parent updated on the implementation of the plan;
  • For the victim of the incident and in direct coordination with the student’s parent:
    • A tailored response that addresses the student’s needs;
    • Accommodations the student may need for decreased exposure or interactions with the offender;
    • Notification of the consequences and plan to address the behavior of the offender;
    • Supportive measures to preserve the student’s access to educational services and opportunities; and
    • Access to other resources the parent requests for the student.
  • For the student who caused the incident and in direct coordination with the student’s parent:
    • A range of tailored and appropriate consequences, with a reasonable effort to preserve access to educational services and activities;
    • A process to determine and provide resources for the underlying cause of the incident;
    • Supportive measures to preserve educational access while protecting the safety and well-being of other students; and
    • A process to remove the student from school.

The action plan may not require the victim to change their educational schedule or placement; or participation is a school sponsored sport, club, or activity. (§53G-9-605.5)

This memo is intended to provide notification only. Resources and training will be provided in the fall regarding action plans and other prevention efforts to help implement and manage this new requirement.

Published on

The following are new administrative assignments:

New Assignments effective July 1, 2024:

  • Shauna Worthington, previously assigned assistant principal at Riverton Elementary appointed principal at Riverton Elementary.
  • April Thompson, previously assigned assistant principal at Oakcrest Elementary will remain assistant principal at Riverton Elementary.
  • Austin Howarth, administrative intern at Riverton High appointed assistant principal at Copper Mountain Middle.
  • Joel Pullan, principal at Riverton Elementary appointed assistant principal at JATC-North Campus and Southpointe Adult High.

Published on

TO:
Secondary Administrators
District Administrators
Secondary Financial Administrative Assistants
District Administrative Assistants

FROM:
Jeri Gamble, Customer Support in Information Systems

YEAR END STUDENT ROLLOVER/ONLINE PAYMENTS

Skyward Finance Rollover will be July 1. It’s best to stay out of Skyward Finance if possible. If you need to get in, do not make any changes since it may cause errors in the rollover process.

Skyward Student Rollover will be Tuesday, July 9. Skyward Student will not be available during this time.

Parents will not be able to make online payments from Monday, July 1 – Tuesday, July 9 while we complete year-end processes and the rollover.

JUNE 3
Accounting/Purchasing: Last day for P-Card expenditures for FY 2023-24.

JUNE 4
Payroll: May Payroll due.

JUNE 5
Purchasing: Last day to enter, and to approve, any FY 2023-24 Purchase Requisitions (posted in current year).
Payroll: True Time submissions due.

JUNE 7
Purchasing: Last day for Administrator of Schools to approve FY 2023-24 Purchase Requisitions.
Payroll: True Time 1st approvals due.

Published on

DATE:  
May 30, 2024

TO:  
All Principals and Administrative Assistants

FROM:  
June LeMaster, Administrator of Human Resources

SUBJECT:  
Summer Hours for School Personnel

Please review the schedule of "Summer Hours for School Personnel", with all designated summer school personnel at your location.