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Safety Information Surveys

The JSD Safe Schools Advisory Committee would like to inform all principals that they will soon receive two (2) surveys, which relate to school safety, via email:

  • 2015-16 JSD School Safety/Emergency Plans Survey
  • Information Survey for JSD Safe Schools Advisory Committee

The first survey contains critical information we are required to update each year.  The second will be used to help the JSD Safe Schools Advisory Committee identify and establish new goals.  The feedback we receive will assist us in aligning resources and to provide training as needed.  The purpose of both surveys is simply to gather information.

Surveys will be sent to each principal by Peggy Margetts.  If the person responsible for school safety is someone other than you, forward this survey to that designee.  Please feel free to contact Peggy with any questions at (801) 567-8753.

DATE:
December 2, 2015

TO:
All Principals

FROM:
Administrator of Schools
Dr. Anthony Godfrey, Associate Superintendent of Schools
Luann Leavitt, Consultant of Planning and Student Services

SUBJECT:
November 30, 2015 Enrollment


See attached memo.

 

Open Enrollment
2016-2017 School Year

Per Utah State Law  53A-2-207:

Open enrollment begins on December 1, 2015 and goes through Friday, February 19, 2016.  Any individual interested in completing a permit for the 2015-16 school year may obtain a permit from the school they wish to attend and begin turning them in on Monday, December 1, 2015, to the desired school.

Permit approval is on a first-come, first-served basis.  The school shall notify any permit applicant within six weeks after receipt of the application by the district or by March 31, whichever is later, for applications submitted during the early enrollment period.

Reminder: School Improvement Committee for Secondary Schools will take place Friday, November 20, and Tuesday, November 24, in the ASB Auditorium beginning at 8:00 AM. Please plan on attending one of these sessions.

Make up day for secondary and elementary schools will be November 30, 8:00 AM, in the ASB Auditorium.

Title I elementary schools and secondary schools participating in accreditation do not need to attend a session.

DATE:       
November 10, 2015

TO:   
All Principals
All Special Education Staff

FROM: 
Laura Finlinson, Administrator of Curric./Staff Development & Special Programs
Lisa Robinson, Director of Special Education
Julie Brown, Program Specialist

SUBJECT:  
Training for Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM)


The Special Education Department will provide training to special educators in preparation for the upcoming Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) assessment.  There are additional required components that the special educator must complete prior to giving the assessment. Since Utah will be utilizing the Integrated Model of DLM beginning this fall, there will be 2 testing windows.  The first window start date has been postponed from opening on October 7, 2015 to November 16, 2015.  The first window will be open from November 16, 2015 - February 29, 2016.

The training opportunities will consist of instructional time blocks as well as drop in Help blocks. Each 2-hour session will be made up of 4–30 minute blocks. The 30-minute blocks will start on the hour and half hour. The first 3 blocks will be step-by-step instructions and the fourth block will be for drop-in help.  For example, the 2:00 p. m. - 2:30 p. m., 2:30 p. m. – 3:00 p. m. and 3:00 p. m. – 3:30 p. m. will be instructional blocks and 3:30 p. m. – 4:00 p. m. will be for drop-in help.  Below are the dates, times, and locations of the sessions:

November 16, 2015    2:00 p. m. - 4:00 p. m.  District Office, room 129

November 18, 2015    2:00 p. m. - 4:00 p. m.  ASB PDC 101

November 20, 2015    7:00 a. m. - 9:00 a. m.  ASB PDC 113

November 23, 2015    2:00 p. m. - 4:00 p. m.  District Office, room 129

Please help us get the word to teachers. The Instructional Support Center has resources for all levels.
New this year:
  • Posters -- Beautiful full-color posters starting at $2.50/foot
  • Color copies
Newly acquired videos for secondary grades:
  • United States History: Industrial Revolution
  • World War I & II: Cause and Effect
  • Launching a Business
  • Public Speaking
  • Organic Farming
Meteorite and Volcanic Rock Kit that includes a DVD, information binder, six rocks, and magnets.
Principals, Please share this ISC Newsletter with your teachers.

DATE:  
November 9, 2015

TO:  
Principals and Directors

FROM:  
June LeMaster, Ph.D., Administrator, Human Resources
Herb Jensen, Director, Transportation Services
Brent Burge, Human Resource Administrator-Classified

SUBJECT:
Opportunity for Part-time Classified Employees to Drive School Buses


In an effort to meet the District’s need for additional bus drivers (AM & PM), part-time classified employees are now able to work additional hours as substitute bus drivers.

Allowed Hours
Employees currently working part-time at your location are now allowed to work up to 27 hours per week as follows:

  • Current classified employees who are scheduled to work between 8 and 19 hours per week at your location will now be able to work additional hours as a bus driver to a maximum total of 27 hours per week.
  • Current classified employees allowed to work additional hours as a bus driver will not be allowed to work additional hours at the school location for any reason.
  • Current classified employees must provide their school work schedule to Charlene Arko in transportation and will not be allowed to alter their school schedule to work in transportation.
  • Current classified employees working additional hours as a bus driver are without contract or benefits.

Transportation is required to monitor and limit driver hours based on their maximum allowable hours provided by Human Resources when they are hired.  Monthly audits will also be conducted.

Application
Interested current part-time employees must submit an online application through Skyward to be considered.  A specific posting for current employees is currently available through Employee Access.  Employees must be at least 21 years old to drive a bus.

Training
Employees are required to complete the required training, including CDL training, prior to driving.  Training classes are scheduled monthly throughout the year.  See the attached employee notification for training details.

Advertisement
The attached announcement will be emailed to eligible employees in November notifying each of this opportunity, along with the training requirements.  We also ask for your assistance in communicating this information to current eligible part-time employees.

DATE:
November 11, 2015

TO: 
Principals
Assistant Principals

FROM:   
Laura Finlinson, Administrator of Curriculum/Staff Development & Special Programs
Lisa Robinson, Director of Special Education
Julie Brown, Program Specialist

SUBJECT:  
LEA Training Part 2 – Special Education Law and Practices


The next Special Education training opportunity for Principals and Assistant Principals will be held on January 20, 2016. Sessions will be held in the District Office Room 129. We will be discussing Special Education Law and Practices related to IEP Implementation and Disciplinary Removal of students with disabilities. Please plan to attend one of the two sessions offered.

Special Education Law and Practices:
IEP Implementation and Disciplinary Removal
January 20, 2016
District Office Room 129
Session 1:  9:00 AM
Session 2: 1:00 PM

 

Parental Exclusions from State Assessments (Opt-Out) Procedures 2015-16

USOE has created an opt-out form for parents who do not want their student to participate in state-mandated assessments.  The USOE opt-out form is titled 2015-16 Parental Exclusion from State Assessments.  A link to the form has been posted on the Evaluation, Research, and Accountability Department’s webpage:  http://assessments.jordandistrict.org/ .  An additional link to the opt-out form has been placed on the Jordan School District’s webpage in the “General Information” section under the “Parents and Students” tab.  The General Information link is titled “Parental Exclusion (Opt-Out)”.    http://jordandistrict.org/parents-students/generalinfo/.

Parents or guardians who choose to not have their student participate in one or more state-mandated assessments can download the 2015-16 Parental Exclusion from State Assessments form from either of the above links, complete and sign the form, and return the completed form to the school principal.  The completed form needs to be submitted to the principal before the date scheduled for the state-mandated assessment(s).

A parent’s use of the 2015-16 Parental Exclusion from State Assessments form is not mandatory.  If a parent or guardian chooses to not complete, sign and submit the form, or if the parent/guardian submits a different opt-out document, the principal should contact the parent or guardian to determine which 2015-16 state-mandated assessment(s) the parent does not want their student to participate in.  The principal should then mark the assessment(s) on a 2015-16 Parental Exclusion from State Assessments form.  The principal should make a notation on the form of their conversation with the parent and indicate that the parent chose to not complete and/or sign the 2015-16 Parental Exclusion from State Assessments form.  The principal should attach any applicable documents or email communications from the parent to the 2015-16 Parental Exclusion from State Assessments form and maintain a folder of the completed forms and documents.

Finally, principals need to provide a copy of the completed 2015-16 Parental Exclusion from State Assessments form to the school’s testing coordinator.  The testing coordinator should be directed to 1) make necessary changes in the SAGE TIDE system and 2) inform the Evaluation, Research, and Accountability Department, using the established Google Docs procedure, that the student is being opted out of the specified state-mandated assessment(s).  If the testing coordinator needs help with this Google Docs procedure, she/he can reference the two videos posted on the Evaluation, Research, and Accountability Department’s webpage under the “Testing Coordinators” tab:  http://assessments.jordandistrict.org/testing-coordinators/.

The 2015-16 Emergency Procedures and Contacts manual (commonly known as the "Red Book") will be shared with you on Google Drive in an effort to keep this critical information readily available.  You should have already received hard copies of the manual through district mail. We believe that sharing the manual electronically, in a safe manner, makes it even more accessible if needed.
At this time, only JSD administrators have been included.  In the event you would like to share the manual with your administrative assistant and/or head custodian, please email a request to share to Peggy Margetts at peggy.margetts@jordandistrict.org.  Also, if your current contact information changes, please send Peggy updates immediately so she can keep the contact information as current as possible.  Feel free to contact Peggy at 801-567-8753 with any questions.

The testing window for SLO pre-tests will close November 13.  All teachers, except those who have chosen to take their Spring 2015 SAGE MGP for their student growth component, will need to have SLO pre-tests administered by November 13.  Student growth is a yearly component teachers must demonstrate as part of the total educator effectiveness score.

Fellow High School Assistant Principals:
We have been notified by the courts that any 18 year old
cannot be referred to juvenile court for tobacco possessions.  They must be
referred to Justice court.  Please note that we have added a new citation
to the forms.  This one reads "Referral to Justice Court".  You will fill
that one out for any 18 yr old.  Thank you for all your hard work.  Please
let Norma Villar (801-567-8187) know if you have questions or if she can be of assistance.

DATE:
October 27, 2015

TO:
School Principals

FROM:
John Larsen, Business Administrator

SUBJECT:
Donation Acknowledgments


 

As a reminder, the District has a procedure for acknowledging receipt of funds from individuals or groups who donate money to benefit various school programs (see pages 44-47 of the Financial Accounting Manual).  When a school receives a monetary donation of $250 or more, please notify me so that a letter can be prepared and sent to the individual or group to acknowledge receipt of the funds.  A copy of the acknowledgement letter will be sent to you for your files.

To help with the preparation of the letter, please provide me with the following:

  1. A copy of the check.
  2. A copy of the school receipt.
  3. If the letter should be addressed to someone other than the name(s) on the check, please provide that information.
  4. Purpose of the donation (i.e., the name of the school club or group benefiting from the donation).
  5. State whether or not goods or services were provided to the donor as a result of the donation (i.e., did the donor benefit?).

Thank you for your assistance.

DATE:
October 22, 2015

TO:
Principals
All Special Educators and Related Service Providers

FROM:
Laura Finlinson, Administrator of Curriculum/Staff Development & Special Programs
Lisa Robinson, Director of Special Education
Julie Brown, Program Specialist-Special Education

SUBJECT:
IMPORTANT DEADLINE--PLEASE READ IMMEDIATELY
SCRAM Data Due BY THE END OF DAY Wednesday, November 11, 2015
Returning D Track Clusters are Due NO LATER than Friday, November 20, 2015
Updating SCRAM for December 1 Funding Count


 

We are fast approaching our December 1 SCRAM count deadline.   Please remember that our funding and other critical data are generated from these counts.  It is important that all information be accurate and current.  The attached report reflects the SCRAM and IEP Services we have received to date.  Please check to see that all students who are currently receiving services are on the SCRAM printout and that all information has been submitted correctly.  Submit a new SCRAM document for any changes.

This report reflects students served during the current school year.   Carefully review the following:

o   Please check that the names, entry dates, service patterns and providers are correct for each student on the printout.  If the information is correct for all service providers, put a check mark (√) in front of the student’s name.  The printout reflects the school’s current special education caseload.

o     If a student being served in special education is not on SCRAM, please submit a new SCRAM document BY THE END OF DAY Wednesday, November 11, 2015.  If they are not on this printout, they are not on record as receiving services at your school.

o   Cross out any students who are not receiving services at your school and submit a SCRAM document with the correct exit date and exit code reason. The exit date is the day after the last day the student receives the services listed.  The new SCRAM entry date will be the same as the exit date.  Please note that the entry date for a student coming from another school who enters your setting during the year is the first date that the student enters the new school (this will be the first date of service).  Remember that there should be no delay in services (violation of IDEA and we lose days of funding).

o     If you are not aware of a student that is listed on the printout (and the student has not been exited from services), you should follow-up with that student who is now in your building.  Many teams are not aware of students who have entered their school and should be receiving services.  A SCRAM document should be submitted which either identifies the services the student will receive or which exits the student from services (procedures must be followed for terminating a student from services).

o   If the IEP team has changed a student’s services, the changes must be documented on the services section of the IEP and a new SCRAM document must be submitted.  Remember that parents must be involved in any decision to amend IEP services and must receive a copy of the revised IEP.

o   Any SCRAM document submitted must reflect all current IEP services.  Every section of the form must be filled out completely or the student’s record cannot be submitted to the State for funding (this includes the classification, all services and amount of time, entry/exit dates, environment and regular percent codes, health services, etc.).  If information is missing, the record will not be sent to the State for funding counts.

Special Education Resource Teams are being sent one complete list of all students in the school who are being served by resource, speech-language, guidance and/or OT, PT, itinerant teachers for the hearing impaired or visually impaired, etc.  Please review and sign the list with ALL team members before sending it back to the SCRAM office.

Cluster Teams are being sent one complete list of all cluster students in the school who are being served by the cluster, speech-language, guidance and/or OT, PT, itinerant teachers for the hearing impaired or visually impaired, etc.   Please review and sign the list with ALL cluster team members before sending it back to the SCRAM office.

All primary SLP and Guidance services will be included on the master list sent to Special Education Resource Teams.  If the provider is serving two different schools, the services will be included on the master list at each school.  Teams are expected to work together to review and complete all required SCRAM information.

SCRAM corrections may be sent through District Mail to the SCRAM Secretary as long as they arrive in the Special Education office by the due date.  If the current report is correct as printed, each team member must sign the report, verifying that it is accurate and return it to the SCRAM Secretary in the Special Education Department at the District Office. If you have questions, please call the Teacher Specialist assigned to your school.  Please sign and return the current report with all corrections/changes marked along with the corresponding SCRAM documents by the following due date:

Due:  By 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Returning D Track Clusters Due Date:

NO LATER than 5:00 p.m. Friday, November 20, 2015

Reminders:

It is critical that information be received by the specified due dates so that all data can be entered by the December 1 due date.

Note
1)  Remember that all IEPs should be completed using the web-based Goalview IEP system and any changes must be reported using the IEP SCRAM Services document.

2)  In the event that a hard copy IEP was used and there are changes to the services listed on the printout, be sure to submit the IEP SCRAM Services document AND enter the hard copy IEP onto the Goalview system.

Private School/Home School Students
If you are providing services to a student who is enrolled in a private school or home school, make sure you have submitted a copy of the Private School and/or Home School Individualized Services Plan (ISP) and a copy of the student service logs to Julie Brown by the Wednesday, November 11, 2015 due date. Private school and/or home school students must be entered on the system differently.

Funding Implications
Special education funding and, therefore, school staffing/assistant allocations, etc. are contingent upon the accuracy of this data.  Your timely and accurate response is critical!  Thank you for all your efforts to get us the correct information in a very short time period.

 

DATE:
October 22, 2015

TO:
Principals

FROM:
Administrators of Schools
Dr Anthony Godfrey, Associate Superintendent of Schools
Luann Leavitt, Consultant of Planning and Student Services
Steven Harwood System/Programming Manager

SUBJECT:
Fall Enrollment as of October 1, 2015


 

See attached memo.

Student Intervention Services department applied for an Anti-Bullying grant and received the funding.  With that funding we have purchased magnets with JSD definition of bullying for every single student.  This will help administrators clarify to parents who say their child is being bullied. They will be sent to the school via our JSD mail.  We have included a sample letter in the packet you will receive if the school would like to use it or modify it.  We have also purchased signs for our PLT (high school) teams to use in their anti-bullying presentations to the feeder elementaries. Jeani Mulliner has delivered those.  In addition we have purchased signs for every classroom and every office with the definition.

Improve your tech skills and have some fun too! (?)

What, When, Where, and Who

The following technology classes are offered at the ASB (Auxillary Services Building, 7905 S. Redwood Rd.). On most Wednesdays from 3:30-5:30 pm (rooms are noted below). These are available to all secondary teachers and administrators. Registration is required in JPLS.

Google Apps for Education: Basics

Oct 28, 3:30-5:30 pm, PDC 113, ASB

  • A two-hour overview of what are the google apps and what can they do in a classroom and for a teacher.

Google Apps for Education: Drive (Docs, Sheets, Slides and Drawing)

Nov 4, 3:30-5:30 pm, PDC 113, ASB

  • Focus in on the four main apps in Google Drive. How to use them to influence your teaching and students.

Google Apps for Education: Drive (Forms, Surveys and Flubaroo)

Nov 11, 3:30-5:30 pm, PDC 103

  • Create and use forms for surveys, quizzes and tests. Use Flubaroo and other apps to grade, record and communicate those grades.

Google Apps for Education: Google Sites (Create)

Nov 18, 3:30-5:30 pm, 113, ASB

  • Create your own class, club or group website using Google Sites.

Google Apps for Education: Google Sites (Improve)

Dec 2, 3:30-5:30 pm, PDC 105, ASB

  • You already have a Google site but want to make it better. In this class you will use additional features to Improve your own website using Google Sites.

Google Apps for Education: YouTube

Dec 9, 3:30-5:30 pm, PDC 103, ASB

  • More than watching viral cat videos you can create your own YouTube Channel where you can store your favorite vids for class and even do simple edits. This can be private or shared… amazing resource.

UEN Resources: Tools and Resources

Dec 16, 3:30-5:30 pm, PDC 113, ASB

  • Discover the of tools and resources provided by Utah Education Network and great ways to use them in your classroom.