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Category: High Schools

Published on

DATE: 
Thursday, May 11, 2023

TO:  
All School Administrators

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

SUBJECT:  
State Testing Reminders

The following are friendly reminders from the state’s testing ethics policy:

  • “Utah LEAs and Licensed Utah educators may use a student’s score from a statewide assessment to improve the student’s academic grade for or demonstrate the student’s competency within a relevant course.”
  • “Licensed Utah educators shall ensure that:
    • “Students are not penalized who have been exempted by a parent from a statewide assessment
    • “Students aren’t provided a nonacademic award for participating in or performing well on a statewide assessment
    • “Students are provided an alternate learning activity if they are exempted by a parent from a statewide assessment”

The following additional guidance may help address specific questions that arise from the part of the state’s testing ethics policy quoted above:

  • Using a student’s score from a state assessment can only improve a student’s grade – not hurt it.
  • Educators may not use a student’s score on a state assessment to determine an overall grade for the course. It can be used in conjunction with other evidence to help determine a student’s overall grade.
  • Educators may not assign participation points on students’ grades for taking a state assessment.
  • The alternate learning activity for students whose parents have opted them out of taking the state assessment can be an alternate assessment. That said, using a student’s score on the alternate assessment or activity on a student’s grade can only improve the student’s grade – not hurt it.

Published on

Southpointe Adult High School is also offering a summer session to provide opportunities for seniors unable to graduate with the class of 2023 due to credit deficiencies. Students may complete coursework at Southpointe during June & July (and beyond, if needed) to complete their diploma. Program options include:

1. A 24-credit Southpointe Adult High School Diploma
2. A 27-credit diploma from the JSD high school attended during their senior year

NOTE: To earn the diploma from the JSD high school, all required credits must be completed and diploma awarded within the timeframe allowed by the state of Utah. Southpointe encourages students to complete coursework by the end of the summer session if they are seeking the 27-credit diploma from their high school. Exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis.

* Southpointe will send the transcript to the student’s 2023 JSD high school to have the high school’s approval that credits earned meet their graduation requirements before Southpointe awards the 27-credit diploma.
* Southpointe will award a diploma.
* The student will bring the Southpointe diploma to exchange it for their high school’s diploma.

3. Prepare for and take the GED

Additional information and forms are available in Google Drive. Click HERE

 

Published on

Beginning July 2023, Skylert will have an updated look! From the new interface you can create templates, view the success rate of recent broadcasts, quickly access favorite broadcasts, and create one message to go out via phone, email, and text. Take a sneak peek at the new Skylert!

Skylert: New User Interface

Published on

DATE:  
May 5, 2023

TO:  
All Principals and Directors

FROM:   
June LeMaster, Ph.D., Administrator of Human Resources
Brent Burge, Human Resource Administrator

SUBJECT: 
Education Support Professionals (Non-Exempt) Employee Overtime Reminder

Please see the memo below.

Published on

DATE:  
May 5, 2023

TO:  
High School Principals

FROM:
John Larsen, Business Administrator
June LeMaster, Administrator, Human Resources
Brad Sorensen, Administrator of Schools
Brent Burge, Human Resource Administrator

SUBJECT:  
Additional Summer Pool Hour Request -High Schools

This is a reminder to all HS principals of the additional 100 summer pool hours previously approved. The following guidelines are to be followed to ensure consistency and proper use of the additional pool hours:

  • The HS Principal may choose the School Administrative Assistant-Attendance and/or the School Administrative Clerk to use the additional summer pool hours.
  • There is a maximum of 100 hours that may only be used after the 206 contract ends June 13, 2023 and before the contract begins July 26, 2023. The employee may not exceed 40 hours in any week and any time not used will be forfeited.
  • No other assistant (full or part time) may use these pool hours.
  • These hours must be reported through TrueTime under the heading of “Contract Pool Hours” and will be charged to 10-E-xxx-0050-2483-152.

We hope these additional summer pool hours will help you provide adequate coverage for the students and patrons you serve. Please contact Human Resources if you have any questions.

Cc:
Cabinet
Payroll

Published on

DATE:   
May 11, 2023

TO: 
Principals
Elementary Administrative Assistants
Secondary School Registrars

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

SUBJECT:  
Permanent Records – Transfer Processes and Procedures

Permanent records for students leaving the school (either a boundary change or 6th and 9th grade advancement) need to be delivered in person to the appropriate school by the sending schools staff. Records need to be delivered on or before June 12, 2023. This record transfer MAY NOT be done through secure district mail if the quantity of records being sent from one location to another is greater than ten (10) total files.

The receiving school will need to check the student list against each permanent record to assure all permanent records were received. Each bundle must be accompanied by two (2) alphabetized lists which includes the name of the sending school and receiving school. Computer lists or PDM’s may be used.

Dead files that did not earn high school credit should be kept at the school of origin for three years post-separation before destruction. Dead files that earned high school credit should be transferred to the boundary high school for retention with other files of the same cohort.

General Permanent Record Transfer Procedures (Policy AS61):

  • A parent release is not required when transferring student records from one school to
  • Any school receiving a written request to forward a copy of a transferring student’s record to the new school shall comply within 30 days of the request, and within 10 days of the request for a military child’s records, unless the record has been flagged as a “Missing child,” in which case the copy may not be forwarded and the requested school shall notify the police department.
  • Transfer the ORIGINAL records for students in grades K through
  • A CERTIFIED COPY of the cumulative/permanent record along with the original health record (Utah School Immunization Record) of students in grades 9 through 12 shall be transferred to requesting schools outside of Jordan School The ORIGINAL RECORDS and a copy of the health record of students in grades 9 through 12 shall be archived at the Jordan District high school.
  • Maintain a record of the date the record transfer request was received and the date and school where the record was sent.

Published on

DATE:    
May 11, 2023

TO:  
Principals
Elementary Administrative Assistants
Secondary Attendance Secretaries

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

SUBJECT:  
Entering Attendance in Skyward for the Last Six (6) Days of the School Year

Please see the attached memo for instructions on entering daily attendance for students.

Published on

Beginning May 22, 2023, the Custodial Department will be launching a new process to both hire and train sweepers for every school. A comprehensive training on the new process will be held at 8:30 am on May 17, 2023 at the Transportation facility. It is essential that Head Custodians attend this training to become familiar with this new and improved process. Without this training, schools will not be able to hire sweepers until the Head Custodian has completed the training.

Your Support is very much appreciated.

Steven Peart
Director of Custodial/Energy Services

Published on

Next Thursday, May 11, from 1-3, at the ASB Auditorium, we will have our last ELD meeting of the year. We have a work group for secondary at 12:30 p.m. and elementary at 3:00 p.m. The sub code is on the attached flyer.

Admin, this meeting is optional for you, but please encourage and support your ELD lead in coming. We want to celebrate all our ELD leads have done this year. If you will have a new ELD Lead next year, please let Michelle Love-Day know ASAP so she can invite them to the meeting next week.

Published on

The administration of the Jordan School District, in consultation with the Board of Education and employee groups, is pleased to begin observance of the official state holiday for the Juneteenth National Freedom Day. This year, Juneteenth National Freedom Day will be observed on Monday, June 19, 2023. District offices and locations will be closed on this day. This change will impact the current year calendar for contracted and hourly employees on 242- and 245-day contracts, as well as CTE Coordinators on 207-day contracts.

Utah Code 63G-1-301(1)(f) outlines the scheduling of Juneteenth in Utah:
(f)(i) The Juneteenth National Freedom Day holiday is on June 19, if that day is a Monday.
(ii) If June 19 is on a Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday, the Juneteenth National Freedom Day holiday is on the immediately preceding Monday.
(iii) If June 19 is on a Saturday or Sunday, the Juneteenth National Freedom Day holiday is on the immediately following Monday.

Updated employee calendars may be accessed at https://planning.jordandistrict.org/calendars/. Employees should direct questions to their immediate supervisors.

Published on

DATE:
Thursday, May 4, 2023

TO:
All School Administrators

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

SUBJECT:
2023 Raw WIDA Access Results Available in WIDA AMS

________________________________________________________________________________

The 2023 WIDA Access raw results are now available in DRC Insight. These reports are based on students who completed WIDA testing in your school this year, but they do not include students who will be enrolled in schools for the 2023-24 school year (i.e., incoming 7th and 10th graders). Many schools need these results as soon as possible so that they can finish building their ESL Study Skills classes into their master schedule. Evaluation, Research & Accountability is working to provide this information, based on your projected enrollment for the 2023-24 school year.

In the meantime, school administrators with accounts (contact JoLynn Snelgrove if you need an account at jolynn.snelgrove@jordandistrict.org) and test coordinators may access 2023 WIDA Access results for students who tested in your school using the following steps:

  1. Login to DRC Insight (WIDA AMS): https://www.drcedirect.com/all/eca-portal-v2-ui/ - /login/WIDA
  2. Click on the My Applications tab on the top left. Then click on Report Delivery under Scoring and Reporting: 
  3. Click on the Test Results tab:
  4. Click on each drop-down menu so that it looks like the screenshot below (make sure your school name appears under the School drop-down menu), then click Download Reports:
  5. Confirm your reports download by clicking on Download Reports again:

The report will download an Excel CSV file. Columns H and I contain the student names. Columns AY-BE contain the language proficiency level.

Validated and cleaned results will be published on Tableau viewer accounts in the next week or two. Printed individual student reports (ISRs) will be delivered to schools when they become available later in May.

Please contact JoLynn Snelgrove or Ben Jameson in Evaluation, Research & Accountability with any questions.

Published on

Saturday, May 13, 2023 at 9:00 AM is the 8th Annual JEF CHALLENGE RUN at Veterans Memorial Park in West Jordan. Cost per person is $20 (Teachers are free!)

THE CHALLENGE OBSTACLE RUN is a family-friendly obstacle course run open to all ages and created to make a difference in Jordan District Classrooms. Thanks to our generous sponsor GENESIS DENTAL, 100% of proceeds go directly toward Classroom Grants benefiting students & teachers in Jordan District!

Open to the community and fun for all ages, the run ends with a fun family festival with lots of free giveaways. Come see what all the fun is about! For more details and to register online, visit: www.jefchallenge.org

Published on

Volunteer reports need to be submitted to Insurance Services. Workers' Compensation insurance costs are based on numbers submitted by schools. It is important that this information is accurate and complete. PTA figures must be separate from other volunteer hours. Attached is a copy of the Volunteer Report for the period from December 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023.

Please complete this form and send it back to Bonnie Brennan, the Director of Insurance Services, by May 15, 2023.

Published on

National School Nurse Day was established to foster a better understanding of the role of school nurses in the educational setting.

Administrators: How do you celebrate National School Nurses Day? Please help our School Nurses know that they are loved and appreciated for all they do for you and our students!

Published on

Federal Regulations require the district to certify the payroll of any employee being paid with federal funds. Accounting identifies employees that meet this federal criteria and prepare certification forms by location. Principals and department heads please review the attached instruction memo and look for your payroll certification email the week of May 1, 2023. Certifications are due Friday, May 26, 2023. Please review your certification ASAP and contact Natalie Grange if you have any questions or concerns. natalie.grange@jordandistrict.org, ext. 88312

Published on

22,000 students responded to the winter Panorama SEL Survey and reflected on belonging, self-management, social awareness, emotion regulation, and self-efficacy. The attached document highlights the results for the District. You may access your school's results directly in the Panorama dashboard. See the District highlights attached. 

Published on

DATE:
May 4, 2023

TO:
All Principals / Department Directors / School Administrative Assistants

SUBJECT:
Requests for 2023-2024 Special Calendars – Licensed Only

Your assistance is requested, as the Human Resource Department is preparing special calendars for the 2023-2024 academic year for licensed employees. Special calendars are essential to ensuring appropriate contract pay, time entry, emergency protocols, and temporary employee tracking. Employees who meet certain criteria, as listed below, should have a special calendar on file with the Human Resource Department. 

A list of licensed employees at your school/department location who are currently on a special calendar for the 2022-2023 contract year will be emailed to you for review on Friday, May 5, 2023. If needed, please make all appropriate additions, corrections, or other changes by submitting an online Hire/Change form in Skyward to the Human Resource Department. Please follow the additional instructions below.

Criteria for determining if an employee requires a special calendar:

  • 187 Modified/207 Modified-educator who is less than a 1.0 FTE working a schedule that is modified by hours per day or number of days during the wee (i.e. .50 FTE working 8 hours every other day, for example)
  • Multiple Location Employees- employees split between two or more locations. 
  • Elementary Job Shares

If you have an employee you would like to review to determine if they may need a special calendar, you may contact the Human Resources Department, HR Assistant Senior- Lisa Garner, for assistance. If a list is not included, there are currently no employees on a special calendar at this location.  However, if you anticipate a special calendar for a licensed employee, please follow the instructions below.

Instructions for Special Calendar Requests:

  1. Principals set up a meeting with employee(s) who meet the criteria for a special calendar. Attached is an optional email template that can be modified to fit each employee; however essential information should remain unchanged.
  2. Collaborate with each employee and complete the appropriate calendar for any/all licensed employee(s) on a special calendar found on the HR Connection link.  These calendars are fillable and will self-calculate.
  3. Print the completed calendar, sign and obtain signatures from the employee(s).
  4. Return the original calendar to the Human Resource Department by May 19, 2023 for processing.
  5. If a licensed employee will not continue on a special calendar, an online change form must be completed at the school/department and submitted to the Human Resource Department in Skyward.

Important Reminders:

    • Special Calendars may only be changed twice per contract year.  Revisions must be pre-approved and signed by the principal/director.
    • Special calendars must be followed as outlined.  If a calendared day is missed, the appropriate allocated leave time must be entered in Skyward for that day. (The calendar has a calculator to assist with time entry.)
  • Trade days are problematic and require a change to the employee’s special calendar, written approval by the supervisor, and notification to an HR Administrator, prior to taking leave or modifying their calendar.

Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter.  Failure to follow these procedures may cause an employee to be paid incorrectly. Any questions about this procedure or completing a special calendar should be directed to Lisa Garner, HR Assistant Senior, at (801) 567-8226.

An abbreviated version of this memo was included in the May 2023 HR Connections, which can be viewed at https://employment.jordandistrict.org/hr-connections-newsletters/.

JL/jo