Jordan School District
DATE:
January 3, 2024
TO:
All Principals
All Certified and ESPs
FROM:
Lisa Robinson, Administrator of Schools
Kim Lloyd, Director of Special Education
Melanie Dawson, Program Administrator of Behavior
SUBJECT:
ETT: Cultivating Classroom Management Skills
Seats are limited and fill quickly, so learners need to register on JPLS as soon as possible.
Beneficial for: All general education and special education teachers.
Also welcome: Specialists, mental health providers, ESPs.
DATE:
Thursday, January 4, 2024
TO:
All School Administrators
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability
Michelle Love-Day, Director of Language & Culture Services
SUBJECT:
Navigating Parental Exclusion Requests with the WIDA Access
The annual administration of the WIDA Access is mandated by the federal government, which uses this assessment to hold schools accountable for providing an equitable education for multi-language learners. This accountability stems from the 1974 Supreme Court case Lau v. Nichols where a California school district was sued because it was not providing language services to many of its ML students. This Supreme Court case essentially ensures that students’ civil right to an equitable education and the government has chosen to use the WIDA Access as a way to hold school districts accountable for doing so.
The WIDA Access is federally mandated, which means that parents cannot opt their students out of taking the test. Because of the part this assessment plays in a student’s educational rights, parents do not have the power to revoke a student’s civil right to take the WIDA Access. Thus, the state was required to remove the WIDA Access from the parental exclusion form a few years ago.
So, what happens when a parent insists that their child not take the WIDA Access? Basic procedures are outlined below:
Please contact Ben Jameson in Evaluation, Research & Accountability with any questions or concerns regarding these procedures.
DATE:
January 4, 2024
TO:
Principals
Assistant Principals
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Matt Alvernaz, School Safety Coordinator
SUBJECT:
Required Fire Drill Within the First 10 School Days
All schools are required to conduct a fire drill within the first 10 days of the school year. This provides a great opportunity to review plans, emergency response/Incident Command assignments, evacuation maps, outside rally locations, communications, and related supplies.
Please take special care to orient new students and staff, individuals with special needs and younger students that may not have been exposed to fire alarms/strobes and emergency response protocols. Please be sure to clearly announce that it is a “drill”.
Please call the Jordan School District 24-hr. Alarm Response 801-567-8865 at least 30 minutes in advance of the drill, so the fire department is not dispatched.
Use the JSD Incident Command System Manual - Fire Action Plan as your drill guideline. Jordan School District Safety Manual
Report the drill and any related meetings using the JSD report form on Google Drive. Link: 2023-24 REPORT EMERGENCY — DRILLS, ACTUAL EVENTS, or MEETINGS
Should you have any questions or concerns please contact Matt Alvernaz the District Safety Coordinator at matt.alvernaz@jordandistrict.org or 801-567-8623.
The Utah State Board of Education Teacher Salary Supplement Program (TSSP) qualifications and application deadlines are available for 2023-2024. The application deadlines are printed below. Information regarding the TSSP program and qualifications is found at the following Utah State Board of Education (USBE) link:
Application Term Dates
An application term indicates a preference of when and how often the educator would like to receive any bonus. Applicants may select one of the following terms before the respective deadline:
Term # of Payments Application Available & Accepted Application Deadline
Trimester 2 Sunday, October 1, 2023 6:00 AM Wednesday, November 15, 2023 11:59 PM
Semester 1 Sunday, October 1, 2023 6:00 AM Wednesday, January 31, 2024 11:59 PM
Annual 1 Sunday, October 1, 2023 6:00 AM Tuesday, April 30, 2024 11:59 PM
We ask all West Jordan, Copper Hills, and Herriman feeder schools to send the flyer out to their students using Skylert or Peachjar.
Pizza dinner will be served! Space is limited, RSVP HERE to secure your spot!
Admin, please share this information with your teachers.
Many of your teachers are pursuing a STEM endorsement (see our EIP website for a full list of endorsements). USBE WILL REIMBURSE THEM FOR THEIR EDUCATION! This is called the STEM Endorsement Incentive Program (EIP). See the attached flyer and link to our EIP website for more information.
The next round of reimbursement applications is due January 8th, 2024 for teachers who completed STEM courses in Summer/Fall 2023 (courses through December 31, 2023). If you have any questions, please reach out to the content consultant. We would love to talk to you!
DATE:
December 19, 2023
TO:
Principals
Assistant Principals
School Safety Specialists
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Matt Alvernaz, School Safety Coordinator
SUBJECT:
January Drill Preparation (Fire)
The first monthly drill preparation will begin on January 3rd at 3:00 PM with a second session at 3:30 PM. Each School Safety Specialist is expected to attend along with administrations assigned to oversee school safety. All other administrations are welcomed to attend as well. The meeting is also opened to any staff who may be interested. Use meet.google.com/ntp-szhs-yvn to join.
Information regarding fire response and evacuation protocols can be found in the Jordan School District Safety Manual on page 15 (Evacuate) and page 32 (Fire). We will discuss how to implement and execute the drill. This will be an opportunity to ask questions and share ideas amongst the schools.
Take note of the following information. There are links to a training invitation and two monthly Newsletters with important communications about the School LAND Trust (SLT) Program.
Please forward the District School Community Councils newsletter to all SCC council members.
The newsletters are also accessible online on the USBE website with different language options.
DATE:
December 6, 2023
TO:
All Principals
FROM:
Lisa Robinson, Administrator of Schools
Kim Lloyd, Director of Special Education
Brian King, Assistant Director of Special Education
Mike Trimmell, Ed.D., Special Education Administrator
SUBJECT:
January 2, 2024 Optional Special Education PD
Please see the attached memo for more information.
Don't forget to run your home language report. It's time to make sure all students are screened and ready to learn. Your school goal should be zero students on your report.
*** WIDA WINDOW IS Jan. 8 to March 8 - It's time to make sure all students are screened and ready.
Your school GOAL should be zero students on your report
DATE:
December 8, 2023
TO:
All Principals
Self-Contained Support Classroom Teachers
FROM:
Lisa Robinson, Administrator of Schools
Kim Lloyd, Director of Special Education
Brian King, Assistant Director of Special Education
Mike Trimmell, Special Education Administrator
SUBJECT:
Training for All Teachers who Administer the DLM
It is mandatory for all teachers that have students that will be taking the DLM this year to attend one of the training sessions below. Please plan on joining us to learn how to make the most of administering the DLM as well as how to maximize your instructional time and resources. Please sign up using JPLS. Please see the attached memo for course and section numbers for your desired training session.
Please reach out to Jen Birrell for Elementary or Mikaylee Krebs for Secondary if you have any questions.
DATE:
November 30, 2023
TO:
All Administrators
Principals
Assistant Principals
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Matt Alvernaz, School Safety Coordinator
SUBJECT:
Standard Response Protocol (SRP) Schedule of Drills/Evacuations and Trainings 2023-24
A uniform, planned, and practiced response to any incident is the foundation of a safe school. Effective school safety measures require schools to anticipate the unthinkable and practice how they will respond, react, and behave when a crisis occurs. Consistent ongoing emergency safety training and practice is required to adequately educate students, staff, and parents.
Beginning January 2024, monthly SRP emergency safety drills will be implemented district-wide at each school. Each month a different SRP safety drill will be assigned by the District and conducted by the school. Schools will schedule the specific date and time the drill will be conducted during that month. (i.e. If “HOLD” is assigned for the month of February, the school will schedule the date and time during the month of February to conduct the dill.) Currently schools are required to conduct four (4) emergency evacuation drills annually – the number of evacuation drills will not increase unless the school chooses to do so (see March below).
Training will be provided monthly to assist schools in implementing the monthly SRP safety drill. Beginning Wednesday, January 3, 2024 – and every first Wednesday of the month, two (2) virtual training sessions will be held (3pm and 3:30pm) to train on the monthly SRP safety drill (links will be provided in a JAM prior to the first Wednesday of each month). Administrators over safety and School Safety Specialists should attend. Following the monthly virtual training, the resources used in the training will be shared with schools to train their staff and students. Schools should communicate frequently with patrons about emergency safety drills and procedures. It is expected that the School Safety Specialist will assist in all safety training and education efforts.
After school staff and students are trained, the school should conduct the assigned SRP safety drill for that month. (i.e. – If ‘Fire Drill’ is the drill assigned to January, then the administrator/school safety specialist will attend the training on Wednesday, January 3, 2024 at either 3pm or 3:30pm. After the Zoom training the administrator and school safety specialist will receive the materials to train school staff – the school staff will then be trained. School staff will then educate and train their students. After school staff and students are trained the school will then conduct the drill.)
The schedule of SRP safety drills & trainings for the remainder of the 2023-24 school year is as follows:
| Month | SRP Safety Drill | Virtual Training
(1st Wednesday at 3 or 3:30pm) |
| January | Fire Drill (10 days after winter break) - Evacuation | Wed. January 3 |
| February | Hold | Wed. February 7 |
| March | Lockdown – Evacuation Optional | Wed. March 6 |
| April | Great ShakeOut – Evacuation
April 18, 2024 |
Wed. April 3 |
| May | Shelter | Wed. May 1 |
Schools should adjust their current plans to match the schedule provided.
The updated District safety manual, printable posters, and other SRP materials may be found on the Jordan School Safety webpage. Additional resources including printable signs, guidebooks, videos, and parent handouts may be found on the I Love Your Guys website.
Please contact Matt Alvernaz (matt.alvernaz@jordandistrict.org) or 801-567-8623 should you have any questions or would like any help or training.
Please see the attached brochure for all the details!
DATE:
Thursday, December 7, 2023
TO:
All School Administrators
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability
Michelle Love-Day, Director of Language & Culture Services
SUBJECT:
WIDA ACCESS 2.0 Test Administration Training 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 2023-24 WIDA test administration window begins on January 8 and ends on March 8, 2024.
All school personnel who will assist with WIDA Access test administration are asked to attend a mandatory test administration training. Participants may choose to attend any one of six training sessions, 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 should register in JPLS 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 | Additional Information |
| Wednesday, Jan. 10 | 8-11 am |
Presentation Room
Entrance C
Auxiliary Services Building (7905 S. Redwood Rd) |
All participants should register on JPLS – Course #102001.
Participants should bring a laptop/device.
If schools choose to send a classroom teacher, principals will need to cover the cost of a half day sub. |
| 1-4 pm | |||
| Thursday, Jan. 11 | 8-11 am | ||
| 1-4 pm | |||
| Tuesday, Jan. 16 | 8-11 am | ||
| 1-4 | |||
| Wednesday, Jan. 17 | 8-11 am | ||
| 1-4 pm | |||
| Friday, Jan. 12 | 8-11 am | Zoom |
Please contact JoLynn Snelgrove in Evaluation, Research & Accountability with questions about the WIDA Access test administration and training.
DATE:
November 27, 2023
TO:
Principals
Assistant Principals
Other Administrators
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Matt Alvernaz, School Safety Coordinator
SUBJECT:
Standard Response Protocol (SRP) Training - REQUIRED
All schools are required to implement the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) tools in conjunction with the Incident Command System (ICS). To facilitate implementation and ensure that all administrators are trained in SRP four (4) trainings sessions have been scheduled. This is an opportunity to get in-person knowledge and clarity on SRP and how it may improve safety for students, staff, and patrons.
Administrators are required to attend one (1) of the training sessions listed below. If you attended one of the SRP training sessions held on Nov. 15th or 17th your attendance is NOT required.
Please sign up for one (1) of the following SRP training sessions by clicking on the link associated with the session. Each session will contain the same information.
School Safety Specialists that were unable to attend one of the sessions in November may sign up for one these sessions. Schools are responsible to cover the cost of a substitute if one is needed.
Teaching & Learning is offering an exclusive PD for licensed P.E. teachers which will provide guidance and time to create Proficiency-Based Curriculum for their unique classrooms. Please share the attached flyer with your licensed P.E. teachers for information on how to sign up for this PD opportunity. *Substitutes covered by the District
This opportunity is being advertised to Administrators first in order to provide this support to those teachers who need it most. It will be opened to teachers to sign up on their own on Dec 1, 2023.
DATE:
Thursday, November 9, 2023
TO:
Middle School Administrators
High School Administrators
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability
SUBJECT:
2023-24 Stakeholder Input Survey Response Counts
School administrators may view the response counts for the 2023-24 student, parent and faculty Stakeholder Input Surveys using the links below. Please note that the response counts for each of the links are updated live as survey responses are submitted.
Response Count Reports
Student Stakeholder Input Survey
Parent Stakeholder Input Survey
Faculty Stakeholder Input Survey
The survey window closes at the end of the day, Tuesday, November 21, 2023. Please contact Ben Jameson in Evaluation, Research & Accountability with any questions about the Stakeholder Input Surveys.
Two-Step Verification for your Jordan School District Google account will soon be required. You can take an active role in securing your account by enabling this feature before that time.
How to Enable Two-Step Verification:
Why Enable Two-Step Verification Now?
How to Get Support with Two-Step Verification:
If you have any trouble during the setup process or have questions, our help desk is ready to assist you. Don't hesitate to reach out to them at extension 88737. Also, attached is a pdf tutorial or a video tutorial to guide you through enabling 2-Step Verification. Lastly, on the day that 2-Step Verification becomes required for your school, there will be support staff from Information Systems at your school to help with those that have not yet enabled 2-Step Verification.
We highly recommend that you enable this important security enhancement BEFORE it becomes mandatory, as you may lose access to your Google account if you haven't enabled it by the required date. This proactive step will not only protect your account but also contribute to the overall cybersecurity of your school.
Take note of the following information. There are links to a training invitation and two monthly Newsletters with important communications about the School LAND Trust (SLT) Program.
Please forward the District School Community Councils newsletter to all SCC council members.
The newsletters are also accessible online on the USBE website with different language options.
VPs over MLS: If you would like some one-on-one help with ML Compliance, please come to one of our compliance workshops. Remember that Compliance is due January 16th. If you have any questions, please contact your Language Teacher Specialist, or visit compliance.jordandistrict.org
