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Category: Middle School Action Required

Published on

DATE:
July 1, 2016

TO:    
Principals
Head/Financial Secretaries
Special Education Teachers (Resource and Cluster)
Speech-Language Pathologists

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

SUBJECT:  
Special Education Budget Allocations 2016-17

See attached memo and budget guidelines.

 

Published on

Principals:

In an effort to increase participation in School Community Councils the Jordan School Board School Community Council committee has created a flyer and poster to provide information to those interested in learning more about School Community Councils. The flyers are to be distributed at your Back-To-School Night and other activities at the beginning of the school year.

The poster, in both English and Spanish, is attached to this JAM. Please post in prominent locations in your school.  

You will receive your school specific flyer and instructions of how to distribute it to your patrons through email.

Published on

DATE:
July 18, 2016

TO: 
Principals
All Special Educators and Service Providers

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

SUBJECT:  
SCRAM for 2016-17 School Year

See attached memo for guidelines and multiple deadlines.

Published on

DATE:    
July 30, 2016

TO: 
Principals

FROM: 
Administrators of Schools

SUBJECT: 
Crucial Concerns and Policies 2016-17

Jordan School District Employees are responsible for knowing and adhering to all District policies and procedures. The Crucial Concerns and Policies acknowledgement process has been put in place to provide employees a summary of important policies and procedures to be reviewed each year. The policy review will be available to all District employees in Skyward through “Online Forms.” The review provides summaries of selected policies and asks that employees review the summaries and then sign an acknowledgement of completion and agreement. Employees will be asked to read the summaries of policies but will not be required to answer any questions. In addition to acknowledging completion of the review, employees will also acknowledge agreement to the Employee Acceptable Use Policy and the JSD Social Media Guidelines. You will not have to collect signature pages as you have in the past.

Care has been taken to select important points of the selected policies to save administrators time from having to review each policy and to save employees time from having to read the entire policy. Please emphasize to employees the implications of not being aware of policies and encourage them to review the summaries and read the actual policy where needed. Also emphasize to your staff that the summaries are not policy and it is imperative to read applicable policies in their entirety when dealing with school, student, and personnel issues.

The Crucial Policies and Concerns process will be available to all employees July 20. A message will appear upon login of Skyward Employee Access for the employee to complete an “Online Form.” Employees can complete the steps at that time or can return to the review at another time by selecting “Online Forms” under “Employee Information.” Employees will need to review the policies and complete the acknowledgement before September 30, 2016. Reports of completion will be available through Skyward so you can verify that your staff members have completed this process. If you or any staff members need technical help, please call USER support at
801-567-USER (8737).

The lists of crucial policies and concerns for both classified employees and licensed employees included in the review, as well as instructions for completing the review, are attached.  Please note: JPAS Orientation and Testing Ethics are not included in this review and will need to be shared with appropriate staff. State law now requires child abuse prevention training for all employees using materials approved through the Utah State Board of Education. A training kit will be provided to all schools for this purpose when it becomes available in August or September.

 

Crucial Policy and Concerns Review for Licensed Employees

Jordan School District employees are responsible for knowing and adhering to all District policies and procedures. The following is a list of policies and concerns that are to be reviewed annually. A review of these policies will be available to all employees through Skyward’s Online Forms. Employees will receive a message upon login to Skyward Employee Access to complete the process. In addition, the form will be available through Skyward Employee Access by selecting “Online Forms” under “Employee Information.”  The summaries provided in the review are not policy, so it is imperative to read applicable policies in their entirety when dealing with school, student, and personnel issues. The Jordan School District Policy Manual can be found at http://policymanual.jordandistrict.org/.

Call USER support at 801-567-USER (8737) for assistance.

Personnel Policies

DP324 NEG Sick Leave – Licensed

  • DP335 NEG Personal Leave – Licensed
  • DP336 NEG Leave of Absence (1 Year) – Licensed
  • DP337 NEG Leave of Absence (15 Days) – Licensed
  • DP322 Family and Medical Leave Act
  • DP311 Evaluation of Licensed Employees
  • DP316 NEG Orderly Termination Procedures -- Licensed
  • DP318 Resignations – Licensed
  • DP356 Substance Abuse-Free Work Environment
  • DP358 Employee Discrimination and Harassment
  • DP353NEG Assault or Abuse of Employees
  • DP371 Employee Information Network Acceptable Use Policy and Social Media
  • DP374 Employment Background Checks
  • DP346 Industrial Accidents
  • AA409 Scope of Employment
  • AA444 Employee Involvement in Private, But Public Education-Related Activities

Student, Instructional, and School Management Policies

  • AS70 Child Abuse-Neglect Reporting by School Personnel
  • AS97 Management of Concussions and Traumatic Head Injuries
  • AS85 Medication in the School Setting
  • AA419 Student Conduct and Dress
  • AS67 Discipline of Students
  • AA418 Discipline of Students – Staff Responsibilities
  • AS90 Drugs and Alcohol
  • AS94 Student Discrimination and Harassment
  • AS95 Conduct related to School Activities
  • AS96 Extracurricular Activity Privileges
  • AA408 Fees
  • AA445 Student Information Network Acceptable Use Policy
  • AA432 Student Attendance and Teacher Disclosure Statements
  • D200 Philosophy of Instruction
  • DE505 Acceptable Use of Copyrighted Materials in Jordan School District
  • AA437 Parental Involvement and School Community Councils
  • DA158 School Trespass
  • AS93 Open Enrollment (School Choice)
  • DA151 Use of Public School Buildings and Grounds as Civic Centers

Video Presentations

  • Universal Precautions Video
  • JSD Social Media Guidelines Video
  • Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Overview Video
  • Globally Harmonized System (Hazard Communication Training) Video

 

Crucial Policy and Concerns Review for Classified Employees

Jordan School District employees are responsible for knowing and adhering to all District policies and procedures. The following is a list of policies and concerns that are to be reviewed annually. A review of these policies will be available to all employees through Skyward’s Online Forms. Employees will receive a message upon login to Skyward Employee Access to complete the process. In addition, the form will be available through Skyward Employee Access by selecting “Online Forms” under “Employee Information.”  The summaries provided in the review are not policy, so it is imperative to read applicable policies in their entirety when dealing with school, student, and personnel issues. The Jordan School District Policy Manual can be found at http://policymanual.jordandistrict.org/.

Call USER support at 801-567-USER (8737) for assistance.

Personnel Policies

  • DP326 NEG Sick Leave – Classified
  • DP335BNEG Personal Leave—Classified
  • DP337B NEG Leave of Absence (Personal – 15 Days) – Classified
  • DP336B NEG Leave of Absence (1 Year) – Classified
  • DP322 Family and Medical Leave Act
  • DP371 Employee Information Network Acceptable Use Policy and Social Media
  • DP374 Employment Background Checks
  • DP346 Industrial Accidents
  • DP356 Substance Abuse-Free Work Environment
  • DP358 Employee Discrimination and Harassment
  • DP353NEG Assault or Abuse of Employees
  • AA409 Scope of Employment
  • DP312 Evaluation of Classified Personnel
  • DP316B Orderly Termination – Classified

Student, Instructional, and School Management Policies

  • AS70 Child Abuse-Neglect Reporting by School Personnel
  • AS97 Management of Concussions and Traumatic Head Injuries
  • AS96 Extracurricular Activity Privileges
  • DA151 Use of Public School Buildings and Grounds as Civic Centers
  • DE505 Acceptable Use of Copyrighted Materials in Jordan School District

Video Presentations

  • Universal Precautions Video
  • JSD Social Media Guidelines Video
  • Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Overview Video
  • Globally Harmonized System (Hazard Communication Training) Video

Published on

DATE:    
July 1, 2016

TO:   
Principals

FROM: 
Administrators of Schools
Laura Finlinson, Administrator of Curriculum and Staff Development
Clyde Mason, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability

SUBJECT: 
2016-17 Required Testing Ethics Professional Development Procedures

Instructions, materials, and documentation forms for the required 2016-17 Testing Ethics professional development, are being sent to schools via the Jordan Administrative Memo (JAM).  These materials will also be available online at http://assessments.jordandistrict.org/ethics/ .  The four required procedures for completing this testing ethics professional development are listed on the “2016-17 Principal’s Test Ethics Checklist” form provided in the materials.

It is important that all school leaders and teachers be reminded that the professional testing ethics required for all State-mandated assessments such as SAGE, ACT, and WIDA Access, also apply to all District-mandated assessments such as benchmark tests, SLO assessments, and other District-created assessments including MasteryConnect® assessments.  Students must not be given secured assessment questions as homework or discussion items.  Any use of secured assessment questions for instruction, discussion, or homework compromises the validity and integrity of the assessment questions and constitutes a violation of professional testing ethics protocol.

Principals are to make sure that teachers understand that professional testing ethics must be followed when working with District-mandated as well as State-mandated assessments. Principals are also to remind teachers that any potential disciplinary action specified for violating professional testing ethics on State-mandated assessments, also applies to any violation of professional testing ethics on District-mandated assessments.

Published on

DATE:
June 28, 2016

TO:
All Administrators

FROM:
Laura Finlinson, Administrator, Curriculum and Staff Development
Rebecca Lee, Administrator, Jordan Evaluation Systems

SUBJECT:
UETS-based JPAS Bubble Sheet Changes

Beginning the 2016-2017 school year, Jordan School District will be using a new scantron bubble sheet for UETS-based JPAS evaluations.  Attached you will find a sample of the changes.  All changes will be found on the front page of the bubble sheet.  Below are the changes to make note of.

Teacher Number:
We will no longer be using social security numbers.  Cactus ID numbers will be used for all employees.  Evaluators need to write the number and then fill the rest of the spaces in with zeros.  Correction: Evaluators need to write the cactus ID at the end and fill in zeros in the front (see attached example). 

Teacher Status:
There are now five choices for teacher status.  Evaluators will need to select only one for each teacher evaluated.

 

Published on

DATE:  
June 21, 2016

TO: 
All School Principals
All School Financial Secretaries

FROM:  
John Larsen, Business Administrator
Heather Ellingson, Director of Accounting, Budgets and Audits
Daniel Ellis, Accountant/Internal Auditor

SUBJECT: 
School Bank Account Balances for June 30, 2016

Please send the following information for each bank account balance as of June 30, 2016 to Accounting by July 29, 2016.  If you have multiple bank accounts, please list each account separately.

School Name
Name of Bank
Type of Account (checking, savings, money market)
Account Balance

The balance requested is the balance from your June bank statements, not Skyward.  This information is required annually and will be used to complete reporting requirements for Utah Money Management Council.

If you have questions or need assistance, please call Dan Ellis at (801)567-8389.

Thank you.

Cc:
Michael Anderson, Administrator of Schools
Jill Durrant, Administrator of Schools
Anthony Godfrey, Administrator of Schools
Brad Sorensen, Administrator of Schools
Teri Timpson, Administrator of Schools

Published on

DATE:   
June 21, 2016

TO:  
All School Principals
All School Financial Secretaries

FROM: 
John Larsen, Business Administrator
Heather Ellingson, Director of Accounting, Budgets and Audits
Daniel Ellis, Accountant/Internal Auditor

SUBJECT:  
Quarterly School Financial Report for April, May and June 2016

Each school is asked to report the quarter end account balance and transaction detail with the Apple Volume Purchase Program and return with your bank reconciliation.  If your school has no Apple account, please so indicate and return.

Please include the account balance with Apple on the reconciliation sign off form and print a report or screen shot(s) of the balances and quarterly transactions from Apple’s website.  If you need assistance, please contact your Curriculum Technology Specialist – Bonnie, Deana, Harrison, Nancy.

Please photocopy the selected elements and send to Accounting by July 22, 2016.

Please include:

  • The signed attached memo to Accounting
  • A copy of your April, May and June 2016 Reconciliation Worksheets
  • A copy of your April, May and June 2016 Bank Statements
  • A copy of your April, May and June 2016 Skyward Balance Sheets
  • A copy of your April, May and June Outstanding Check Reports
  • Screen shot(s) of your June 30, 2016 Apple Volume Purchase Program transaction history and balance

If you have questions or need assistance, please call Liz Robins at (801)567-8267.

Thank you.

Cc:
Michael Anderson, Administrator of Schools
Jill Durrant, Administrator of Schools
Anthony Godfrey, Administrator of Schools
Brad Sorensen, Administrator of Schools
Teri Timpson, Administrator of Schools

Published on

DATE:
May 31, 2016

TO: 
All Special Educators
All Principals

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

SUBJECT:
Woodcock Johnson IV Training

Jordan School District has purchased the Woodcock Johnson IV Test of Achievement to replace the Woodcock Johnson III, which will no longer be on the approved list for achievement testing for the 2016-2017 school year. All special educators must attend this mandatory training.  Special educators must have completed all aspects of training before they will be able to conduct achievement testing with students. Registration is available through JPLS (course number 101079). The schedule of training dates is attached.

Special educators will either be paid at inservice rate, or if you are on contract, may request a substitute using budget code 1292.

Published on

DATE:
May 20, 2016

TO:
All Principals
Administrative Assistants

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

SUBJECT:
Student Residency Questionnaire

Enclosed is a copy of the Student Residency Questionnaire form in English and Spanish.  This questionnaire has been developed to assist in the process of enrolling homeless students and to keep the district in compliance with the McKinney-Vento Act.  This notification must be included with the 2016-17 registration materials that you send to all parents/students.  Please send both a copy in English and a copy in Spanish. 

The forms will be included in the elementary, middle and high school registration information and the Skyward online registration materials.  Please make sure that the forms are returned with other registration materials.  The form isn’t optional.  All students are required to complete and return the questionnaire.

Please make additional copies of both the English and Spanish versions. (The two versions may be run back-to-back.)  These copies should then be given to the registrar, attendance office, and/or counselors to give to those students entering your school during the school year who did not receive the initial registration materials.  It is imperative that the parents of every student who attends your school, anytime during the school year, complete this residency questionnaire.

At the bottom of the questionnaire are instructions for the parents and the school.  If the school has any of the questionnaires returned that indicate a temporary residence, please forward the forms to the Jordan School District Homeless Liaison (Hilda Lloyd) in Alternative Language Services or call Hilda at 567-8308 or 567-8116.

Thank you for your help.

Enclosures

 

Published on

DATE:  
May 20, 2016

TO:  
All Principals
Administrative Assistants

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

SUBJECT: 
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) Notification
The attached Annual Notification was revised in 2016-17

Enclosed is a copy of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act Annual Notification and Directory Information disclosure.  Please note that the notification has been revised to include language concerning release of information when a student poses an articulable health or safety threat.  By law we are required to annually notify eligible students and parents of their rights under this act.

This revised notification must be included with the 2016-17 registration materials that you send to parents/students.  Please send both a copy in English and a copy in Spanish.  (The two versions may be run back-to-back.)  The forms will be included in the elementary, middle, and high school registration materials and the school online registration materials.

Please make additional copies of both the English and Spanish versions.  These copies could then be given to the registrar, attendance office, and/or counselors to give to those students entering your school during the school year who did not receive the initial registration materials.  It is imperative that the parents of every student who attends your school, anytime during the school year, be given a copy of this notification.

You must notify me immediately if you receive written notification from a parent or eligible student indicating they refuse to let the school disclose any or all of the information designated as “Directory Information.”   All requests for student information from any branches of the military or from other outside agencies must be processed through Planning & Student Services. Please do not release information from your school.

Merely stating that the student does not want to be listed in the school directory does not qualify as written notification for FERPA purposes and does not need to be sent to this office.

Thank you for your help.

Enclosures

Published on

DATE:
April 28, 2016

TO:
All Principals, Directors and Coordinators

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

SUBJECT:
Classified Assistant Employment Evaluations for the 2015–2016 School Year

As the end of the school year is fast approaching, it is time to complete employee performance evaluations for all part-time assistants.  The evaluation documents are crucial in justifying employee terminations or unemployment claims.

All forms are available on the HR website on the “Admin Only” or the “Secretary Connections” page under the “Part Time Classified Evaluations” link.

You will find the following forms:

  • Part-Time Classified Assistant Evaluations Guideline -outlining the procedure for evaluating part time employees in your school/department.
  • Assistants-Employment Review/Status form

It is important you meet with each assistant for his/her evaluation. In each evaluation, the employee must be informed of his/her employment status for the upcoming year and the employee’s signature is required.

As part of your meeting with each assistant, please remind them that part-time employees with Jordan School District are considered "at will". That is, either the employee or Jordan School District may end the employment relationship at any time, for any reason, or for no reason.  There is no expectation of continued or guaranteed employment.

If you have any questions or if you need additional help, review the evaluation guideline on the website or you may contact our office at 801-567-8224.

Thank you for your assistance.