Jordan School District
DATE: October 7, 2021
TO: District Administrators
FROM: Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Scott Festin, Consultant, Planning & Enrollment
Caleb Olson, Consultant, Planning & Enrollment
SUBJECT: Fall Enrollment as of October 1, 2021
Attached to this memo is District enrollment as of October 1, 2021. This report is subject to revision based on the USBE final review, expected by mid-October.
DATE:
Thursday, September 30, 2021
TO:
Middle School Administrators
Elementary School Administrators
FROM:
Shelley Nordick, Ph. D., Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability
SUBJECT:
Research Project
The Research Review Committee has reviewed a research project in which your school has been asked to participate.
Project Title: State Cohort Evidence Exchange: Utah Math Technology
Applicant: Emily Barton, University of Virginia on behalf of the STEM Action Center
The project has been approved by the District Research Review Committee. The applicant has been directed to contact you to discuss the extent of the project and to obtain your permission to conduct the study at your school. Participation in the study is at your discretion. If you have questions or concerns relating to participation, please contact Ben Jameson at 801-567-8243.
The project will involve teachers in your building who teach math all or part of the day. They will be asked to take two surveys on the use of math technology in their instruction.
Thank you for your assistance.
DATE:
September 23, 2021
TO:
Principals
Assistant Principals
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Sharon Jensen, Student Support Consultant
SUBJECT:
Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG) – Assessment and Response
A threat is a behavior or communication of intent to harm that may be spoken, written, gestured, or expressed in some other form, such as text messaging, email, or other digital means. Expressions of intent to harm is considered a threat regardless of whether it is communicated to the intended target or if the intended target is aware of the threat. When in doubt, treat all communication or behavior as a threat and conduct a threat assessment.
When conducting a threat assessment, the communication or behavior is assessed to determine the level of response and/or intervention required. A transient threat means that there is no sustained intent to harm (exclusionary practices would not typically be used) and a substantive threat means the intent is present (or not clear) and therefore requires action (that may include exclusionary practices).
Schools are encouraged to use CSTAG assessment and response protocols for any threatening behavior or communication that is serious enough to generate an office referral or enough concern that the student may intend to harm someone in the future. Threat assessments do not need to be conducted for minor incidents or situations that are immediately resolved. All CSTAG assessment and response protocols/forms are documented and retained by the school according to the records retention schedule for student records and are administered according to FERPA.
The CSTAG Forms are available on the Student Support Services website at:
https://studentsupport.jordandistrict.org/cstag-forms/
All forms are for your use and Jordan District has the necessary permissions allowing you to adapt them to your needs (the word version is also available online at www.SchoolTA.com). Please note that the administration of the Mental Health Assessment requires prior written parent/legal guardian consent (AA441-Privacy Rights-Students and Family).
It is important to remember that threat assessment is not a crisis response. If there is an indication that violence is imminent (e.g., person has a firearm at school or is on the way to school to attach someone), a crisis response is appropriate. Take immediate action such as calling 911 and follow the school crisis response plan.
Additional CSTAG manuals ($50) and/or Level 1 trainings ($85) are available at school cost. Please contact Travis Hamblin (801.567.8439) in Student Services should you have any questions or want any additional CSTAG manuals or Level 1 trainings for your staff.
All questions regarding threatening communication and behavior should be directed to Sharon Jensen (801.567.8187) in Student Support Services.
DATE:
September 30, 2021
TO:
Building Principals
Administrative Assistants
Secondary Attendance Office Staff
Secondary Registrars
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Caleb Olson, Consultant, Planning & Enrollment
SUBJECT:
Revision to Policy AS61 – Student Records and Transcripts
A revision to Policy AS61 - Student Records and Transcripts, was approved last night by the Board of Education. The text of the revision is attached to this memo. The change brings the policy into compliance with the requirements of FERPA and Utah law. Specifically, a non-custodial parent may now be added to Skyward as Family 2 and granted their own login and password to access grade information. Family 1 does not have the legal ability to consent to or approve this access. Schools must verify the identity of the individual requesting to be added as Family 2 and confirm their parental rights. This verification can be done through the student’s birth certificate and/or through court orders that confirm that the individual holds these rights.
Schools may elect to notify Family 1 when an individual with parental rights requests their access as Family 2 as a courtesy and to verify that there are not any updates to court orders that would prevent the access from being granted.
DATE:
September 27, 2021
TO:
School Psychologists and School Psychology Interns
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Fulvia Franco, Program Specialist – Guidance
SUBJECT:
October School Psychologist Guidance Meeting
A meeting for school psychologists and school psychology interns has been scheduled for Friday, October 8, 2021, from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Auxiliary Services Building (7905 South Redwood Road). Dr. Alina Fong, neuropsychologist, and Dr. Jaycie Loewen, clinical neuroscientist from Cognitive FX will provide us with a presentation that addresses the needs of students with traumatic brain injuries.
Part-time Staff: I would appreciate it if you could adjust your schedules in order to attend this meeting.
cc:
Principals
Here's helpful information that has been provided after the communications discussions held at the principal and assistant principal meetings.
This is a ten-minute tutorial (unedited) on Snooze Buttons (Mobile/Desktop), Inbox Types, Reading Panes, and Multiple inboxes.
Gmail Snooze, Inbox types, Reading Panes, Multiple Inboxes Tutorial
The administrator JAES evaluation (full and interim) is now available for all administrators on Perform. To better assist with the completion of the administrator JAES evaluation, attached are the standards and rubric for rating the evaluation. Please contact the JES office with any questions at (801) 567-8369 or rebecca.lee@jordandistrict.org.
Salt Lake County Health Department - Team assisting Jordan School District
Paige Allen-Rife – 801-448-9620, PAllen-Rife@slco.org
Candice Briese – 801-859-1939, CBriese@slco.org
Amber Martin – 385-722-0517, AMartin@slco.org
Lara Fields – 801-836-2670, LFields@slco.org
Mia McDonald – 385-219-5908, MRMcDonald@slco.org
The agenda for the optional training sessions for office and administrative staff of schools and District departments is attached. The September 30th and October 14th sessions will be held in the morning and the October 4th session in the afternoon (same information presented at each session). If you would like to participate in one of the sessions, please send an email to Lisa LeStarge at lisa.lestarge@jordandistrict.org and let her know which date you would like to sign-up to attend. Attendees of each session will receive an email the day prior to the training with instructions for connecting to the Zoom meeting.
DATE:
September 22, 2021
TO:
Secondary Principals
Elementary Principals
FROM:
Shelley Nordick, PhD, Administrator, Teaching and Learning
Norman Emerson, Fine Arts Consultant
SUBJECT:
Ballet West 2021-22 Student In-Theater Presentations
Ballet West is again providing free presentations of the following ballets in the Capitol Theater:
Each program begins with an educational introduction and is followed by a portion of the repertoire currently being performed for the general public.
Ballet West will be following CDC and SL County guidelines for all of their student offerings. Until further notice masks will be required to attend any presentation.
Please refer to this spreadsheet for the dates, times, and Jordan District seating allotments of the performances. If any of your teachers are interested in having their classes attend any of the performances, please have them contact Susy Peterson at susanlyn.peterson@jordandistrict.org or 801-567-8296.
Please be aware that Ballet West will not be covering the costs of transportation.
Due to necessary network updates, schools may experience wireless Internet connection issues Monday, September 27th.
Skyward will automatically send out negative lunch account balance email notices to teachers and staff beginning September 27, 2021.
Please use these contacting an interpreter for your school procedures when you need an interpreter or a document translated for your school.
Special Notes:
This number is for administrators and office staff to use. Please do not give out to the entire staff.
When you can use this number: to share good news about a student, an accident, homework clarification, information on signed papers, issues at school, set up a meeting with translator, remind families of the District parent orientations, etc.
For any clarification, please contact Language and Culture Services.
Commgap offers on-site, over-the-phone, tele-health and video remote interpreting in over 100 languages. Language and Culture services will pay the invoice on calls made.
We want to assist our parents of second language learners by giving them a virtual tour of the District and resources to our schools. Please share this flyer with your Refugee, immigrant, asylee and EL families. Please fill out this google form, "Contact information for Parent Orientations" on the families behalf if they plan on attending. Interpreters will be provided. If they need assistance with transportation, please have them contact Michelle Love-Day in Language and Culture Services.
DATE:
September 16, 2021
TO:
All Jordan School District Principals (with bus route students)
FROM:
Scott Thomas, Administrator of Auxiliary Services
Paul Bergera, Director of Transportation
Kathy Jones, Transportation Trainer/Risk Coordinator
SUBJECT:
State Required Bus Evacuations and School Bus Safety 2021-2022
State required semi-annual school bus evacuations have been scheduled for this fall. This applies to those students that ride the bus daily to and from school.
The evacuations will be conducted during the week of:
Monday, September 27, 2021 through Friday, October 1, 2021
Your school’s regular bus drivers will perform this evacuation one day during the week as they drop your students off in the morning. This procedure takes place at your school and is located in your normal bus drop off/pick up zone. All professional school bus drivers that transport students are required to perform evacuation procedures in case of an emergency. Bus evacuation will be through the front door this year. Students will then, under the direction and supervision of the bus driver, evacuate and meet in a safe place approximately 100 feet away from the bus.
Your assistance is welcome but not mandatory to complete this required evacuation drill quickly, safely and effectively.
We appreciate all you do to help us safely transport your students.
DATE:
September 16, 2021
TO:
High and Middle School Principals
FROM:
Chris Richards-Khong, Staff Assistant Administrator
SUBJECT:
Cognia Accreditation Fees
See memo below for information regarding fees and what is covered at the district level.
Your ELD lead will have 4 meetings this year. Principals are welcome to attend as well. Our first meeting will be Sept. 21st. All meetings will be held virtually. More information on the flyer below.
Keynote Speaker: Daniel Bauer
November 9, 2021
Provo Marriott Hotel
8:00AM - 3:30PM
See flyer below for more details.
The flyer below has information regarding URS retirement staff/planning meetings that can be scheduled at your workplace. Please contact Robert Goodlick (see flyer) at URS to schedule a meeting.
This is a great opportunity for new employees to learn about which retirement plan to choose from, which plan is best for their individual situation, and to become more informed on the plan they already participate in.
We appreciate your patience as we update the Perform system to ensure that all educators are assigned the appropriate evaluation.
The following documents may help you in the evaluation process:
