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Category: Middle Schools

Published on

DATE:  
July 7, 2016

TO:  
Principals

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

SUBJECT:  
Parental Exclusions – Procedures Reminder

A link to the parental exclusion (opt-out) form for state assessments has been posted on the Evaluation, Research and Accountability Department’s webpage:  http://assessments.jordandistrict.org/ .  An additional link to the parental exclusion (opt-out) form can be found 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 2016-17 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 2016-17 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 2016-17 state-mandated assessment(s) the parent does not want their student to participate in.  The principal should then mark the assessment(s) on a 2016-17 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 2016-17 Parental Exclusion from State Assessments form.  The principal should attach any applicable documents or email communications from the parent to the 2016-17 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 2016-17 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/.

Questions regarding the above should be directed to Brooke Anderson at brooke.anderson@jordandistrict.org or 801-567-8393.

Published on

DATE:
July 6, 2016

TO:
All Principals
Elementary Head Secretaries
Registrars
Attendance Secretaries

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

SUBJECT:
Enrollment 2016-17

This memo is a reminder of the issues you may face when enrolling students for the upcoming school year.  This should help when assisting patrons in enrollment.

Kindergarten:  The student must be at least 5 years of age on or before September 1, 2016 to enroll in Kindergarten.  Utah State Law 53A-3-402 which states: (6) Except as provided in Section 53A-1-1001, a board may enroll children in school who are at least five years of age before September 2 of the year in which admission is sought.  Active military children are an exception.  Contact Planning & Student Services with questions.

Legal Guardians:  Please make sure the child is enrolling with their Legal Guardian.  Check the birth certificate and Identification to make sure the enrolling adult belongs to the enrolling child.  If they are not their legal guardian, either a Durable Power of Attorney needs to accompany the paperwork or legal guardianship through the courts.  Contact Planning & Student Services with these questions at 801-567-8251.

Custodial Parents:  Please make sure you obtain legal documentation (signed by a judge) in divorce situations when necessary.  The Court orders parents’ behavior in their enrollment decisions, not schools.  If you have questions or need help interpreting court documents, contact Luann in Planning & Student Services at 801-567-8251 for assistance.

Foreign Exchange:  Students coming from other countries without a legal guardian need to be referred to the Planning & Student Services Department for enrollment.  Contact Shelly at 801-567-8183.

Please be consistent in your enrollment process with all students.  Ask questions to determine individual situations, show patience and understanding and contact Planning & Student Services for any issues you may need help in resolving.  We know this is a busy time for you and we are here ready to help with individual situations.  Thank you.

Published on

Principals and Administrative Assistants:

The Alternative Language Services (ALS) Department is providing a training for secretaries and all office staff who work with English learners and other students who are eligible for services through ALS (migrant, immigrant, refugee, homeless, and Native American). The training will cover the identification process and procedures for each population, as well as other relevant information needed to help schools provide support for these students and help keep schools in compliance with state and federal laws.

See flyer below for dates and times.

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

All middle school teachers, counselors and administrators are invited to attend

Guest Speaker:
Craig Zablocki
Please see attached bio on Craig or check him out online at http://www.craigzablocki.com/testimonials/

Date:  
August 17, 2016, the first contract day for teachers

Venue:
Riverton High School Auditorium

Time:
8:00 am - Check-in, light breakfast provided
8:45 am - Welcome in the auditorium
11:15 am - Dismissed to return to schools

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

Leveraging Enrollment and FTE

Using Enrollment Data and FTE to plan and inform decisions with Travis Hamblin and Luann Leavitt
Monday, July 11, 2016
Time:  10:30 -11:30
Place:  District Office Room 129
All Administrators are invited
All Assistant Principals are invited
No registration is necessary
DO NOT MISS for new Principals.

Published on

Thank you to all administrators who attended the Enrollment and FTE Training held on June 14th and 15th at the District Office.

See document below for a summary of the 10 Key Points discussed in the training.

As a reminder, there will be one more training held on July 11th @ 10:30am in room 129 at the District Office.

Published on

JSD Administrators:

Congratulations to Steven Peart and Duane Devey!

Steve Peart was recently selected as the new Director of Custodial & Energy Services replacing Duane Devey who is retiring at the end of July 2016, following 41 years of dedicated service in the Jordan School District.  Duane will be missed.

Published on

Principals:

The following are updated guidelines received from the State Office.

  • Schools may spend no more than $2 per awarded student in an academic year from School LAND Trust funds for incentives.  This applies to incentives in behavioral goals.  This applies to incentives in already approved plans for 2016-2017.
  • All classroom assistants, computer lab assistants, trackers, etc. must spend at least 75% of his/her time in direct instruction of students.

Please ensure that these guidelines are being followed for your 2016-17 plans.

Published on

Principals:

Attached is information regarding a free Mastery Connect professional development opportunity intended for new teachers. This PD is being taught by instructors directly from Mastery Connect. All of the details needed are included in the two attachments from Mastery Connect. Please be aware that there is no compensation being offered to teachers from Jordan School District for attendance at this event.