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Category: Middle Schools

Published on

DATE:  
August 28, 2025

TO:  
All Administrators
School Counselors
School Social Workers
School Psychologists

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

SUBJECT:  
Child Abuse/Neglect Reporting Process

Utah Code 62A-4a-403 requires any individual with suspicion that a child is being abused or neglected to report their suspicion to the appropriate authorities. District policy AS70 – Child Abuse-Neglect Reporting by School Personnel further clarifies that employees should make an initial report of their suspicions to their principal/administrator (or designee). The principal/administrator (or designee) and employee should together make contact with the Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) and/or local law enforcement to report the suspicion.

If an oral report is made to DCFS via telephone call, there is no longer a need to also send a paper copy of the form to DCFS (note: DCFS has recently introduced an online reporting form; however, school employees are still required by DCFS to make their reports via phone call).

Administrators and employees should understand that reports made in good faith are immune from civil or criminal liability. Additionally, the responsibility for proving or verifying the suspicion lies with DCFS and law enforcement; if there is a question about whether or not an incident or situation should be reported, it should be reported.

USBE Board Rule R277-401-3(1) also requires employees to cooperate with investigations relating to charges of child abuse and neglect, to make no contact with the parents or legal guardians being questioned by DCFS or law enforcement about possible child abuse, and to maintain appropriate confidentiality. If a parent contacts a school employee with questions about if their child was interviewed by or reported to DCFS, the parent should be directed to contact DCFS. School employees may not provide additional information.

The process for reporting and documenting suspicions of child abuse and neglect should be as follows (see Policy AS70 for additional details):

  1. When an employee has suspicions of child abuse or neglect, they should report the suspicion to their own immediate supervising principal/administrator or designee.
  2. Together, the employee and principal/administrator or designee should make immediate contact with DCFS or law enforcement.
  3. Within 24 hours, the employee (alone or with the principal/administrator or designee) should complete the Report of Child Abuse or Neglect form. The form should include relevant details, particularly the time and date of all reports made.
  4. When signed by both the employee and principal/administrator or designee, a copy should be promptly sent to Student Services via secure district mail. The original form should be maintained in the principal/administrator’s office (separate from the student cumulative files) through the end of the school year.

The Report of Child Abuse or Neglect form (available at this link) has been updated to clarify this process and to indicate that a paper copy should no longer be sent to DCFS. The updated form is a fillable PDF. Schools may destroy any copies of previous forms.

Published on

DATE: 
August 28, 2025

TO: 
All Administrators

FROM:    
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
McKinley Withers, Health and Wellness

SUBJECT:  
Wellness Room Staff PLC

JSD Administrators,

As we begin the new school year, we would like to invite your wellness center staff to attend District Wellness Center PLCs. Our first PLC of the year will be on Friday, September 5th, from 2:00-3:30 pm at Silver Crest Elementary in the Wellness Center. Your Wellness Center staff can RSVP to this link.

The remaining PLCs will be:

  • December 12th from 2:00-3:30 pm
  • March 13th from 2:00-3:30 pm

The Health and Wellness Team looks forward to helping your school with your wellness efforts this coming year. Please share the attached survey with your Wellness Center staff so we can personally invite them to our meetings.

Published on

DATE:     
August 28, 2025

TO: 
Principals
Assistant Principals
School Safety Specialists

FROM: 
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Matt Alvernaz, School Safety Coordinator

SUBJECT:   
September Drill Preparation (Fire)

*DRILL MUST BE CONDUCTED WITHIN THE FIRST 10 DAYS OF SCHOOL*

Our monthly drill preparation will be held on September 3rd at 3:00 PM with a second session at 3:30 PM. This month we will be covering FIRE. Each School Safety Specialist is expected to attend along with administrators 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. Most of you will have likely already completed this drill prior to the training so it will be more of a debrief and clarification as needed. (see original JAM on July 30, 2025)

After each monthly training all school staff should be trained by the administrator over school safety and the School Safety Specialist. After being trained each month, teachers should educate their students on each safety drill. Additionally, schools should communicate with their patrons regarding Standard Response Protocol(s) (SRP) and the drill being conducted each month. Videos, handouts, and other resources can be found at the link(s) below.

Information regarding the FIRE response protocol can be found in the Jordan School District Safety Manual on pages 32-33. We will discuss how to implement and execute the drill. This will be an opportunity to ask questions and share ideas amongst the schools.

We will be holding this meeting over Zoom so please join using this link.

 

Published on

TO:
Principals

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Amanda Bollinger, Associate Administrator, Teaching & Learning
Amy Lloyd, K-12 Math Consultant, Teaching & Learning

Principals,

The state has published a draft of the new math standards for public review and is seeking input from educators. We shared this information with teachers and have encouraged them to review the proposed standards and share their feedback through the survey. The survey window closes on September 17, 2025.

Draft P-12 Utah Core Mathematics Standards

Submit comments in this survey

Their expertise and perspective are essential in helping shape math education in our state. This is a meaningful opportunity to influence the standards adoption process at the state level.

Thank you for your support!

Published on

TO:
Administrators
Teachers

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Kaye Rizzuto, Social Studies Consultant

September brings important opportunities for civic learning and commemoration in Utah’s public schools. This year is extra special as we honor America 250, marking the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States. The Utah State Legislature has designated September as American Founders and Constitution Month, asking schools to recognize the contributions of the Founding Fathers and key founding documents throughout the month. In addition, federal law designates September 17 as Constitution Day, and all schools are asked to incorporate instruction on the U.S. Constitution on or around this date.

State legislators have also requested that schools provide age-appropriate remembrance of September 11. Please ensure that students experience meaningful, grade-level-appropriate learning activities to honor this day. To support your efforts, grade-level social studies materials for all of these observances are available at: https://socialstudies.jordandistrict.org/american-founders-month/

Our goal is to foster meaningful reflection, collaboration, and deep understanding of America's founding principles and history. Thank you for your commitment to civic literacy and for making these important experiences impactful for all students. If you need additional support or have any questions, please feel free to reach out.

Published on

TO: 
All Principals

FROM:
Dan Ellis, Director of Accounting

Here is an updated sheet showing school programs by most restricted to least restricted. The intent of the sheet is to help with planning the use of funds and provide some general guides on what is allowed in the various programs. If you have any questions please contact Dan Ellis in Accounting 801-567-8389.

Published on

DATE: 
August 21, 2025

TO: 
All Administrators

FROM: 
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
April Gaydosh, Administrator of Human Resources
Melissa Flores, General Counsel
Travis Hamblin, Director, Student Services
Caleb Olson, Enrollment Consultant, Student Services

SUBJECT: 
August 2025: Responding to Subpoenas and Other Orders

Subpoenas and other court orders received by schools require immediate attention and response. There are legal requirements for responding that must be met, meaning schools cannot respond on their own. When school staff wait to request assistance in responding, even if only by a day or two, the District’s ability to either challenge the subpoena or meet the compliance deadline is hampered.

Please note that a subpoena is different from a record request. Record requests from the parent/guardian or eligible student can be processed by the school. In the event of confusion as to what the request is, contact Caleb Olson.

For subpoenas or other court orders regarding student records:

  • The receiving school staff member should immediately notify the site administrator. Under DP367 - District Records Management, the site administrator bears responsibility for records at each site or location.
  • The site administrator (or receiving staff member, if directed) should send a copy of the subpoena or order to Caleb Olson via MoveIt the day it is received. Caleb Olson will coordinate the District’s response with the site administrator.

For subpoenas or other court orders regarding employees or employee records:

  • The receiving school staff member should immediately notify the site administrator. Under DP367 - District Records Management, the site administrator bears responsibility for records at each site or location.
  • The site administrator should send a copy of the subpoena or order to April Gaydosh (HR Administrator) and Melissa Flores (General Counsel) via MoveIt the day it is received. Further information will be provided to the site administrator.

For other court orders, including search warrants or orders where the staff is unclear as to the purpose, the site administrator should provide a copy of the order to General Counsel Melissa Flores via MoveIt AND should make contact via phone or text as soon as reasonably possible.

Published on

DATE: 
August 21, 2025

TO: 
All School Administrators

FROM:  
Scott Thomas, Administrator of Auxiliary Services
Paul Bergera, Director of Transportation

SUBJECT: 
School Bus Space Available Process

Dear Administrators,

Each year parents must reapply for a space available permit for their student(s). This process will no longer be done by filling out a paper form issued by the school.

All space available permit requests will now be submitted online. Please see the instructions/tutorial on how parents can access and complete this online form.

Space Available Guideline Reminders:

  • Students who live within 1.5 miles of an elementary school and 2.0 miles of a middle or high school are identified as ineligible for transportation.
  • If space is available, students who live too close to the school to qualify for state supported bus service may be allowed to ride from the nearest existing approved bus stop.
  • Space available passes may be withdrawn at any time if an increase in eligible riders reduces the number of seats available.
  • Parents are responsible for the safety of their student(s) traveling to and from the bus stop. Bus stops will not be added to accommodate space available riders.
  • Space Available Passes will be issued within 15 calendar days after the school year begins.

Published on

DATE: 
August 21, 2025

TO:  
All Principals, Jordan School District
Administrative Assistants

FROM:   
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Jordan District Nurses

SUBJECT:  
CPR/First Aid/AED Certification

Jordan School District requires that at least 3 full-time employees in each building be certified in CPR, First Aid, and AED. Most certifications are valid for 2 years. It is also recommended that employees who will have direct responsibility for student health and safety be CPR/First Aid/AED certified. This may include front office staff, playground aides, hall monitors, P.E. teachers, etc. It is also recommended that you keep a list of current CPR/First Aid/AED certified staff members by all main phone lines where calls for emergency help may originate. A template is attached.

CPR, First Aid, and AED training and certification is now available to district employees in an online format through the National Safety Council (NSC). The attached document will outline the steps necessary to complete the online portion of the course. Information can also be accessed by going here: CPR & First Aid. The cost of the course is $29.95 and should be paid by the employee at the time of registration. Schools may provide reimbursement for the course, if funds are available, by following appropriate pre-approval and reimbursement procedures.

Once the online course is completed, employees may sign up to complete their certification by attending a 2 hour skills check session with our district nurses. To sign up for a skill check, you will need to register at Jordan Digital Learning under CPR Alert Course. All skill checks must be completed within 90 days of sign-up for the online course. The dates and times for the skill check sessions are listed on the attached flyer.

Please complete the attached CPR/First Aid/AED certification form and return it to the Nursing Services office (Nadine Page) by November 14, 2025.

Published on

TO:
Middle School Principals

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Amanda Bollinger, Associate Administrator, Teaching & Learning
Amy Lloyd, K-12 Math Consultant, Teaching & Learning

Principals,

As we discussed in the principal level meeting in August, we are preparing for all Secondary Math 1 teachers to participate in one of two Open Up training tracks during the 2025-2026 school year.

If you haven’t already, please take the opportunity to visit with your Secondary Math 1 teachers so they are aware of this directive and that they have the chance to decide which track they would prefer.

Since the first track for training is just a month away, we will need to know which of your teachers are starting on which track by September 16th. Please indicate your selection on this Secondary 1 Training Track Selection document.

Each track will include a two-day kickoff, as well as both virtual and in-person unit planning sessions to support an effective rollout. These tracks are designed to support implementation in either the 2025-26 or 2026-27 school year.

Thank you for your support!

Published on

TO:
Current Directors
Consultants
Assistant Principals

FROM:
April Gaydosh, Administrator of Human Resources

Current JSD Administrators serving as directors, consultants, or assistant principals are eligible for principal assignment consideration at any time; however Cabinet will conduct an optional interest interview every four years for current JSD Administrators.

Eligibility:
Must be a current director, consultant, or assistant principal.
Have not been interviewed for a Principal position in the last four years.
Interested and eligible current JSD Administrators should complete the application in Frontline.

Additional Information:
The application window is from August 15th through October 15th, 2025, at 11:59 P.M.
Selecting a preference for a principal assignment in an elementary, middle, high, special education, or District Office area is required.

Interviews will be held on November 21, 2025

 

Published on

TO:
Principals
Assistant Principals
Administrative Assistants

FROM:
Katie Bastian, Director of Nutrition Services

Attached are the following:

  • Updated Meal Deficit Guidelines
  • English and Spanish Principal Deficit Letters
  • Skyward Deficit Collection Checklist Paper Example

-The Skyward Meal Deficit Checklist is live in Skyward now and we will be sending out training very soon!

-Before a student can be sent to the Meal Deficit Liaison for collections, the previous tasks must be completed and documented in full by the Clerk and Principal.

-Funds that have been donated to the school for the purpose of paying off student meal debt cannot be used to pay off a student account and then have that account sent to collections. The purpose of specific Nutrition Services donated funds are to help families that are in the deficit. The school can use any other school funds to pay off student accounts so they can then be sent to collections.

-What to do if a student account already exceeds $100?

The collection process must start from the beginning of the process, but can be accelerated due to the monetary value. Documentation of the entire process is required.

-Clerks need to make 1 phone call and document it.

-Principals need to make 1 phone call and send 1 letter and document it.

-At that point, the principal can choose to send the student’s account to the Meal Deficit Liaison if no payment has been made.

-If the Meal Deficit Liaison is not able to collect payment from parents, meal deficits must be paid in full by the school before the account can be sent to collections. Collection agencies will retain a percentage of funds collected for their services. The percentage will come out of the funds returned to the school.

-Because this process and support position has just been created, and we are in a new school year, schools must help us by documenting the school-based steps prior to submitting the request for collections.

Published on

TO:
All Principals
All Admin Assistants

FROM:
Kurt Prusse, Director of Purchasing

Central Warehouse Reminder: Inventory Order Verification, Returns, and Exchanges

To help the Central Warehouse better serve you and ensure smooth operations, please keep the following in mind when receiving inventory deliveries:

  • Order Verification
    • Verify your inventory order upon delivery to confirm all items are present.
    • If something is missing, please notify the warehouse within three business days from the date of delivery so the issue can be corrected quickly.
  • Returns and Exchanges
    • You have 30 business days from the date of delivery to request a return or exchange.
    • Items may be returned or exchanged if they are:
      • Not needed
      • Ordered in error
      • Defective
    • Proper Storage of Supplies
      • Do not store supplies in boiler rooms or in outdoor storage containers (Conex boxes).
      • Heat and humidity can damage items, especially vinyl binders.
      • Store supplies in a cool, dry location to protect them and extend their use.

For Central Warehouse questions or assistance, please contact:

  • Lisa Costanza: 801-567-8899
  • Mike Fitch: 801-567-8836

 

Published on

DATE: 
August 21, 2025

TO: 
All Administrators

FROM: 
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
McKinley Withers, Health and Wellness

SUBJECT: 
2025-26 Employee Wellness Representatives

Each school or department is invited to select an employee wellness representative! The Employee Wellness Representatives will support faculty/staff wellness efforts within your schools.

Action Items for administrators: Please nominate your Employee Wellness Representative for the 25-26 school year!

Employee Wellness Representatives Duties include:

  • Attending virtual trainings, which will be offered at 3:15 and 4:15PM for each of the following dates. Employee Wellness Reps can choose one of the two listed sessions at either time on: 9/16 or 9/18; 10/14 or 10/16; 11/18 or 11/20; 1/13 or 1/15; 4/14 or 4/16.
  • Learning emotional regulation and stress management strategies for educators
  • Enhancing connection with colleagues and District wellness specialists
  • Promoting wellness initiatives within your school or department
  • Modeling holistic wellness for your school community

Steps to having an Employee Wellness Rep for your school or department:

  1. Consider the following:
    1. School Employee Wellness Reps must be licensed, non-administrative staff members who are eligible for the $500 stipend. We recommend using a non-mental health team staff member who is also on a leadership team or social committee at your school.
    2. Department Employee Wellness Reps can be any individual who represents wellness for the employee group. Though department employee wellness reps may not be stipend-eligible, we hope that directors will allow reps to fulfill their duties as part of their work schedule.
  2. Principal and directors nominate ONE employee wellness representative for each school or department using this form.
  3. Support your Wellness Rep throughout the year as the work to enhance your school or department!

Published on

DATE:  
August 21, 2025

TO: 
All School Administrators

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
McKinley Withers, Health and Wellness

SUBJECT:  
BARK Content Monitoring and iBoss Search Monitoring

Now that school is back in session, here is a review of our district-wide content monitoring system which runs through a software/AI system called BARK. BARK monitors all students’ Google accounts across all JSD schools and levels. This is different from iBoss and Lanschool and does not detect student internet searches. Here is a summary of the notification protocols and procedures for this school year.

  • BARK uses an AI to scan student Gmail messages, Google chats, Google documents, and Google slides, regardless of the device or IP address that is used. As long as the student is logged in to and using their Jordan District Google account, the content can be monitored.
  • Notifications and alerts are categorized as non-severe, severe, and imminent.
  • Alerts are monitored primarily by Angie Rasmussen, JSD Student Safety and Wellness Specialist. Some alerts will require additional investigation at that level to determine the context and to filter out false positives.
  • Notifications are primarily sent via email from Angie Rasmussen. Urgent tips will be addressed through a phone call or text message. Email notifications often include administrators, counselors, and other mental health team members who are relevant to the situation–multiple team members are included to ensure follow-up for time-sensitive situations.
  • Notifications that are not considered emergencies or urgent will not be sent after 3pm on a school day to ensure that intervention is reasonable and timely for school personnel.
  • Content alerts are not monitored over the weekend or on days that students don’t attend, but emergency alerts will still be sent when immediate intervention is needed.
  • We will continue to receive after-hours imminent alerts and will continue to work with administrators when immediate intervention is required.

In addition to BARK monitoring students’ Google accounts, students’ Google and YouTube searches will be monitored through iBoss. Flagged searches will be managed by Infosystems, Matt Alvernaz, and Angie Rasmussen. School administrators will be notified if the search content indicates harm to self or others or anything else that may raise concern.

Should you have any questions, please reach out to Angie Rasmussen (angie.rasmussen@jordandistrict.org, ext. 88197) or McKinley Withers (mckinley.withers@jordandistrict.org, ext. 88245).

 

Published on

DATE:
August 21, 2025

TO: 
All administrators

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
McKinley Withers, Health and Wellness Consultant

SUBJECT:  
Back to School SafeUT Reminders

Administrators,

Please review these SafeUT reminders to start off the 2025-2026 school year.

It is critical that ALL SafeUT tips are “closed” promptly and your school's SafeUT Dashboard is up to date. When tips are not closed, it appears that the school did not address or respond to the concern. It can also disrupt feedback and data used by SafeUT to improve the platform or allocate State funds. Email reminders from SafeUT will be sent to the assigned user of any open tip if it is not marked as resolved after two weeks. This email will act as a reminder to close the tip. Every week after that, a reminder will be sent to the District Dashboard Admins (McKinley and Angie) that the tip is still open and should be closed.

To assist with this, school administrators will receive notifications about the number of open tips for your school with the discipline log each week.

Here are some additional tools to support your use of SafeUT:

  • If you are having trouble logging in or forgot your password, use this link to review the login FAQS. If you are concerned about not receiving tips for your school, contact Angie Rasmussen about a “test tip.”
  • Review this document for a refresher on the different tabs on your dashboard. Be mindful that the “Return Tip” button is only used if the tip was assigned to the wrong school (and must be accompanied by a note as to why the tip needs to be re-evaluated and re-assigned). The “Return Tip” button is not used for false tips or resolved tips.
  • Instructions on how to assign, document, and close a SafeUT tip.
  • A complete training for new dashboard users.

We have made any personnel updates to your school dashboards that we are aware of, but if you have additional updates, changes, or would like to add or remove anyone, you are encouraged to reach out with any requests. Please email Mckinley Withers or Angie Rasmussen (angie.rasmussen@jordandistrict.org). In your email, include the individual’s name, email address, and title in your email. For any individual who would like text message notifications in addition to email notifications, please include a cell phone number.

Published on

TO:
Middle & High School Principals

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Amanda Bollinger, Associate Administrator, Teaching & Learning
Nathan Foster, Specialist, Health & PE

Principals,

Please share the information in the attached memo about sex education updates with your Health, CTE, and Psychology Teachers.

Published on

TO:
Principals

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Amanda Bollinger, Associate Administrator, Teaching & Learning

Great news! We’re kicking off our New Educator Cohorts—a dynamic support system to help your newest general education team members flourish!

Who should sign up?
General education teachers only
Special education teachers, SLPs, SPTs, psychologists, media specialists, and OT/PTs do NOT need to sign up—these groups will receive their own specialized training through their departments.

Why principals love it:
New hires get real support and build confidence faster
Fosters collaboration and connection across the district
Gives new teachers a safe space to ask, share, and grow

How you can help:
Encourage your new general education teachers to sign up! Share the New Educator Cohort Flyer with your new educators. The deadline to sign up is Aug. 25th.

Let’s create a launchpad for our new educators—because when they thrive, our whole district shines!