Jordan School District
TO:
All JSD staff who use Skyward Finance
FROM:
John Larsen, Business Administrator
Dan Ellis, Director of Accounting
Natalie Grange, Accounting Administrator
Please review the attached instructions to learn how to complete journal entries, move money requests, entering E-checks, the availability and use of financial reports, and data conversion information. Please share with anyone you feel would benefit.
TO:
All Administrators
All Administrative Assistants
FROM:
April Gaydosh, Administrator of Human Resources
Rebecca Eastman, HR Generalist
As a reminder regarding our Employee-Funded Sick Bank Policy:
1. Employees are automatically enrolled in the sick bank each year through the annual donation of one (1) annual leave day to the sick bank.
More information regarding the Employee-Funded Sick Bank can be found in policies, DP326NEG -Sick Leave-Educational Support Professionals and DP 324NEG-Sick Leave-Licensed.
For those who wish to opt out of participation in the Employee-Funded Sick Bank, keep an eye out for instructions starting in the July issues of JEM and JAM.
*First Year Educational Support Professionals and hourly employees are not eligible
for sick bank, therefore, a sick bank day will not be deducted (if applicable).
DATE:
May 14, 2026
TO:
Principals
Special Education Teachers (Preschool and School Age)
Speech-Language Pathologists
FROM:
Lisa Robinson, Administrator of Schools
Kim Lloyd, Director of Special Education
SUBJECT:
Extended Year for Special Educator Stipend Days 2025-26
The legislation allows a specific group of special educators to work up to 4 additional days for a $200/day stipend (plus applicable benefits). The Bill applies to Special Education Teachers (Preschool and School-Age) and Speech-Language Pathologists only (Speech-Language Technicians are not included). The number of days and stipend amount are based upon the educators assigned FTE equivalent. Teachers who have been hired with an Associate Educator License will count as licensed teachers and will be eligible for the stipend. Days can be worked 2 weeks before or after your contract.
Eligible staff that have days left to work, and did not work all of their allotted days in the fall, are required to complete an online survey to be paid for these days. After you have completed working the days, simply click on the link below to start the survey. Days worked must be full or half days and not a combination of assorted hours and must be worked in your assigned building(s).
The days available for you to work are: June 8-12th, 16-19th, and 22nd. Please remember that June 5th is the last contract day and June 15th is a holiday. These days do not count toward Extended Year Days.
It is important to remember:
Below is the link to submit the days after you have worked. When asked for the approver for your submission do not put your principal or LEA. Please put amanda.hamblin@jordandistrict.org so that the submission can be approved through the Special Education office and be sent to the State Office for payment. If you list your building supervisor as the approver, your request will not be submitted for payment.
https://usbe.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cYBjLsW7tzP9Nau
Please read the survey carefully, making sure you answer all of the questions listed, as you will be paid according to what the survey generates. Only those that complete the survey will be paid. Any timesheets submitted directly to the Special Ed. or Payroll departments will not be paid. Please note that the window for completing the survey closes June 26, 2026.
Please remember you cannot count the days you already worked and were paid for in the fall. You can only count the days you work after your last contract date at the end of the 2025-26 school year. The State Board of Education has discontinued any leniency on dates that you work. You may ONLY work and report the two weeks after your last contract day. Therefore, you will only be paid for dates that are between June 8 to June 22, 2026 (excluding weekends and holidays) and only the number of days you have remaining from fall 2025-26.
As you plan for the coming year, keep in mind the legislature will presumably award days for the 2026-27 school year, which you can begin working two weeks prior to your first contract day, which is August 10, 2026. More information about next year’s days will be forthcoming. If you have questions, or need help with the survey, please contact Amanda Hamblin at amanda.hamblin@jordandistrict.org or 801-567-8177.
DATE:
May 14, 2026
TO:
Principals
Assistant Principals
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
SUBJECT:
Free Safety & Behavior Conference
The S4K Safety & Behavior Conference is free for any administrator, teacher, or other educator that signs up. This conference is three (3) days of hands-on, real-world crisis response strategies for creating positive cultures through safety and support.
Topics include crisis prevention, de-escalation, mental health awareness, PBIS, MTSS, strategies to reduce bullying, implementing protective factors and strategies to build a safer, more connect school community.
Use this link to sign up if you are interested. The attached flyer provides more information about the conference, registration, and registration for larger school groups.
TO:
Administrators, Principals, School Admin Assistants
FROM:
Katie Bastian, Nutrition Services Director
Jordan School District Summer Meals Program will be offered at 4 school sites this summer. Meals are free for children 18 years of age and younger. Serving days and times are included on the attached flyers. Please share this information with your school community in the next couple of weeks before school is out.
TO:
Principals
FROM:
Lisa Robinson, Administrator of Schools
Kim Lloyd, Director of Special Education
Brian King, Assistant Director of Special Education
Mike Trimmell, Special Education Administrator
Attached is the Special Ed Newsletter for May 2026
TO:
All administrators and Admin Assistants
FROM:
Dan Ellis, Director of Accounting, Budgets, and Audits
There was a problem with the posting of insurance to program accounts in the month of April. Therefore, reports sent in April are incorrect and the issue will be corrected as soon as possible once Qmlativ is up and running.
TO:
Administrators
Counselors
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Michelle Love-Day, Director of Language and Culture Services
Join Language and Culture Services for a training session on Discriminatory Language. We will explore the impact of discriminatory language in K-12 settings and provide recommendations to administrators and counselors on how to address discriminatory language. Several resources will be shared with participants, including a facilitated discussion guide to use with students.
You can select a morning session or an afternoon session.
TO:
All Employees
FROM:
Sarah Palmer, Director of Payroll
ANNUAL/PERSONAL LEAVE DURING THE LAST FIVE DAYS OF SCHOOL
May 29th – June 4th
All Licensed and ESP Employees
Per District policy, annual or personal leave days may not be used during the last five days of school, unless the leave reason is listed in policy as an exception. If any of the exceptions do apply, you must provide both the leave reason and the policy exception in the time off description. If these exceptions are not applicable, your annual/personal leave day will be changed to a no-pay day as per policy.
DP335NEG-Annual Leave-Licensed
DP335B-Annual Leave-Education Support Professionals
7. Annual leave shall not be taken during the last five (5) days that students are in school except under the following conditions:
a. To attend the wedding of a near relative including child, father, mother, brother, sister, grandchild, grandparents or same to one’s spouse or any other person who is a member of the same household as the employee.
b. To attend to personal or business matters which require the employee’s attendance and scheduling is beyond the employee’s control.
c. First year employees who notify their supervisor in writing that they are ill.
TEACHER CHECKOUT DAY – JUNE 5
All Licensed Employees
As per District policy, DP335NEG-Annual Leave-Licensed, licensed employees may not take annual/personal leave on the teacher checkout day on June 5th. However, through correlation with the principal, they may arrange to exchange this day for another non-contract day.
TIME TRACKING AND TIME OFF
Last Day of School - June 4
Please make sure all of your Time Tracking and time off is submitted and approved before leaving for summer break.
Last contract day for the 2025-26 school year
June 4th – last day of school (180 days)
June 5th – teacher checkout (184 and 187 days)
June 12th – last day for elementary administrative assistants (206 days)
June 19th – last day for extended teachers/specialists/coordinators (207 days)
Date:
April 30, 2026
To:
All Principals
All Budget Directors
From:
John Larsen, Business Administrator
Daniel Ellis, Director of Accounting, Budgets & Audits
April Gaydosh, Administrator, Human Resources
Steffany Ellsworth, Support Services Manager, Information Systems
Bonnie Brennan, Director of Insurance Services
Sarah Palmer, Director of Payroll
Kurt Prusse, Director of Purchasing
Subject:
2025-26 Year-End Finance Processing Deadlines
Please observe the attached critical deadlines regarding the financial year-end processes for the 2025-26 school year. Please review these dates as they could have a major impact on your location’s ability to operate.
TO:
All Administrators
All Administrative Assistants
FROM:
April Gaydosh, Administrator of Human Resources
Rebecca Eastman, HR Generalist
The Jordan School District High School graduation dates and times will vary from school to school. Please see the attached 2025-26 High School Graduation Schedule.
Principals and Directors are encouraged to provide flexibility to parents or grandparents requesting the opportunity to attend the graduation ceremonies of family members.
Licensed employees are responsible for requesting a substitute through the Frontline Absence Management System, if applicable. In the blue “Notes to Administrator” box, the employee should add “graduation” along with his/her relationship to the graduate.
For additional assistance, please contact suboffice@jordandistrict.org.
TO:
All Administrators
All Administrative Assistants
FROM:
April Gaydosh, Administrator of Human Resources
The following information pertains to Intern Educators, Intern Psychologists, or Intern Counselors graduating in 2026 that are assigned to your location.
Please excuse full time intern educators (BYU, U of U and UVU), intern school psychologists, and intern counselors to attend their own in-person Commencement OR Convocation ceremonies. They are eligible to enter their absence in Skyward under the “Other” Leave Code and the Absence Reason of, “District Excused”. Only one day can be coded as District Excused, and
should reflect their commencement or convocation date. Please confirm this date prior to approving in skyward. The following information should be included in the description in Skyward ‘0050- Intern In-Person Graduation UNIVERSITY NAME'.
The intern is responsible for requesting a substitute, if needed, through the Frontline Absence Management System. The absence reason entered should be ‘District Excused’ and in the blue notes to administrator box, the intern should add the following information; ‘District Excused 0050- Intern in- person graduation UNIVERSITY NAME’.
If you have questions as to whether your Intern has entered the time off in Skyward or Frontline appropriately, please contact suboffice@jordandistrict.org.
DATE:
April 28, 2026
TO:
All Administrators
All Administrative Assistants
FROM:
April Gaydosh, Administrator of Human Resources
SUBJECT:
Administrative Assignments
New Assignments effective July 2026:
Elementary School
Date:
April 30, 2026
To:
Administrators of Locations with Employees Paid with Federal Dollars
From:
John Larsen, Business Administrator
Dan Ellis, Director of Accounting
Natalie Grange, Accounting Administrator
Subject:
Federal Program Work Certification
Federal Regulations require the district to certify the payroll of any employee being paid with federal funds. Accounting identifies employees that meet this federal criteria and prepares certification forms by location. Principals and department heads please review the attached instruction memo and look for your payroll certification email the week of May 1, 2026. Certifications are due Friday, May 22, 2026.
Please review your certification ASAP and contact Natalie Grange if you have any questions or concerns. natalie.grange@jordandistrict.org, ext. 88312.
DATE:
April 30, 2026
TO:
All Administrators
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director, Student Services
Caleb Olson, Enrollment Consultant, Student Services
SUBJECT:
Change to 2026-27 School Year Calendar
To comply with recent legislative changes, the Board of Education has approved the following updates to the 2026-27 academic calendar.
Updated calendars have been posted on http://planning.jordandistrict.org/calendars/.
DATE:
April 15, 2026
TO:
All Administrators
All Financial Administrative Assistants
FROM:
Dr. Anthony Godfrey, Superintendent of Schools
John Larsen, Business Administrator
SUBJECT:
Staff Appreciation Funds (formerly known as Staff Discretionary Funds)
As a reminder, Staff Appreciation Funds have been allocated for all staff members (both licensed and ESP) for snacks, meals, etc. Please see the attached memo for an update clarifying unspent funds in that budget.
DATE:
April 30, 2026
TO:
All District Administrators
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director, Student Services
Caleb Olson, Enrollment Consultant, Student Services
SUBJECT:
“Anyone with the Link” Files in Google Drive (April 2026)
Throughout the District’s Google Drive system, there are numerous files that are set to be visible or editable by “anyone with the link.” There are a number of use cases where having publicly accessible files in Drive can be a benefit; however, these files often contain student or employee data that should not be publicly shared. Making this data publicly accessible can result in a data incident or breach.
Changes may be implemented in the future to reduce the possible risks of files shared to “anyone with the link.” At this time, however, all employees are requested to review their own Drive for files that may be shared incorrectly and to either delete the files or make the necessary adjustments to sharing.
The steps to accomplish this review are below, as well as the text of the directions which will be shared with employees in JEM. Principals are asked to remind faculty of this JEM item and/or to make time available for digital coaches to demonstrate how to search for files. No monitoring or reporting of completion is requested or required at this time.
Steps to Review Sharing:
These steps will show publicly shared files in a personal Drive only. Many files, particularly those with student data, are in Shared Drives. These steps will need to be repeated inside a Shared Drive to identify files that need review.
Lock Your Drive!
You wouldn’t leave your front door open when no one was home, or leave a car unlocked in a full parking lot, so why leave your files open and accessible? Across the District, a significant number of files in Google Drive have a sharing status where “anyone with the link” can view or edit. While this might be appropriate for certain situations, any file with student or employee data should only be shared with Jordandistrict.org - or better yet, only with those who have a legitimate need to access the file.
Checking your files is easy! Just do the following:
Once you have identified the files that are shared publicly, you should go through and ensure that any files containing student or employee data are no longer shared publicly. You can do this by right-clicking on a file and selecting the “Share” menu.
BONUS TIP! You may have files that are set to be publicly shared that are located all throughout your Drive. If these files need to be kept publicly accessible, consider making a folder in your Drive called “Public Files” and moving the files here. To add another layer of monitoring, you can add an indicator to the file name, such as “[PUBLIC]”, to make sure you remember these files are public and should not contain student or employee data.
TO:
Principals
Department Heads
FROM:
Mike Haynes, Director of Jordan Education Foundation
Only one week remains to nominate an ESP for the Outstanding ESP Awards. Don't miss out on the opportunity to let support staff know just how much they mean to the Jordan School District community! Nominate Now!
Top nominees will receive a $1,000 award, a commemorative plaque, and be recognized at the JSD Board of Education meeting in May.
Nomination Criteria & Guidelines
Please use the following criteria as a guide for your submission:
Know who you want to nominate? 👉 Submit Your Nomination Here
TO:
Assistant Principals
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
The May Assistant Principal meetings will be held on May 7 (8:00-11:00 am) and May 12 (8:00-11:00 am). All meetings will be held in person at JATC-South. All assistant principals and intern assistant principals are invited. A beverage service will be provided, beginning at 7:30 am at each of the meetings.
As a reminder, you only need to attend one of the sessions offered. Both sessions will provide the same information. Please sign up for the day you would like to attend. If you have any questions, please call Shannel Hooper at 801-567-8204 (x88204).
DATE:
April 23, 2026
TO:
All Administrators
FROM:
David Bowman, Systems & Security Manager, Information Systems
Steffany Ellsworth, Support Services Manager - Information Systems
SUBJECT:
Apple Devices with Outdated Operating Systems
As part of our ongoing commitment to network and data security for students and staff, the Information Systems department will be implementing a necessary security measure on Apple devices that have an operating system which cannot receive the latest software and security updates. These devices will be disabled as of April 30, 2026. Many of you have already had conversations this school year with your building IT tech. For those who have not, please reach out to your IT tech as soon as possible to get a list of the devices that will be disabled at your school or department.
The majority of the Apple devices that meet this criteria are 8+ years old. Disabling the device will render it unusable; however, data will not be wiped from these devices. If needed, your tech can work with the user to transfer data to a replacement device.
To prevent disruptions like this in the future and to ensure your staff and students are working with secure, reliable technology, you are strongly advised to implement a regular device rotation.
If you have any questions regarding this security measure or need assistance planning your device refresh cycle, please feel free to reach out to your IT tech.
