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DATE:   
November 29, 2023

TO: 
All Administrators

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

SUBJECT:  
FREE! Well-Being Course with Practical Strategies


Jordan District educators are invited to participate in our 2024 FREE Educator Well-Being Continuing Ed Courses for administrators, teachers, counselors, and specialists. This course is an opportunity for all JSD employees to address their own well-being by exploring practical strategies associated with connection, happiness, self-care, conflict resolution, growth mindset, problem-solving, and more! Participants will collaborate, learn from, and connect with other educators throughout the District as they work towards meeting their own wellness goals.

This course is FREE for JSD employees and Winter, and Summer sessions are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Space is limited for this great opportunity!

The class will meet on Thursdays from 4:00-5:30 over Zoom:

January 11, 18, 25
February 1, 8, 15, 20
March 7, 14, 21

Participants can earn continuing education, lane-change, and re-licensure hours from SUU (up to 3 college credits).

Sign up using the attached flier and share this information with professionals in your schools who may be interested in this opportunity.

 

Update to policy DP380 Maternity/Parent Leave

Last night, after careful consideration, the Board has reduced the length of the contract requirement following the use of maternity/paternity days.

Retroactive applied to 07/01/2023, an employee using maternity/paternity leave days shall agree in writing to repay compensation at his/her daily rate of pay for maternity/parent leave used or granted if he/she terminates employment with the District for other than medical reasons before completion of the current contract year. All other provisions listed in the Maternity/Parent Leave Policy still apply.

If you have further questions, please see the updated policy DP380-Maternity/Parent Leave or contact the HR Generalist at rebecca.eastman@jordandistrict.org.

Holiday decorations add a joyous and festive mood to the holiday season, but when holiday decorations are not used properly they can turn from festive to fiery in a split second.

Jordan School District would like everyone to follow a few safety tips when decorating to avoid a tragic holiday and keep everyone safe.

See the flyer below for more information.

DATE:
November 27, 2023

TO:
All Administrators
All Administrative Assistants

FROM:
John Larsen, Business Administrator
Daniel Ellis, Director of Accounting and Audits

SUBJECT:
Gift Card/Certificate Purchasing Policy


As a reminder, the purchase of gift cards, e-gift cards, prepaid credit cards, or anything with a stated cash value that functions like a gift card is not allowable with funds managed by the district, school, or department, including grants.

Please review the District Financial Accounting Manual for further information.

Jordan School District Board authorizes up to four (4) full-time employees to be selected for leave.

Sabbatical Leave
Sabbatical leave provides a 1-year leave for professional study. Educators who have completed at least 7 years of continuous service in JSD may apply. Employees on sabbatical leave receive one-half of their salary. Please read Policy DP333 Neg – Sabbatical Leave for complete information. Applications are reviewed by the Local Professional Improvement Committee and approved by the Board.

Educational Leave
Educators who have worked in Jordan School District for at least three (3) consecutive years may apply for an Educational Leave. Educational leaves are for continued study and must include an outline of studies along with the application. Please read Policy DP332 NEG – Educational Leave for complete information. Educational Leave is without pay.

Applications for 2024-2025 Sabbatical and Educational Leaves are due February 1, 2024. Additional questions can be referred to Chris Westra, 801-567-8657.

DATE: 
November 14, 2023

TO:  
School Psychologists and School Psychology Interns

FROM:  
Dr. Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Fulvia Franco, Program Specialist – Guidance

SUBJECT: 
December School Psychologist Guidance Meeting


A meeting for school psychologists and school psychology interns has been scheduled for Friday, December 1, 2023, from 12:00 to 3:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Auxiliary Services Building (7905 South Redwood Road). We will start at 12:00 p.m. with lunch. You have the option of participating in our pot-luck luncheon, or bringing lunch for yourself if that’s your preference. Christy Kane, PsyD, CMHC, will provide us with a presentation titled The Social Anti-Social Brain--How Social Media is Impacting the Mental Health of Kids.

Part-time Staff: I would appreciate it if you could adjust your schedules in order to attend this meeting.

cc:
Principals

DATE:   
November 9, 2023

TO: 
All Administrators & Threat Assessment Teams

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
McKinley Withers, Health and Wellness
Angie Rasmussen, Student Safety & Wellness Specialist

SUBJECT:
Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG) Level 2 & 3 Training Dates


Traditionally, CSTAG training consists of two (2) training levels and both levels must be completed by all administrators and threat assessment team members. The CSTAG Level 2 workshop is for all who have completed the Level 1 training (the six (6) hour web-based training from Navigate360). This workshop will build upon your knowledge of threat assessment by providing practical application and implementation of the CSTAG process in your school.

If you have already completed level 2, we are excited to announce a new training opportunity, CSTAG level three (3).

This in person Level 2 workshop will:

  1. Review CSTAG level 1
  2. Focus on implementation and use of the threat assessment process
  3. Focus on sustainable ways to use CSTAG in your school
  4. Review and training on the decision tree
  5. Review the CSTAG forms and best practices for documentation
  6. Practice using real-world scenarios.

Level 2 Course #101883 Friday, December 1, 2023

District Office Room 129
8:00am-10:00am Section #127887 or 1:30pm-3:30pm Section #127888

Level 2 Course #101883 Friday, March 1, 2024

District Office Room 129
8:00am-10:00am Section #127889 or 1:30pm-3:30pm Section # 127890

NEW Level 3 In-Person Training

Wednesday, June 5th
District Office Room 129
10:00am-12:00pm Course #101984 and Section # 127891

Please sign up using JPLS for the session you will be attending. Select this  to register for level 2 or 3 sessions of CSTAG training.

If you are not certain about having completed the CSTAG Level 1 or 2 courses or should you have any questions please reach out to Angie Rasmussen at angie.rasmussen@jordandistrict.org.

Attention Principals,

New/updated Labor Law posters have been distributed to all principals/buildings.  We are required by law to post these in a location where employees have ready access to review them (i.e. Faculty rooms).

If you have a need for additional posters in English or Spanish, please contact Human Resources.

Thank you for your assistance.

What are Critical Days?
Critical Days are the days before or after a school holiday when students are in attendance

What if I use an Annual/Personal leave day on a Critical Day?
Employees using annual/personal leave on Critical Days will be docked on their next paycheck as listed below:

  • Licensed - $156, equivalent to 50% of the daily rate of a licensed employee on salary level one
  • ESP - 40% of the employee’s daily rate

Will I still be docked if I don’t need a substitute?
Yes, this is not to cover the cost of a sub

Are there any exceptions in the policy to having my paycheck docked?
Annual/personal leave may be taken on a Critical Day without being docked for the following specific reasons:

  • Observance of religious holidays which fall on a regularly scheduled school calendar workday.
  • Family weddings of near relatives including children, father, mother, brothers, sisters, grandchildren, grandparents, or the same to one's spouse or any other person who is a member of the same household
    as the employee.
  • Graduations of near relatives as defined above.
  • Required court appearances,
  • Deaths not covered by DP330 NEG Bereavement Leave - Licensed.
  • Conferences and conventions which relate to the individual employee's work assignment and are not
    covered by policy DP339 – Released Time—Professional.
  • To attend to personal or business matters which require the employee’s attendance and scheduling is
    beyond the employee’s control.
  • First year employees who notify their supervisor in writing that they are ill.
  • Applying for the Critical Days “lottery” during the appropriate time window and being randomly selected as one of the  imited number of employees allowed. Employees are only eligible for this exemption once per contract year. More information about this “lottery” request process can be found in JEM and at https://employment.jordandistrict.org/annualleave.

What if the reason I’m using annual/personal leave on a Critical Day is an exception in policy as listed above?
The specific reason and exception in the policy must be added in the Skyward time off description

Will I still be docked if my supervisor gives me permission and approves my time off request?
Yes, unless the reason and above listed exception is applicable and entered in the time off description

How do I know when Critical Days are?
Information regarding the use of annual/personal leave on Critical Days is posted on the Human Resource Department’s website at https://employment.jordandistrict.org/annualleave, and is sent in JEM. The Payroll Department also posts these Critical Days on their website at https://payroll.jordandistrict.org, and sends them in JEM during the applicable months.

The holiday season is fast approaching! And with that comes one of the best events of the year! JEF CHRISTMAS FOR KIDS! Christmas for Kids provides a little bit of Christmas cheer for students in Jordan District who would otherwise go without during the holiday season. These deserving students are carefully selected by school counselors, administrators, and Jordan School District specialists due to extreme need and personal circumstances. Please consider giving your time and resources this year to support a deserving middle or high school student in Jordan District! Visit our website www.jefchristmasforkids org for more information and to register to chaperone or donate.

Upcoming Events and Opportunities - LICENSED

 Valued Licensed Employee:

The Human Resource Department is contacting you with important information regarding upcoming events and opportunities.

LICENSE RENEWAL

Teachers and other educators whose educator license will expire on June 30, 2024, are encouraged to begin the license renewal process IMMEDIATELY by going to the USBE website https://www.schools.utah.gov/licensing/renew. You may begin reviewing the videos and forms; however, license renewals cannot be submitted to the USBE before January 2024. The District HR Department will send you reminders in November, January, and March. A FINAL reminder will be sent to you in April as a 4th and FINAL NOTICE & NOTICE OF TERMINATION should you not receive your license renewal certification in CACTUS by June 30, 2024.

DON’T DELAY – START THE PROCESS NOW!

LICENSED EARLY NOTIFICATION (Resignation or Retirement)

Licensed employees resigning/retiring at the end of the current contract year, who give official early notification in SKYWARD – EMPLOYEE ACCESS, will be eligible for a tiered incentive. To qualify, notification must be submitted on or before the following dates:

  • December 15, 2023  $500.00
  • January 15, 2024    $300.00
  • February 15, 2024  $200.00 

The incentive will be paid on the last regular paycheck. Notifications of resignation/retirement received after the dates listed above will not qualify for an incentive. The official District “Notice of Resignation” form is found in Skyward Employee Access under “Task Processes”. Please see District policy DP318 for more detailed information regarding resignations. If you do not know your Skyward username or password please contact the Help Desk at 801-567-8737.

Licensed employees who do not submit an official “Notice of Resignation” form in Skyward Employee Access with at least thirty (30) calendar days’ written notice WILL BE FINED $500, which will be deducted from their final check. Informing your principal/school administrator either verbally or in writing is not sufficient. See District Policy DP318 – Resignations - Licensed.

School/District Administrators must submit an official “Notice of Resignation” form in Skyward Employee Access with at least sixty (60) calendar days’ written notice WILL BE FINED $500 in accordance with District Policy DP318A – Resignations-Administrators.

TEACHER TRANSFER FAIR

This year, the annual Teacher Transfer Fair is open to all CURRENT JSD teacher/educators AND student teachers, interns and those on a 1-year agreement. This event is for current Jordan School District teachers/educators seeking a new teaching/assignment opportunity! The transfer fair will be combined for both elementary and secondary teachers/educators.

Please come prepared with:

  • Your JSD ID badge – required to gain entry, AND
  • Copies of your resume available to distribute.

Come explore your options in JORDAN SCHOOL DISTRICT! See attached flyer.

Check out the link to the flyer or use the links below for the latest updates from Teaching & Learning for November. Learn tips and tricks, sign up for upcoming PD, and learn about important updates from the T & L team.


The following are new administrative assignments:

  • New Assignment effective October 23, 2023:
    • Matthew Tranter, currently on a leave of absence temporarily appointed assistant principal at Copper Hills High.
  • Assignment change effective January 15, 2024:
    • Matthew Tranter, assistant principal at Copper Hills High appointed assistant principal at Herriman High, replacing John Vincent who is retiring.