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DATE:  
February 1, 2024

TO:      
Principals
Assistant Principals

FROM: 
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services

SUBJECT:  
Safety Training Opportunity


Webinar: The Role of Principals in School Safety Efforts

The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Safe and Supportive Schools and its Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) Technical Assistance (TA) Center will host a webinar on Thursday, February 8, 2024, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.  This webinar will focus on the role that principals play in preventing, protecting the school community from, mitigating, responding to, and recovering from threats and hazards.

The objectives of this 60-minute webinar are to

  • Highlight the importance of establishing a collaborative planning team for school emergency operations plan (EOP) development, as outlined in Step 1 of the Guide for Developing High-Quality School Emergency Operations Plans.
  • Reinforce how principals can contribute to EOP development and ensure school safety, security, emergency management, and preparedness.
  • Share relevant resources to be used by principals and core planning teams.

Register on Zoom to participate in the Webinar.

Guest Panelists

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida

  • Ty Thompson, former Principal

Ocali Charter High School in Ocala, Florida

  • Elizabeth Brown, Principal

Hudson High School in Hudson, Ohio

  • Michael Sedlak, Unit Principal

Sandy Hook Elementary School

  • Kathy Gombos, Principal

Panel Moderator
Janelle Hughes, Project Director, REMS TA Center

DATE:     
January 24, 2024

TO:   
All Administrators

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

SUBJECT:   
Wellness Day 2024 Updates


Our District’s third annual Wellness Day is right around the corner! Here are some reminders and updates for school and District leaders:

  • Parents and students have received a Skylert from the District with information about how to access instructional content along with a reminder about the day.
  • A direct email will go out to all employees with information about opportunities available and will include instructions about how and when to sign up for wellness day opportunities.
  • As much as possible, please allow for flexibility for employees to make the most of their wellness day.

Looking to promote wellness day and engage your school community? Use this link for some ideas, posters, and posts you can use: wellness.jordandistrict.org/wellnessiseasy

The Department of Language and Culture Services and the Office of EDI are excited to offer a PD series on 'Understanding your Diverse Students'. Our second PD of the year is on February 8th, 2024 at the JATC South from 4-6 PM, focusing on our Refugee students. All licensed employees will receive 2 hours of in-service pay. The administrators are encouraged to attend.

Link to Register (also on the flyer below)

DATE:  
January 22, 2024

TO:   
Principals
Assistant Principals
School Safety Specialists

FROM: 
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services

SUBJECT: 
United States Secret Service Live Virtual Training Event Opportunities


The U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) offers live recurring virtual training events on violence prevention to community safety stakeholders throughout the year. In these trainings, experts and researchers will present findings from NTAC’s research on targeted violence and discuss strategies for preventing acts of violence in our communities. More information about these events and how to register are below.

Enhancing School Safety Using Behavioral Threat Assessment

Description: In this virtual training event, NTAC researchers highlight the key findings and implications from our research on school violence prevention. In this training, you will learn about the background, thinking, and behavior of school attackers and how some schools discovered and stopped plots before violence occurred. This training will provide guidance on how schools may develop or improve existing violence prevention programs utilizing a behavioral threat assessment model.

Intended Audience: School teachers, administrators, counsellors, mental health professionals, school resource officers (SROs), law enforcement officers, and other school safety stakeholders.

Register Here

Preventing Mass Attacks in Our Communities

Description: In this virtual training event, NTAC researchers discuss important findings from our research on mass attacks perpetrated in public and semi-public spaces, including businesses, restaurants, bars, retail outlets, houses of worship, schools, open spaces, and more. This training will provide guidance on how communities may develop or improve existing violence prevention programs utilizing a behavioral threat assessment model.

Intended Audience: Law enforcement, corporate security, mental health professionals, faith-based community leaders, university faculty, threat assessment team members, and other community safety stakeholders.

Register Here

DATE:    
January 22, 2024

TO:  
School Psychologists & School Psychology Interns

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

SUBJECT:  
February School Psychologists & School Psychology Interns Meeting


A meeting for school psychologists and school psychology interns has been scheduled for Friday, February 2, 2024, from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Julien Smith, Ph.D., Wasatch Pediatric Neuropsychology, Inc., will provide us with a presentation on psychological assessment with neurodiverse populations.

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

cc:
Principals

The 2023-24 Assistant Principal Directory may be accessed at the links below. You must be logged into your Jordandistrict.org account to access the file.

If updates or changes are needed, please send them directly to Caleb Olson via email. The updates will be made in the files at the links above, so the link will always take you to the most recent copy.

DATE:    
January 11, 2024

TO:   
All School Administrators

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

SUBJECT:   
CSTAG Updates January 2024


Please be aware of the following updates regarding Comprehensive School Threat Assessment (CSTAG) in Jordan District. See the memo below.

Principals and Department Directors should arrange for lunch or breakfast for all your employees one day from February 5th–8th . Please do not schedule meals on February 9th so all employees feel free to participate in the Health and Wellness Day activities occurring that day.

Traditional schools (i.e. the 41 elementary schools, 13 middle schools and 7 high schools) will receive an additional $13 per employee in the school’s supply budgets. Traditional schools may then charge the cost of this meal to 10 E xxx 0050 1090 639 by submitting the receipt to Accounting through the normal P-Card or NPO process.

All other schools (i.e. Kauri Sue Hamilton (including the Child Development Center), River’s Edge (including the Jordan Family Education Center), South Valley, JATC North, JATC South, Valley High School, and Southpointe Adult High) will also have $13 per employee available. However, these schools will need to charge the cost of this meal to 10 E xxx 9054 1090 639 by submitting the receipt to Accounting through the normal P-Card or NPO process.

District departments will also have $13 per employee available. Departments should charge the cost of this meal to 10 E xxx 9054 yy90 639 by submitting the receipt to Accounting through the normal P-Card or NPO process. The “yy” listed in the account above will differ for each department as follows:

Superintendent – 24
Associate Superintendent – 24
Administrators of Schools – 24
Accounting, Budgets, and Audits – 25
Auxiliary Services – 26
Business Administrator – 25
Career & Technical Education – 22
Central Warehouse – 26
Communications – 28
Custodial and Energy – 26
Equity & Compliance – 21
Evaluation, Research & Accountability – 10
Facilities – 26
Human Resources – 28
Information Systems – 28
Instructional Support Services – 22
Insurance Services – 25
Jordan Education Foundation – 22
Language and Cultural Services – 21
Nurses – 21
Nutrition Services – 26
Payroll – 25
Purchasing – 26
Transportation – 27
Special Education – 22
Student Services – 21
Teaching and Learning – 22
Transportation – 27

The following are new administrative assignments:

  • New Appointments effective January 2, 2024:
    • Holly Bagley, administrative intern at Silver Crest Elementary appointed assistant principal at Silver Crest Elementary.
    • Kasey Dahl, administrative intern at Ridge View Elementary appointed assistant principal at Ridge View Elementary.
  • New Appointments and Transfers effective January 16, 2024:
    • Kaleb Yates, principal at Jordan Hills Elementary appointed principal at the New Herriman Elementary.
    • Baylee Lansford, assistant principal at Rose Creek Elementary appointed principal at Jordan Hills Elementary.
    • Josh Brothers, assistant principal at Terra Linda Elementary appointed assistant principal at Rose Creek Elementary.
    • Kirt Davis, administrative intern at West Jordan High appointed assistant principal at Terra Linda Elementary.
    • Katelyn Jenson, administrative intern at Copper Hills High appointed assistant principal at Southland Elementary.
    • Samantha Robinson, administrative intern at Oquirrh Hills Middle and West Hills Middle appointed assistant principal at Aspen Elementary.
    • Betsy Lopez, administrative intern at Aspen Elementary assigned administrative intern at Oquirrh Hills Middle and West Hills Middle.

JORDAN SCHOOL DISTRICT is offering Elementary and Secondary paid administrative internship openings for the 2024-25 academic year. Applications are open now through March 1, 2024 at midnight.

Please refer to the details below:

  • Applicants must select their level of preference (elementary, middle or high) and submit only
    one application.
  • Selected applicants will be interviewed.
  • Assignments are for 1-year only, with no guarantee of a permanent administrative position.
  • Internal applicants, if selected, will be treated as an employee on a leave of absence for the current school year. Internal applicants chosen as an intern will have the right to return to a comparable licensed position at the end of the internship.

Applicants must:

  • be enrolled in a university administrative/leadership program, OR
  • have a current in state or out-of-state administrative license, OR
  • be in the JSD Administrative Pool.
  • Elementary Administrative Interns are paid on a teacher salary schedule – 187-day contract plus 20 additional days (total of 207 days).
  • Secondary Administrative Interns are paid on a teacher salary schedule – 187-day contract plus 10 additional days (total of 197 days).
  •  A night stipend will be added according to level assignment.
  •  Assignment locations are to be determined.

If you are interested in this internship opening, click here to apply!

Click here for a Frontline application tutorial.

DATE:
January 8, 2024

TO:
All Principals

FROM:
Lisa Robinson, Administrator of Schools
Kim Lloyd, Director of Special Education
Brian King, Assistant Director of Special Education
Mike Trimmell, Ed.D., Special Education Administrator

SUBJECT:
2024 Special Education Transition Fair


Special Education is excited to announce an in-person, Special Education Transition Fair for 2024 and would love for you to join us! There will be over twenty community resources attending to help answer any post-secondary questions for our students and families.

The Transition Fair will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 27 from 4 - 7 p.m. at West Jordan Middle School. We hope that you will be able to attend! For questions please contact Ashley Calhoun at 801-567-8208 or ashley.calhoun@jordandistrict.org

Please make sure to send the flier out to your community.

Special Education Transition Fair Flyer (English/Spanish)

DATE:
January 11, 2024

TO:
Principals
Special Education Staff

FROM:
Lisa Robinson, Administrator of Schools
Kim Lloyd, Director of Special Education
Kristin Norris, Teacher Specialist-SLP/A, ESY Coordinator

SUBJECT:
Extended School Year (ESY) Qualification Procedures and Timelines
Attached: ESY Eligibility Facts, Tips, and Documentation


In order to afford parents the opportunity to exercise their due process rights, the process outlined is to be followed beginning January, 2024 to March 20, 2024.

Please read the entire memo to ensure proper implementation of all existing and new procedures.

Some procedures and documentation requirements have changed.

Data for ESY should be current from this school year and reflect ongoing needs of the student.

The 2024 ESY Memo and forms will be available on the Special Education Forms website.

If you have questions you can talk with your Teacher Specialist or reach out to Kristin Norris at kristin.norris@jordandistrict.org.

If you are interested in working with the ESY program, applications are currently being accepted (application available online on the SpEd Forms page for current employees). The number of staff hired will be based on the number of eligible students who will be participating in the program. No staffing decisions can be made, until the programming needs and the numbers of participating students are determined. If you have questions, please contact the appropriate ESY coordinator as identified in the attached memo.

DATE:  
January 8, 2024

TO:  
Principals
Assistant Principals
Campus Monitors
School Safety Specialists

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

SUBJECT:  
School Safety Officer Course


Through a partnership between the Utah Department of Public Safety and the Department of Health, a no cost training for school security personnel is available. This course is taught by instructors from the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO). However, it is not intended for school resource officers. This particular course is intended for school safety officers (administrators, campus monitors, school safety specialists or other individuals) charged with making our schools safe and secure.

This is a single 24-hour course that will be held over three consecutive Fridays (8-hours each): March 8th, 15th, and 22nd. All three sessions must be attended in order to complete the course. The course will emphasize three (3) main areas: Functioning as a security officer in the school setting; Working effectively with students; and School Safety and Emergency Planning.

The link for more information and registration is included below. Create a free account in order to access registration and when registering, please select “invoice me” on the payment option so DPS will receive the invoice at the conclusion of the training.

Link to NASRO Events for Registration

Schools would need to cover the cost of substitutes if needed. Please contact Matt Alvernaz at (801)567-8623 or matt.alvernaz@jordandistrict.org with any questions.

DATE:   
January 3, 2024

TO:
Administrators
Administrative Assistants
Registrars
DLI Teachers

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Kaye Rizzuto, Consultant Dual Language Immersion
Caleb Olson, Consultant, Planning & Enrollment

SUBJECT:   
DLI Student Permits and Movement Between Levels


The following guidelines will assist schools in identifying where DLI students should be placed when moving between levels within a feeder.

DLI students will generally attend school through the feeder where they began the program. As long as the student remains in the DLI program, a seat will be available for them at each level through high school. This means that a middle school or high school may receive a DLI student who may not live in their boundaries.

  • Students in DLI who are out-of-boundary should be granted a permit manually in Skyward using the “D” reason code.
  • Please do NOT use PowerSchool for DLI out-of-boundary permits, otherwise students must legally be allowed to remain at the school through the last grade offered even if they choose to end their participation in the DLI program.
  • Every year by mid-January, a “sending” DLI school should prepare a list of DLI students who are planning to continue in the program at the next level. This list should specifically identify the students who do not live in the boundaries of the “receiving” school but who qualify to attend because of their participation in the DLI program. This will allow the “receiving” school time to pre-enroll these students in Skyward by the end of January and have these students counted in their yearly 2.0 FTE allocation. An administrative assistant or registrar should review and send this list to the “receiving” school for enrollment.

Additional Considerations:

  • If a student begins a program in one pathway and later becomes a boundary student of a school in a different DLI pathway for the same language, they may enroll at their new boundary school and join the pathway for that school; however, doing so will forfeit any seat or claim on the previous DLI pathway.
  • If a student begins a program in one pathway and later wishes to move to a school in a different DLI pathway for the same language but has not moved into the boundaries for the school they wish to attend, they may do so only if A) space is available in that school’s DLI program, AND B) an out-of-boundary permit seat (in Skyward) is available and can be granted to that student. In this instance, established out-of-boundary permit priorities and waitlist orders must still be followed.