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Category: Other Administrators

Published on

DATE:
Thursday, July 18, 2024

TO:
All School Administrators
District Department Directors/Consultants

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability

SUBJECT:
2024-25 Required Testing Ethics Professional Development Procedures for Education Support Professionals

For the 2024-25 school year, administrators will need to conduct a training for all licensed educators as well as any education support professionals (ESPs) who will assist with district-, state- or federally-mandated testing on the state’s testing ethics policy. All licensed educators will need to be trained on the policy. Administrators will want to consider including computer lab assistants who function as the school’s test coordinator, any classroom aides that assist with testing, literacy aides who assist with Acadience Reading or Math testing or progress monitoring, or any office staff that assist test coordinators with district-, state- or federally-mandated testing.

The three required procedures for completing this testing ethics professional development are listed on the “2024-25 Principal’s Testing Ethics Checklist for ESPs” form, which is due to Assessment, Research & Accountability by Friday, September 20, 2024.

As has been done in the past, administrators may provide the testing ethics training themselves using the Google slide deck linked in this memo. Alternatively, administrators may show the YouTube video linked below to school personnel. The video provides the same information as the slide deck. Once school personnel have been trained, either by a school administrator or using the video, they are required to sign the “2024-25 Standard Test Administration and Testing Ethics Policy Training Signature Form.” Administrators are asked to keep these signed forms on file at the school.

There are several materials attached with this memo for your use:

  • 2024-25 Principal’s Testing Ethics Checklist – This form needs to be filled out and sent to Assessment, Research & Accountability by Friday, September 20, 2024.
  • Testing Ethics Presentation, 2024-25 – This is the slide deck if administrators choose to present the training in-person.
    2024-25 Standard Test Administration and Testing Ethics Policy – This document should be distributed to every licensed educator as well as any ESPs that assist with district-, state- or federally-mandated testing.
  • Testing Ethics Video – This is the training video that may be used in lieu of a school administrator providing the training, though it is still recommended that school personnel view the video together. The video may also be found at this YouTube link.
  • Standard Test Administration and Testing Ethics Training Signature Form, 2024-25 – Administrators should retain a signed copy of this form for all licensed educators as well as any ESPs who assist with district-, state- or federally-mandated testing.
  • Testing Ethics Policy FAQ – Administrators should distribute this FAQ document to all licensed educators and any ESPs that assist with district-, state- or federally mandated testing.

Please contact Ben Jameson or Gaylene Miller in Assessment, Research & Accountability with any questions.

Published on

TO:
All Administrators

FROM:
C. Brad Sorensen, Administrator of Schools

The Annual Jordan School District Administrative Leadership Conference is scheduled for Tuesday, August 6, 2024, at West Jordan Middle School, 7550 S. Redwood Road, West Jordan Utah. Full-time Administrative Interns (paid) assigned to your building are also expected to attend. The agenda and flyer are attached. Our first Principal meeting is also scheduled for Thursday, August 8, 2024, at West Jordan Middle from 8:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.

All administrators are assigned a one-hour "escape room" slot (see link) on Thursday, August 8th which will be held at "A Great Escape-Gardner Village" located at 1100 W. 7800 S. #3, West Jordan Utah.

Additionally, the Jordan Education Foundation will need our help with a service project set up in the West Jordan Middle School gymnasium on Thursday, August 8, 2024. We ask each administrator to spend one hour before or after your assigned “escape room” slot to stop by and help with the service project. Random prizes will be drawn at a later time for those who show up to help with the JEF service project.

Published on

TO:
Administrative Assistants

FROM:
Mike Heaps, Director of Information Systems
Jeri Gamble, Customer Support in Information Systems

21 Fund Summary Budgetary Data Mining Report: If you run the 21 Fund Summary report during July, the balances will not be correct until after Accounting has rolled June balances over to 2023-24 later this month.

Cash Receipts and Journal Entries: Make sure you are selecting 2024-25 when you add cash receipts and journal entries. You will continue to see the option for 2023-24 until October, which is when we will close out the 2023-24 year. Please review your cash receipts and journal entries that are in batch or WIP status. If any cash receipts are in 2023-24, then please edit them and change the year to 2024-25. The fiscal year cannot be changed on journal entries, so you’ll need to delete the 2023-24 journal entries that are in batch, submitted or WIP status and re-enter them.

Published on

The following are new administrative assignments:

New Assignments effective July 1, 2024:

  • Raimee Jensen, assistant principal at West Jordan Middle appointed principal at West Jordan Middle.
  • Ethan Walsh, administrative intern at Sunset Ridge Middle and West Jordan Middle appointed assistant principal at West Jordan Middle.

Published on

TO:
All Administrative Assistants

FROM:
Mike Heaps, Director of Information Systems
Jeri Gamble, Customer Support in Information Systems

The HR and Finance year end process was completed successfully on Monday, July 1.

Don’t forget that we don’t close out the 2023-24 year until October, so when you add Journal Entries and Cash Receipts, please make sure you select 2024-25.

21 Fund Summary Budgetary Data Mining Report: Accounting will roll June balances over to 2024-25 later this month. If you run the 21 Fund Summary report for the month of July, the balances will not be correct until after Accounting has rolled the balances.

JULY 1-9
Parents will not be able to make food service or student fee payments online from Monday, July 1 – Tuesday, July 9 while we complete year-end processes and the rollover.

JULY 3
Payroll: Begin entering 2023-24 time off.

JULY 5
Payroll: June Payroll is due.
Payroll: True Time Submissions due.
Inventory/Purchasing: Continue entering 2023-24 Inventory and Purchase requisitions. Warehouses resume delivery schedules.

JULY 7
Payroll: True Time 1st approvals due.

JULY 9
Skyward Student Rollover: Skyward Student will not be available during this time.
Student Fees: Do not enter any student receipts in Skyward Fee Management after midnight Monday, July 8, through July 9.

Published on

DATE:        
June 26, 2024

TO:
All Principals, Directors and Supervisors

FROM:    
John Larsen, Business Administrator
Sarah Palmer, Director of Payroll

SUBJECT:  
DP375 – Vacation Schedule for Administrative Personnel

Clarification of administrator vacation days carryover:

  • Administrators receive 20 frontloaded vacation days on July 1st of each year. These frontloaded days are earned throughout that current year.
  • Administrators may carryover up to 20 earned vacation days from the previous year. Any earned days over 20 not used by December 31st of each year will be forfeited.

Therefore, as of December 31, 2024, any unused vacation days above 40 days will be forfeited. These 40 days consist of the 20 days that will be frontloaded on July 1, 2024 for the 2024-25 year, as well as up to 20 unused earned days that are allowed to be carried over from the previous 2023-24 year.

Published on

TO:
Administrators
Administrative Assistants

FROM:
Steffany Ellsworth, Support Services Manager in Information Systems

Introducing ParentSquare: Our New Communication Platform Launching July 1st!

We are excited to announce the launch of our new school communication platform, ParentSquare, which will be available July 1st! Does this mean that Skylert is no longer available? That’s correct, Skylert will no longer be accessible after June 30, 2024. The good news is that ParentSquare is capable of so much more!

See the document below for all the exciting details!

 

Published on

TO:
Administrators
Administrative Assistants

FROM:
Jeri Gamble, Customer Support in Information Systems

Reminders!!
Accounting Magicians: Please, for the love of all things numerical, **do not** enter any cash receipts, check requests, mileage, or electronic journal entries. The deadline was June 19. Yes, you read that right, JUNE 19. Everything should have been approved by June 20. Fear not, you can begin submitting your precious cash receipts, electronic journal entries, check requests, and mileage again on July 2, but make sure you select the year 2024-25. Time travel is tricky, folks.

SKYWARD FINANCE ROLLOVER: Brace Yourselves!
We will be performing the grand year-end processes on Monday, July 1. On Friday, June 28, I'll be donning my janitor hat for some serious cleanup. Here’s how you can assist:

  • Check Requests: Make sure there are no check requests loitering around awaiting approval.
  • Cash Receipts: No current year cash receipts should be lounging in WIP or Batch status.
  • Journal Entries: Keep those current year journal entries out of Batch or Open status. Trust me, it’s for the greater good.

Pro Tip: It’s best to stay out of Skyward Finance on July 1. If you must enter, please don’t touch anything. Seriously, just look, don't touch. We don't need any rollover mishaps.

SKYWARD STUDENT ROLLOVER/ONLINE PAYMENTS REMINDER:
**Heads Up** The Skyward Student Rollover will occur on Tuesday, July 9. During this thrilling event, Skyward Student will be completely unavailable. It’s like it’s going on a digital vacation.

Our dear parents won’t be able to make any food service or student fee payments online from July 1 to July 9. The system needs some "me time" to complete the year-end processes and the rollover. Buckle up, everyone! It's going to be an exciting end-of-year ride!

Note: Chat GPT helped me spruce up this week’s email. 😊

Published on

TO:
Administrators

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning

Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, Teaching & Learning will no longer have AV equipment for check-out. Schools may wish to purchase these items for a small fee to use at your own school. Please review the link to see the materials available (microphones, mic mixers, speakers, etc).

LINK to view materials

 

Published on

DATE:      
Thursday, June 27, 2024

TO:   
All Administrators

FROM:  
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability

SUBJECT:   
2023-24 Assessment Results Now in Tableau

All state assessment results for the 2023-24 school year are now available in Tableau. Viewers will be able to see results for the district, schools and individual students. Where relevant, viewers may also see results by classroom teachers (except with the ACT, Utah Aspire Plus, and the WIDA Access, which are not connected to classroom teachers). The links below will help administrators navigate directly to the updated results for each assessment:

AAPPL for DLI

Acadience Math

Acadience Reading

ACT 11th grade administration

6th grade CogAT

Growth Measure

RISE (growth scores will be available in the fall)

Utah Aspire Plus (growth scores will be available in the fall)

WIDA Access (growth targets will be available in the fall)

AP exam results will be available in Tableau by the end of July (pending a release date from the College Board of July 15th). The state will release DLM results for students with significant cognitive disabilities sometime in the fall.

 

For questions about these dashboards, please contact Ben Jameson in Assessment, Research & Accountability. To request additional data or to see these results in another way, please contact the district’s data scientist, Brooke Anderson, in Assessment, Research & Accountability.

Published on

DATE:   
June 20, 2024

TO:  
Principals and Administrative Assistants

FROM:
John Larsen, Business Administrator

SUBJECT:
Classroom Supplies Appropriation - Payments and Reports

The State Legislature approved HB105 recently, which changed Classroom Supply funding qualifications and amounts for the 2024-25 school year. As previously explained in JAM, only Classroom Teachers will receive legislative supply funds, however the District will provide School Counselors with $175 “legislative funds” for one more year (2024-25). After this year, School Counselors will not receive these funds.

Please note that Legislative Funds (for teacher supplies and materials) have increased this year as follows:

  • Full-time Pre-Kindergarten through 6th grade teachers will receive $500
  • Full-time 7th through 12th grade teachers will receive $250
  • School Counselors will receive $175 for this school year only
  • These amounts will be adjusted, based on FTE percentage, for teachers who work part-time

In late September, ACH deposits will be completed to the licensed employees that qualify for legislative supply funds. At that time, schools will also receive a disbursement and FTE report with instructions and helpful information about legislative supply money.

If you have questions, please contact my administrative assistant, Lisa LeStarge, at 801-567-8120 or via email: lisa.lestarge@jordandistrict.org.

 

 

 

jl/ll

Published on

TO:
Administrators
Administrative Assistants

FROM:
Jeri Gamble, Customer Support in Information Systems

JUNE 20
Accounting: Last day for principals, directors, and Administrator of Schools to approve check requests.

JUNE 24
Inventory: Last day for delivery of non-food 2023-24 Inventory orders

Reminders!!
Accounting: Do not enter any cash receipts, check requests, mileage and electronic journal entries. The last day for entering was June 19. Principals should approve check requests and mileage by June 20. You may begin submitting cash receipts, electronic journal entries, check requests and mileage on July 2, making sure you select 2024-25.

SKYWARD FINANCE ROLLOVER: All Schools and Departments
We will be doing Finance System year-end processes on Monday, July 1, so on Friday, June 28, I’ll be doing some cleanup. To assist us, please be aware of the following for Friday, June 28, after noon:

  • Check Requests: There cannot be any check requests awaiting approval.
  • Cash Receipts: There cannot be any current year cash receipts in WIP or Batch status.
  • Journal Entry: There cannot be any current year journal entries in Batch or Open status

Don’t forget that if possible, it’s best to stay out of Skyward Finance while we do the rollover on the 1st. If you need to get in, do not make any changes since it may cause errors in the rollover process.

SKYWARD STUDENT ROLLOVER/ONLINE PAYMENTS REMINDER
Skyward Student Rollover will be Tuesday, July 9. Skyward Student will not be available during this time.
Parents will not be able to make food service or student fee payments online from Monday, July 1 – Tuesday, July 9, while we complete year-end processes and the rollover.

Published on

TO:
Administrators
Administrative Assistants

FROM:
Bonnie Brennan, Director of Insurance Services

Volunteer reports need to be submitted to Insurance Services.

Worker's Compensation insurance costs are based on numbers submitted by schools. It is important that this information be accurate and complete.

PTA Figures must be separate from other volunteer hours.

Attached is a copy of the Volunteer Report for the period April 1, 2024 to End of School Year.

Please complete this form and return it to Bonnie Brennan, Director of Insurance Services, by June 30, 2024.

If you have questions, I can be reached at bonnie.brennan@jordandistrict.org or (801) 567-8285.

Thank you.

Published on

TO:
District Administrators
District Administrative Assistants

FROM:
Jeri Gamble, Customer Support in Information Systems

SKYWARD YEAR END ROLLOVER/ONLINE PAYMENTS

Skyward FINANCE Rollover will be July 1. It’s best to stay out of Skyward Finance if possible. If you need to get in, do not make any changes since it may cause errors in the rollover process.

Skyward STUDENT Rollover will be Tuesday, July 9. Skyward Student will not be available during this time.

Parents will not be able to make food service or student fee payments online from Monday, July 1 – Tuesday, July 9 while we complete year-end processes and the rollover.

JUNE 11
Payroll: Don’t forget to approve True Time off requests. They should have been approved by June 11.

JUNE 19
Accounting (Secondary Schools and Departments): P-Card reconciliations due.
Accounting (Secondary Schools & Departments): Last day to submit electronic cash receipts and electronic journal entries. You may resume on July 2.
Accounting (All Locations): Last day to submit check requests, mileage, and verifieds. You may resume submitting check requests on July 2.

JUNE 20
Accounting (All Locations): Last day for principals, directors, and Administrator of Schools to approve check requests.

Published on

TO:
Administrators
Administrative Assistants

FROM:
Steffany Ellsworth, Support Services Manager in Information Systems

Do you have an Apple ID using your district email address?

Your Apple ID is your Apple account for App Store downloads, iCloud storage, and other Apple services. Not all staff with an Apple device have an Apple ID. Only staff who have used the App Store, iCloud or other Apple services have an Apple ID. Some Staff are using an Apple ID that they created using their district email address. These Apple IDs are in the format of firstname.lastname@jordandistrict.org. Despite the fact that these Apple IDs are using your district email address, these are personal Apple IDs that are managed by Apple and not Jordan School District. You will no longer be able to use your district email address for these Apple IDs. If you have an Apple ID using your district email address, then you will be receiving an email from Apple instructing you to choose a different email address.

What to expect if you want to continue using this Apple ID: 

  • Wait for the email from Apple before updating your email address.
  • Choose an email address that is not your district email address.
  • Previous purchases and iCloud data will not be affected.

What to expect if you DO NOT want to continue using this Apple ID:

  • You can ignore the email from Apple and any notifications you receive over the next 60 days.
  • Previous purchases and iCloud data associated with this Apple ID will become unavailable.

Who Can I Contact?

If you have any questions, please contact your building IT Support Technician or the Information Systems help desk at 801-567-8737.

Published on

TO:
Administrators
Administrative Assistants

FROM:
Paul Bergera, Director of Transportation

When scheduling Field/Activity Trips for the 2024-2025 school year, please make note of the following moratorium dates and times when Transportation will not be able to accommodate Field/Activity trips. (See attachment below)

Please contact us with any questions. Kitt @ 801-567-8809, Michele, @ 801-567-8804 and Annette @ 801-567-8334.

Thank you so much for your assistance and support.

Published on

DATE:
June 13, 2024

TO:
Principals
Assistant Principals
Counselors

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

SUBJECT:
Student Records: Gender, Pronouns, Names

A student’s education record belongs to the parent/guardian and is available for use in the school setting to carry out the educational mission of the school and district. Please review the items below regarding certain fields of the student education record in Skyward and when or how changes to these fields may be appropriate.

Sex and Gender:
There are currently two fields in Skyward where information about sex and gender are recorded: “GENDER” and “GENDER IDENTITY.” The definitions of these fields for Skyward may not necessarily match how staff, students, and patrons understand and use the terms. 

GENDER: This field has the same legal definition as “SEX” or “BIOLOGICAL SEX” or “SEX ASSIGNED AT BIRTH”. This field must match the sex marker on the student’s legal birth certificate and may only be changed when the sex marker on the legal birth certificate is officially changed.

GENDER IDENTITY: This field will be blank by default and will not necessarily be the same as “SEX”. It can be updated by a parent/guardian (through the summer registration process or through written parent/guardian request to school administration) to show the student’s preferred or expressed gender identity. Please note that this field does not override any other fields in Skyward and the value of the “GENDER” field described above will display on class rosters and other reports.

Name and “Other Name”:
NAME: This field in Skyward must match the student’s legal name as shown on the birth certificate. It may only be changed in one of two ways:

  1. When the student’s legal birth certificate is officially changed through the court system, or
  2. When the parent/guardian completes a “Name Change Affidavit” and submits it to the school.

In the event that the name is changed through either of these methods, school administration should ensure that office staff processing the request contact Information Systems prior to changing the field in Skyward to avoid complications and service disruption for the student.

The Name Change Affidavit should be saved to the student’s digital cumulative folder in Skyward.

OTHER NAME: This field in Skyward allows a parent/guardian to indicate (by written request) an alternative name that they would like their student to be called. Updating this field does not automatically overwrite other fields in Skyward; however, unlike the “GENDER IDENTITY” field, certain reports (such as the Class Roster report or the Teacher Gradebook screen) contain an option to allow the “OTHER NAME” field to display in place of the legal name. 

The “OTHER NAME” field may be used by schools in programs, documents, and certificates. If no “OTHER NAME” entry exists, the legal name should be used.

The written documentation of the parent request to update the “OTHER NAME” field should be saved to the student’s digital cumulative folder in Skyward.

Name Use and Pronouns:
When a student requests that a teacher or staff member use a different name or pronouns to refer to the student, the following guidelines may be helpful:

  • When the requested name is an alternative form of the legal name or “OTHER NAME” in Skyward, the teacher or staff member may use the name.
  • When the requested name or pronouns do not appear to align with the “GENDER” on record in Skyward, the teacher or staff member should consult with the building principal regarding the requested name.
  • Teachers or staff members who have questions about using a student’s name or preferred pronouns (either communicated by the student, by a parent/guardian, or entered in the “OTHER NAME” or “GENDER IDENTITY” fields in Skyward) should communicate with their building principal or principal’s designee, who should be the primary point-of-contact between the school and the parent/guardian on this issue. Building principals should communicate with their Administrator of Schools as needed. 
  • Utah code §53E-9-205 prohibits policies or actions of the school from “shield[ing] a student's education record from the student's parent” or “interfer[ing] with a parent’s…freedom of access to information regarding the parent's child.” In the event the student expresses concerns about a parent/guardian receiving information about a student’s preferred name, preferred pronouns, or gender identity, the student should be referred to school administration, counselors, or social workers for further support.

NOTE: The rights listed above as belonging to or able to be exercised by the parent/guardian transfer to the student at age 18.

Published on

DATE:
June 13, 2024 

TO:
Principals
Assistant Principals

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

SUBJECT:
UPDATED: HB182 Compliance Regarding Surveys and Preferred Pronoun Use

Utah Code §53E-9-203 prohibits schools and school employees from administering any “psychological or psychiatric examination, test, or treatment, or any survey, analysis or evaluation” (emphasis added) where the purpose is to cause a student to identify information in one of the following eight areas:

  1. political affiliations or, except as provided under Section 53G-10-202 or rules of the state board, political philosophies;
  2. mental or psychological problems;
  3. sexual behavior, orientation, or attitudes;
  4. illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior;
  5. critical appraisals of individuals with whom the student or family member has close family relationships;
  6. religious affiliations or beliefs;
  7. legally recognized privileged and analogous relationships, such as those with lawyers, medical personnel, or ministers; and
  8. income, except as required by law.

HB 182, which passed in the 2024 Utah legislative session and takes effect on July 1, 2024, amends the third item in this list to read as follows (emphasis added):

  1. sexual behavior, orientation, gender identity, or attitudes;

To ensure compliance with HB 182 after July 1, 2024, the following guidance for “beginning-of-year” activities or documents should be noted and communicated to staff:

  • Students should not be asked or otherwise surveyed (including questions on “About Me” or “Getting to Know You”-style assignments and activities) as to their sexual or gender identity or preferred pronouns.
  • Documents or disclosure statements that include this type of survey question about gender identity or preferred pronouns should not be approved by administrators when conducting annual reviews and approvals as required by District Policy AA 432 - Student Attendance and Teacher Disclosure Statements. 

Additionally, staff should be reminded that HB182 also establishes a requirement that any survey related to an early warning system (i.e. Panorama), social emotional learning question, or the school climate system requires parental OPT-IN during registration at the beginning of the school year, adding an additional clearance step to the prohibitions listed above. The opt-in information is included in summer registration materials for District-sponsored surveys.