Category: Other Administrators

TO:
Directors, Administrators, Administrative Assistants

FROM:
McKinley Withers, HR Administrator

Tagline: Exciting updates on employee wellness initiatives!

Jordan’s Employee Wellness Initiative is taking a new form. As of July 2026, Employee Wellness is now a part of the Human Resources Team! This will expand Jordan’s ability to serve employees and meet their needs. Our mission is to empower employees to sustain their well-being. 

Administrators can expect to receive regular updates about program offerings throughout the year. Here are two exciting updates to be aware of as we kick off the school year:

• The Employee Wellness Representative Program is being revised based on feedback from prior years. This will create opportunities for more employees to get involved. Please note the following changes:
  • During the 2026-27 school year, ANY employee can become an Employee Wellness Champion as a “Connector.” A form will go out in JEM that will invite employees to apply to become a connector. These employees will receive the latest updates and spread information about wellness offers. The goal is to create a network of Employee Wellness Champions who support a happier, healthier workplace in Jordan District. 
  • School and department leaders will select a Worksite Wellness Advocate who will attend three trainings (one in person and two virtual) and who will host a wellness initiative at your worksite with District support. Please nominate your Worksite Wellness Advocate using this link by September 4th. 
• Our top priority as we kick off this new program is hearing from YOU. Please share your ideas and interests with us. We will be connecting with you to schedule a time to spend a few hours at your school to hear from employees who have something to share about their experience and well-being. We will be visiting all worksites in JSD throughout the Fall and will connect with administrators to arrange an appropriate time. 

Please note that the employee wellness team is available to offer professional development or resources tailored to your needs; please reach out if you are interested. Reach out to McKinley Withers (mckinley.withers@jordandistrict.org, cell: 801-448-1404) to schedule PD for your staff. 

DATE:
August 6, 2026   

TO:
Principals
All Special Educators and Service Providers

FROM:
Lisa Robinson, Administrator of Schools
Brian King, Director of Special Education

SUBJECT:
SCRAM for 2026-27 School Year - October 1 Count

Special Education Team Leaders will be receiving a SCRAM report via District Mail of all students who should be receiving services through your school’s special education program(s) at the beginning of the 2026-27 school year. Please read this Memo carefully as several items have been modified/updated to include procedures implemented with our Embrace program. Once you have read through the memo, use the process you have in place at your school to include all service providers to share the report and make the necessary corrections. It is important to verify every student on the report. Each team member must initial the report confirming they reviewed it.
SCRAM reports with corrections are due no later than Friday, September 4, 2026. Please work together as a team and only return one copy of the report with all corrections for each school.

Beginning of Year SCRAM Memo 2026-27.docx

TO:
All Administrators
All Administrative Assistants

FROM:
April Gaydosh, Administrator of HR
Brittany Bauer, HR Administrator, Data and Operations

 SUBJECT:
New Frontline Volunteer Application Process

Beginning with the 2026–27 school year,  Jordan School District will transition to a new online volunteer application process through Frontline. This new process replaces the current paper application and will streamline volunteer approvals for both schools and Human Resources.

What's Changing?

Volunteers will now complete their application online through Frontline each school year. During the application, volunteers will:

• Complete the annual volunteer application. Tutorial / Flyer
• Select the school(s) where they would like to volunteer.
• Submit the application electronically.

After submission, the school will review the application and determine whether the volunteer will have:

• Supervised Access – The volunteer will always be supervised by a district employee.
• Unsupervised Access – The volunteer may be alone with students or supervise students without a district employee present.

School Responsibilities

Administrative Assistants or Administrators will:

• Review volunteer applications in Frontline. (TUTORIAL)
• Send Custody of Child Survey to employer (if applicable).
• Determine whether the volunteer requires supervised or unsupervised access.
• Move the application to the appropriate pipeline stage.

If unsupervised access is selected, Human Resources will ensure the volunteer:

• Completes the Code of Conduct training.
• Electronically signs the Code of Conduct acknowledgment.
• Completes fingerprinting if a background check is required.

Human Resources Responsibilities

Human Resources will:

• Verify existing background check status.
• Notify volunteers if fingerprinting is required.
• Process fingerprint results.
• Notify both the volunteer and the school when the volunteer has been approved.

Benefits of the New Process

This new process will:

• Eliminate paper volunteer applications.
• Reduce unnecessary fingerprinting appointments.
• Reduce duplicate background checks.
• Improve communication between schools and human resources.
• Allow volunteers to apply from a phone, tablet, or computer.
• Allow parents to volunteer at multiple schools with one annual application.
• Provide schools with real-time visibility of volunteer status through Frontline.

Annual Application Requirement

All volunteers must complete a new volunteer application each school year, even if they volunteered previously. This ensures volunteer information, school preferences, and district acknowledgments remain current.

School Volunteer Flyer

Questions

If you have questions regarding the new volunteer process, please contact Human Resources:

Phone: 801-567-8150
Email: backgrounds@jordandistrict.org

Thank you for your support as we implement this improved process. We appreciate your partnership in providing a safe and efficient volunteer experience for our students, families, and schools.

TO:
All Administrators

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Michael Heaps, Director Information Systems

Due to recent changes in state law, schools are now required to post a notice regarding Jordan School District Policy AA445 - Student Information Network Acceptable Use Policy in a conspicuous location within each school.

To ensure compliance with this requirement, please post the attached flyer in a prominent, publicly visible location in your school as soon as possible.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this requirement and for helping ensure the District remains in compliance with state law.

Policy AA445 Flyer

TO:
All Schools and Departments

FROM:
Kurt Prusse, Director of Purchasing
Kris Wishart, Administrative Assistant in Purchasing

During the 2025/26 year-end rollover in Skyward, all existing open purchase orders, regardless of when they were entered, had to be closed and are no longer available for payments.

If you have open purchase orders that were entered in any previous year, besides the most current year, please create a new Open PO and select the Blanket box under the Purchase Order Details and submit them as soon as possible so accounting can pay your vendors in a timely manner. Failure to select the Blanket box under Purchase Order Details will only allow a single payment to be applied to the PO, when multiple throughout the year are needed.

We apologize for the inconvenience this may cause but we appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we all work together through this new finance system.

Sincerely,
Purchasing Department

TO:
Principals
Special Education Teachers (Preschool and School-Age)
Speech-Language Pathologists

FROM:
Lisa Robinson, Administrator of Schools
Brian King, Director of Special Education

This year, the state has allocated 6 additional days available to work two weeks before or after your contract days. Please read the attached memo for instructions on when the days can be worked and how to submit them correctly. The link for submitting the days is included in the attached memo.

Extended Year Special Educator Stipends-2026.27 Fall

DATE:
Thursday, July 23, 2026

TO:
All School Administrators and District Department Directors/Consultants

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

SUBJECT:
2026-27 Required Testing Ethics Professional Development Procedures for Licensed Educator and ESP Employees

For the 2026-27 school year, administrators will need to conduct a training on the state’s testing ethics policy for all licensed educators as well as any education support professionals (ESPs) who will assist with district-, state- or federally-mandated testing. 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 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 “2026-27 Principal’s Testing Ethics Checklist for Licensed Educators and ESPs” form, which is due to Assessment, Research & Accountability by Friday, September 18, 2026.

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 “2026-27 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:

• 2026-27 Principal’s Testing Ethics Checklist – This form needs to be filled out and sent to Assessment, Research & Accountability by Friday, September 18, 2026.
• Testing Ethics Presentation, 2026-27 – This is the slide deck if administrators choose to present the training in-person.
• 2026-27 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, 2026-27 – 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 Heather Knecht in Assessment, Research & Accountability with any questions.

2026-27 Testing Ethics Professional Development