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The mask requirements for K-12 schools REMAINS IN PLACE until June 15.

The Office of Communications has created new signs for schools to print. Attached below is a PDF package containing the flyers.

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We are excited to announce a new hotline created to assist REDCap users. Examples of assistance include:

  1. Missing student registrations
  2. Data access group assignments
  3. Troubleshooting and training
  4. Data entry
  5. Locating past results

The hotline is available Monday through Friday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. at (385) 286-0296 or toll-free at 1-855-222-7531 (Select Option #3).

Additionally, email assistance is provided Monday - Friday 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. at REDCap_notifications@utah.gov. Our team typically responds to these emails within 1 business day.

To request assistance for testing events including onsite REDCap resources, please submit this form.

Thank you for your partnership,
Utah Department of Health REDCap (K-12 Testing) Team

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The Emergency Broadband Benefit is an FCC program to help households struggling to pay for internet service during the pandemic. This new benefit will connect eligible households to jobs, critical healthcare services, and virtual classrooms.

About the Emergency Broadband Benefit

Emergency Broadband BenegitThe Emergency Broadband Benefit will provide a discount of up to $50 per month towards broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute $10-$50 toward the purchase price.

The Emergency Broadband Benefit is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per household.
Who Is Eligible for the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program?
A household is eligible if one member of the household meets at least one of the criteria below:

  • Qualifies for the Lifeline program;
  • Receives benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision, or did so in the 2019-2020 school year;
  • Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year;
  • Experienced a substantial loss of income since February 29, 2020 and the household had a total income in 2020 below $99,000 for single filers and $198,000 for joint filers; or
  • Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating providers' existing low-income or COVID-19 program.

When Can Families Sign Up for the Benefit?
The program has been authorized by the FCC, but the start date has not yet been established. The FCC is working to make the benefit available as quickly as possible.

Check out the Broadband Benefit Consumer FAQ for more information about the benefit and please continue to check this page for program updates.

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Schools are encouraged to DROP, COVER and HOLD during the statewide earthquake drill on Thursday, April 15, 2021, at 10:15 a.m., or on another date that may be more convenient.

Over 670,000 citizens, businesses and schools have already registered to participate in the drill on 4/15/21 (registration not required): https://www.shakeout.org/utah/register/

Considerations:

More Information:

  • The Great Utah Shakeout Website, link: https://www.shakeout.org/utah/
  • Contact the District Emergency Operations Manager Lance Everill, 801-567-8623, lance.everill@jordandistrict.org
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  1. 2019-2020 WIDA scores will be used for ESL students who did not take this year's test. Please assure parents they do not need to opt out of the program if students were not tested. Thank you for your efforts with WIDA testing this year.
  2. Please complete the monitoring forms for 4th Quarter for levels 5 and 6.
  3. We are having a parent open house for our "Giraffe Club-Culture talk". We have had parents interested to see what we talk about to students in grades K-6. We are providing time for them to log in and learn. Please share the flyer to the event. Thank you!
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In continuation of our 19 year tradition of celebrating prevention and resilience in Utah schools, the state-wide program, Resilient Utah and KUTV Channel 2 are proud to host 2021 Resilient Utah Month in May!  Our month-long celebration will feature the 2020-21 Resilient Utah Education Shield Awards, which will be presented to select schools and individuals that have set extraordinary examples in building resilience and spreading hope within their schools, homes and communities.

NOMINATE NOW! 

Here’s an opportunity to recognize efforts in your schools that strengthen and promote resilience in these challenging times!  Each nomination should take less than 10 minutes to complete.  Feel free to nominate in any of the 8 categories.  Nominations are due Friday, April 23, 2021.  Please pass this on to your staff, volunteers or networks. 

Awards will be announced on KUTV Channel 2, in addition to being publicized through social media and education networks. Award recipients will receive an honorary plaque, in addition to a special gift package.

To nominate, click on the following link:
https://www.resilientutah.org/nominate/

Thank you for all you do to strengthen the lives of Utah families!

The Resilient Utah Team
www.ResilientUtah.org

 

 

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DATE:    
April 8, 2021

TO:   
Principals
Elementary Administrative Assistants
Secondary Registrars

FROM: 
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Administrators of Schools
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Caleb Olson, Consultant, Planning & Enrollment

SUBJECT: 
Updated Process for Non-Transferred Student Records

This memo supersedes previous memos on the handling of non-transferred student files (commonly known as “dead files”).

The approved retention scheduled for non-transferred student files (GRS-1497) does not require these files to be advanced to the high school and transferred to the State Archives for permanent retention. Rather, it requires the files to be retained for three years after separation prior to their destruction.

To comply with this retention schedule, please follow the updated procedure below to process non-transferred student files:

Grades K-8:

  • At the end of each year, separate non-transferred files from active files. Mark the files with a destruction date three years after the student left the school.
  • Non-transferred files should not be advanced with their age cohort. Retain the files at the school of origin.
  • On a regular basis, check non-transferred files against the UTrex database. If the student is active at another Utah location, contact their new school to ask the school to request the file.
  • When the three-year retention has elapsed, check files in UTrex one final time before destroying. Follow the procedures on the “Records Maintenance and Retention” document (April 2021 revision) from Planning & Enrollment to appropriately destroy the files.

Grades 9-12:

  • If the student did not earn credit, follow the process listed in the “Grades K-8” section of this memo.
  • If credit WAS earned, the transcript becomes the official record and is retained with other transcripts for the age cohort. The cumulative folder materials are retained with the age cohort and destroyed as outlined in the “Records Maintenance and Retention” document (April 2021 revision) from Planning & Enrollment.
  • On a regular basis, check non-transferred files against the UTrex database. If the student is active at another Utah location, contact their new school to ask the school to request the file.
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DATE:   
April 8, 2021

TO:    
Principals
Assistant Principals
Administrative Assistants
Secondary Attendance Secretaries
Secondary Registrars

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Administrators of Schools
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Caleb Olson, Consultant, Planning & Enrollment

SUBJECT:   
Processing Record Requests and Subpoenas

There has been an increase in recent months in the number of parent/guardian requests for records and in subpoenas for student records. Please follow the guidelines below when responding to these types of record requests (subpoenas regarding employees should be directed to Human Resources).

Per District Policy AS61 – Student Records and Transcripts, the principal is the custodian of student records at the school level. This means that record requests and subpoenas for student records directed to the school should be filled at the school. Planning & Enrollment will assist schools when subpoenas involve records housed at multiple locations.

Record requests must be from a parent, legal guardian, or the student. Requests must be made in writing. When the identity of the requestor cannot be confirmed locally, the request must be notarized. Once received, the school has 45 days to respond to the request. If the requestor is a non-custodial parent, a courtesy call to the custodial parent should be made. Additional guidelines can be found at http://planning.jordandistrict.org by searching for “Request to Access/Amend Records”.

An official subpoena will be sent by an attorney or court official and does not necessarily require a judge’s seal. Subpoenas must be answered within 10 business days of receipt. The individual whose records have been subpoenaed must be notified by the school and given a window of time in which to pursue (if desired) court action to prevent the disclosure of records. This notification should be logged and kept with a copy of the subpoena and the records requested.

When complying with subpoenas or record requests, only records that currently exist may be accessed. Records and reports may need to be generated and printed in Skyward but schools should never create new sources of data in response to a request. Schools should only provide the records requested and should not volunteer or create additional information.

Records requests and subpoenas should be answered in the manner they were received or in the manner requested. When sending files via email, records must be transmitted via MoveIt. Records sent via the mail must be sent as certified mail with a delivery receipt.

Planning & Enrollment staff are also always available to consult with school staff on filling record requests or subpoenas and can consult on questions schools may face when working with these types of documents.

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DATE:  
April 8, 2021

TO: 
Principals
Assistant Principals
Administrative Assistants
Secondary Attendance Secretaries
Secondary Registrars

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Administrators of Schools
Travis Hamblin, Planning & Student Services
Caleb Olson, Consultant, Planning and Enrollment

SUBJECT:
New Records Retention Schedule

A revision to the records retention schedule has been prepared and is now available from Planning & Enrollment. The new document includes information on record maintenance and state requirements for record destruction. Changes have been made to the retention requirements of certain types of documents to align with current retention requirements from the State Archive.

The new document is available at the Planning & Enrollment website (http://planning.jordandistrict.org) on the “School Resources” page of the “Resources/Forms” tab. It can also be accessed by searching “Records Retention” on the Planning & Enrollment website.

If school staff cannot find a specific record or report on the new retention schedule, they may contact Planning & Enrollment for direction and to have the report added to the schedule. As the list of reports may change, school staff should refer to the report electronically rather than printing a hard copy.

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We are thrilled to announce that Junior Achievement of Utah will be hosting the JA Inspire Career Expo event this year on Tuesday, May 11th from 8am - 3pm!  

This virtual career fair is open to all 9th - 12th grade students in Utah. Students will have access to over 60 local business and higher education career exhibits, in addition to live panel discussion and webinars.

JA provides prep curriculum for this event which correlates with Utah CTE, FCAS and CCA courses. JA Inspire also includes webinars, panels discussions, and resources highlighting the importance of soft skills in the workplace, in connection with the Utah Portrait of a Graduate Competencies.

The event is free for students, and they can earn prizes for visiting booths, watching videos, and participating in panel discussions.

Please share the flyer below with teachers and students who would benefit from this experience.

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District support staff are among the unsung heroes of the Jordan School District.

Each year Jordan schools and departments are invited to nominate one non-teaching/support staff employee for recognition. Through a designated committee, Jordan Education Foundation Board of Directors will select up to five individuals to be recognized as Outstanding Education Support Professional Employees. Each recipient will be given $1,000 and a commemorative award at the Board of Education meeting in May.

All full-time Jordan School District Education Support Professional employees are eligible. Past winners of this award are not eligible for nomination. One nomination per department/school will be considered. Please make sure the Nominee's Department Head or Principal has approved this nomination. Nominations will be accepted until 11:59 pm, Monday, April 12, 2021

Thank you all for taking the time to honor our amazing Education Support Professionals!

PLEASE VISIT THE FRONT PAGE OF OUR WEBSITE:  WWW.JORDANEDUCATIONFOUNDATION.ORG for more information and to nominate an outstanding education support professional.

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DATE: 
April 7, 2021

TO:
All Jordan School District Principals (with bus route students)

FROM:
Scott Thomas, Administrator of Auxiliary Services
Paul Bergera, Director of Transportation
Kathy Jones, Transportation Trainer/Risk Coordinator

SUBJECT:   
State Required Bus Evacuations and School Bus Safety 2020-2021

State required semi-annual school bus evacuations have been scheduled for this spring. This applies to those students that ride the bus daily to and from school.

The evacuations will be conducted during the week of:

Monday, April 19, 2021 through Friday, April 23, 2021

Your school’s regular bus drivers will perform this evacuation one day during the week as they drop your students off in the morning. This procedure takes place at your school and is located in your normal bus drop off/pick up zone. All professional school bus drivers that transport students are required to perform evacuation procedures in case of an emergency. Due to Covid-19, bus evacuation will be through the front door this year. Students will then, under the direction and supervision of the bus driver, evacuate and meet in a safe place approximately 100 feet away from the bus.

Your assistance is welcome but not mandatory to complete this required evacuation drill quickly, safely and effectively.

We appreciate all you do to help us safely transport your students.

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DATE:  
April 5, 2021

TO:  
Applicable School Principals and Administrative Assistants (Financial and Membership)
All Area Administrators of Schools and Administrative Assistants
Caleb Olson, Planning and Enrollment
Steven Harwood, Support Services and Programming Manager

FROM:     
John Larsen, Business Administrator
Daniel Ellis, Director of Accounting and Audits
Jason Mott, Accountant/Internal Auditor

SUBJECT:   
External Audit Visits

Please see attached memo.

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DATE: 
Thursday, April 8, 2021

TO: 
Elementary School Administrators

FROM:   
Shelley Nordick, Ph.D., Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability

SUBJECT: 
KEEP Exit Remote Administration Materials

Elementary school administrators are asked to pass this information, along with the materials included with this memo, to their kindergarten teachers as soon as possible.

KEEP Exit administration for the 2020-21 school year is still required by the state.  The KEEP Exit window is scheduled during the end-of-year kindergarten testing days on the following dates:

  • Traditional: May 21-28, 2021
  • Year Round:
    A and B Tracks – May 14-20, 2021
    C and D Tracks – June 4-11, 2021

Data entry into the Data Gateway is due by Tuesday, June 15, 2021.  Those who are administering the KEEP Exit (including kindergarten teachers and classroom aides) should have been trained.  Test administrators can access training in one of two ways:

Testing of Virtual Kindergarten Students:
In an effort to accommodate students who are learning online, the state has released procedures and materials for administering the KEEP Exit virtually.  USBE is recommending that, when possible, schools administer the KEEP Exit in-person, which would mean that schools would need to request appointments from parents of virtual students to bring their kindergarten students into the school building to be tested.  If this is not possible, the following procedures should then be used:

  • The teacher should make an appointment with the parent for the KEEP Exit to be administered to the kindergarten student virtually via Zoom.
  • The parent will need to assist with technology and provide four blank sheets of paper, writing utensil, two sheets of lined paper (provided by the teacher), and 10 basic counters (small objects to count like cereal, pebbles, etc.). The parent should plan on being present for the duration of the test, but should be instructed to not provide answers to their child.
  • Two devices with video capabilities will be required at home – one for the student and one for the parent. The parent’s device will be used to show what the student is pointing to on the student’s screen or writing on the paper (see demo video link below).

Included with this memo are the following materials (they may also be found online here):

  • KEEP Exit Remote Administration Guidelines – Kindergarten teachers should use this document as the script they read while administering the test.
  • KEEP Exit Remote Administration Materials – Kindergarten teachers should use this slide deck to display on their screen so the student can see it.
  • KEEP Exit Score Sheet – This is the same scoring sheet for the in-person KEEP Exit assessment. It is recommended that the teacher record scores on this sheet and then input the scores on the Data Gateway after testing has been completed.
  • KEEP Exit Test Administration Manual – This manual contains procedures for administering the entire assessment.

Kindergarten teachers administering the KEEP Exit online are strongly encouraged to watch the demo video here:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/16sLQsNQjxmqcAKr9y4hoFObuZvT_36OT

If you have questions about the KEEP Exit, please contact the following people:

  • For Data Gateway or test administration questions: Ben Jameson, Evaluation, Research & Accountability: 801-567-8243 or jameson@jordandistrict.org
  • For remote test administration questions: Liz Williams, USBE Assessment & Accountability: 801-538-7542 or williams@schools.utah.gov
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DATE:    
Thursday, April 8, 2021

TO:   
Elementary School Administrators
Elementary Administrative Assistants

FROM: 
Shelley Nordick, Ph.D., Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability

SUBJECT:   
EOY 2021 Acadience Reading Testing – In-person and Virtual Students

Acadience Reading Benchmarks are once again required this year by the state – both students receiving their instruction in-person and online.  End-of-year benchmark testing will begin on April 15th and conclude on June 3rd.  This memo contains information on how the benchmark administration will be accomplished for both in-person and virtual students.

Students Receiving Instruction In-person:
Principals should have received an updated Monday-Thursday schedule of when district assessment assistants will be in schools to administer the state-mandated K-3 Acadience Reading Benchmarks.  For questions about scheduling, please contact Shannon Johnson at 801-567-8873 or shannon.johnson@jordandistrict.org.

There will be 7-8 district assessment assistants during your assigned testing time.  We also ask that the instructional coach, who was trained in September on Acadience Reading testing, assist with testing students as well.  If the testing team gets ahead of schedule during the day, we are happy to excuse coaches to go about their other duties.  To better be able to social distance between individual testing areas, we are requesting that schools use one of two room options:

  1. Schedule the media center.
  2. Schedule two classrooms that are close together. This allows classes to be easily funneled into both classrooms.  It also allows team leads to gather cards easily and assist with technology glitches quickly to minimize lost testing time.

If neither of these room options is possible, please contact Ben Jameson at 801-567-8243 to discuss other arrangements.

Each district tester is equipped with an 18x18 plexiglass shield along with their Chromebooks and student materials.  For this reason, student desks do not provide enough table space for everything.  We are requesting tables with chairs to accommodate our testers’ equipment.

For information on the cleaning and disinfecting procedures district testers will follow after each student, please see the document entitled Acadience Reading Testing Protocols and Procedures for COVID-19 that accompanies this memo.

Besides the changes listed above, our district assessment assistants will follow a similar routine for testing that they have followed in previous years.

Students Receiving Instruction Online:
We are required to administer the Acadience Reading Benchmarks to all students – including our students who have opted to learn online from home this year.  Parents of virtual students can choose to have their student tested in-person at their boundary school or virtually via Zoom.  Testing of virtual students will take place on Fridays at elementary schools throughout the testing window.  Evaluation, Research & Accountability will be sending a small team of 4-5 district assessment assistants to meet with and administer the benchmark assessments in-person to virtual students (principals have already been notified of their assigned Friday).  We are requesting that schools set aside a location for the assessment assistants to administer the benchmarks that will have access to larger table spaces to accommodate the plexiglass shield, Chromebooks and student materials.

Evaluation, Research & Accountability will schedule virtual students for a testing appointment through a Qualtrics survey form.  Schools will not need to schedule anything themselves.  If parents of virtual students or virtual teachers request the link to schedule a testing appointment, schools may provide the following link:
https://jordandistrict.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1ZZwVyBwPCsud4a

Please contact Ben Jameson with any questions or concerns.  We look forward to working with you on a smooth Acadience Reading test administration.

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Every elementary and middle school in Jordan District has an opportunity to receive schoolwide access to Second Step on our District's Project AWARE Grant for the 2021-22 school year. Second Step's evidence-based K-8 curriculum includes weekly lessons, advisory activities, home links, reinforcement strategies, school-wide announcements, and more! The lessons are easy enough for any person to teach with minimal prep time and the digital platform makes this even easier. Second Step is now fully digital and any school that joins will be able to grant full access to the content to anyone in their school.

If you would like to take advantage of this opportunity at your school, please take 5 minutes to fill out this brief form that outlines our promise to you as you continue to find ways to support your student's social and emotional needs. If you have questions, reach out to McKinley Withers, mckinley.withers@jordandistrict.org, 801-448-1404.

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With District and Health Department approval, beginning April 14th, 2021, JSD Nutrition Services will transition from our current meal service as follows:

  • Discontinue the use of hinged Styrofoam containers (except curbside/door-side meal service and ‘grab and go’ meals offered to virtual learners and students who are not able to eat in the school cafeteria.)
  • School cafeterias will return to a pre-COVID meal service utilizing serving lines.
  • Meals will return to an offer vs serve format, where students may choose or refuse some menu choices. Menu items that students choose/pick up themselves must be wrapped or in a portion cup with a lid.
  • Nutrition Workers will monitor students in serving areas, so students touch only the item(s) they are choosing.
  • Manual meal counting will continue for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year (No registers will be in use.)
  • Elementary schools will return to serving lunches on washable trays.
  • Secondary schools will return to serving meals on disposable plates, boats etc.
  • Cafeterias will maintain current district social distancing guidelines.
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Volunteer reports need to be submitted to Insurance Services.

Workers' 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 from December 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021.

Please complete this form and return it to Cheryl Matson, Director of Insurance Services, by April 30, 2021.

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Principals:

Reminder: Two LAND Trust reports are due tomorrow, Friday, March 26, 2021.

2019-20 Final Report
2021-22 Upcoming LAND Trust Plan

Spring Break is next week. Please complete your reports by tomorrow so you can enjoy your time off! As a side note, I will also be off enjoying spring break next week. Please contact me, Nadine Page, at 801-567-8182 or nadine.page@jordandistrict.org, today or tomorrow if you have any questions regarding the completion of these two reports.

Here are previous JAM links to help you in preparing these reports:

JAM - Feb 11th
Recap of the principal meeting training as well as helpful documents.

JAM - Mar 11th
Information regarding the deadlines and how to prepare the reports. You each received an email on March 11th with important information pertinent to your individual school to help in preparing these reports.

Thanks for all of your help in getting these reports to the AOS and Board Members responsible for reviewing and approving the reports.

 

 

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