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DATE: 
August 13, 2020

TO:  
Principals
Assistant Principals
Administrative Assistants
Secondary Attendance Secretaries

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

SUBJECT: 
Marking Attendance for Quarantining or Isolating Students

Until the resolution of the current pandemic, it is highly likely that students will be excluded due to quarantine or self-isolation from in-person participation in classroom instructional activities. Many of these students and their parents will desire continued access and participation in these instructional activities during their quarantine or self-isolation periods. It is imperative that students who temporarily cease in-person attendance but continue participation in instructional activities are appropriately marked in Skyward so that they are counted in attendance for average daily membership (ADM) totals.

Please read the complete memo below.

 

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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and in compliance with the State of Utah Public Health Order, Jordan School District will require students to wear face coverings while at school.

Jordan School District recognizes that some students may have a medical condition, mental health condition, or disability that prevents wearing a face covering. In order to receive an exemption from the State’s face covering requirements, this form must be completed and returned to the school your child attends prior to your student attending school without a face covering.

Please have your primary care provider complete the Medical Certification by doing one of the following:

  1. Complete and sign the Medical Certification below.
  2. Attach an email or note from the primary care provider outlining the same information as indicated below to this completed form.

2020-2021 Student Face Mask Exemption Request

Mask - FAQs

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Dear Parents,

Thank you for working with us as Jordan School District prepares to reopen schools with in-person and virtual online learning.

As we bring students, teachers and staff back into our schools and buildings, we want you to be aware the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has defined individuals who may be at higher risk for contracting COVID-19.

Everyone is at risk for getting COVID-19 if they are exposed to the virus. While students have been less affected by COVID-19 compared to adults, students with certain conditions may be at increased risk for severe illness. 

According to the CDC, children who are medically complex, who have serious genetic, neurologic, metabolic disorders, and with congenital (since birth) heart disease might be at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19. 

Other at-risk factors or underlying medical conditions may include: 

  • Cancer 
  • Chronic kidney disease
  • COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) 
  • Immunocompromised (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant 
  • Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 or higher)
  • Serious heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
  • Sickle cell disease
  • Type 2 diabetes 

Based on what we know now, people with the following health conditions might be at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19:

  • Asthma (moderate to severe)
  • Cerebrovascular disease (a disease which affects blood vessels and blood supply to the brain)
  • Cystic fibrosis
  • Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from blood or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV/ • AIDS, use of corticosteroids, or use of other immune weakening medicines
  • High blood pressure or hypertension
  • Liver disease
  • Neurologic conditions such as dementia
  • Pregnancy
  • Pulmonary fibrosis (having damaged or scarred lung tissues)
  • Sickle cell disease
  • Thalassemia (a type of blood disorder)
  • Type 1 diabetes

If any of the above conditions listed above describe your child please indicate by logging into Skyward Family Access at https://skystu.jordan.k12.ut.us/ and completing the “Online Form”.

Skyward Screen Language
The Jordan School District and local health department will use this information to notify parents of at-risk students in the event of a positive Covid-19 diagnosis in your child’s class or school. 

After reading the information above, I would identify my student as “at-risk” for COVID-19. I understand that The Jordan School District and local health department will use this information to contact me in the event of a positive COVID-19 diagnosis in my child’s class or school. 

  • Yes, I identify my student as at-risk.

 

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Last night, after negotiations with JESPA and JEA, the Board of Education voted to approve changes to leave policies for all benefit-eligible employees. Below is a brief summary of what those changes mean, as well as a description of federal leave options available through December 31, 2020.

Changes to Leave Policy

  • 6 weeks of maternity leave is available to all benefit-eligible employees.
  • 2 weeks of paternity leave is available to all benefit-eligible employees (to be taken in the first year of the child’s life).
  • Instead of receiving sick, family sick, and personal leave, employees will receive an equal amount of “annual leave” that can be used for any purpose.
  • Any annual leave days that are not used by July 1 each year will convert to sick leave.
  • All personal and sick leave accrued before July 1 remains available and unchanged.

Federal Leave Assistance through FFCRA

  • The Families First Coronavirus Response Act entitles employees to the following leave above and beyond what is offered through policy:
    • 80 hours of leave for employees who cannot work because of quarantine.
    • 80 hours of leave at ⅔ pay to care for an individual who has been quarantined.
    • 10 weeks of leave at ⅔ pay to provide child care for a child whose school or daycare has closed because of COVID-19.

Additional Information

  • A moratorium has been placed on all low-absence or no-absence incentives.
  • Teachers may be able to teach from home virtually during quarantine, avoiding the need to take leave.
  • Individuals must be employed for at least 30 days to qualify for federal leave.
  • The deadline for using vacation leave accrued during the 2019-20 school year has been extended to December 31, 2020.

Employees should review the documents at the links below and/or consult with the Human Resources department or their supervisor before making decisions about leave. 

Policies - Licensed

Policies - ESP

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Reminder: This deadline of September 1, 2020 is approaching fast! We need your qualified people to apply. Please encourage them!

Do you know someone who should be an administrator? Have them apply by September 1, 2020.

See flyer for further information. Session 1 will be held on October 6, 2020 at the District Office.

 

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To assist all users logging in jsd.instructure.com Canvas, a Google single sign-on authentication has been enabled. When navigating to jsd.instructure.com the landing page will have the option to login as a student, teacher, or parent. When logging in as a teacher or student you will use your JSD provided email username and password. With this change, a new site has been set up for all
https://digitallearning.jordandistrict.org/canvaslogin/ If you are already logged into your JSD email and navigate to jsd.instructure.com you will be automatically signed in. Additionally, as a Google user, you will be able to access jsd.instructure.com by clicking on the Google waffle icon and locating the Canvas icon.
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During this past summer, JSD teachers created curriculum content to use while teaching in the online option for Fall 2020. This content is available to all teachers. To access the content created, follow the directions on the website Instructions for Online Content. As you have questions or need further assistance, please contact your school Coach or Digital Learning Specialist.

 

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The Instructional Coaching Institute is intended to create a united vision and purpose in Jordan School District in order to better support teachers. All district and school instructional leaders, including instructional coaches, Title I coaches, BYU/UVU facilitators, and T&L specialists and consultants are considered part of the Instructional Coaching Institute and attend meetings.

Originally, these meetings were scheduled from 10:00-2:00 every Friday with an adjusted schedule of 8:00-12:00 for the August 7th and August 14th meetings.  In an effort to prioritize coaches being available to support the Professional Learning Communities and PD at the school with the new Friday schedule, we have changed the time to 11:00-2:00 beginning August 28th.  We will keep the original 10:00-2:00 schedule for the meeting on August 21st.  Participants are welcome to bring lunch and eat during the meetings as well as take a 30 min. lunch prior to the start time or after we dismiss.

This weekly communication is intended to inform you about topics and discussions that will be covered in the weekly meetings.  If you would like to attend and receive the information alongside your coach(es) you are welcome to do so.  Parts of the meetings will be recorded and links to the recordings will be included each week in this communication. We will do our best to have the agenda ready each Thursday for you to preview prior to the meeting on Friday.  Please click the link to see the agenda.  Elementary Instructional Coaching Institute (ICI) Weekly Agenda

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DATE:   
Thursday, August 13, 2020

TO:    
Elementary Principals

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

SUBJECT:  
Changes in School Acadience Reading Assessment Dates

With the change in schedule approved by the Jordan School District Board of Education, the dates previously set for testers to come administer Acadience Reading benchmarks to K-3 students are no longer valid. USBE approved an extension of the beginning of the year testing window for Acadience Reading in their board meeting last week and will be releasing specific dates in the near future. Evaluation, Research & Accountability will contact each principal directly with a new Acadience Reading assessment date as soon as we confirm the testing window with the state.

Please contact Shannon Johnson at 801-567-8873 or shannon.johnson@jordandistrict.org  with any questions.

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DATE: 
Thursday, August 13, 2020

TO: 
High School Principals

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

SUBJECT: 
Fall ACT Voucher Release

High school test coordinators received the last round of ACT vouchers to be used for this fall’s national testing dates. Here is the information school administrators need to know about these vouchers:

  • They may only be used by students who were 11th graders during the 2019-20 school year that did not take the ACT with the rest of the district in March and who did not take advantage of the vouchers distributed in June.
  • Students must register for the ACT test at a national testing site. They may use the voucher as the form of payment.
  • Your test coordinators received the fall vouchers for your school on August 10th.
  • Test coordinators may send vouchers to eligible students along with the cover letter and supplemental instructions included with this memo.

Please contact Brooke Anderson or Ben Jameson in Evaluation, Research & Accountability with any questions.

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Please review the summary of changes with you and your staff. The summary can be found by clicking HERE.

The NEW COVID-19 School Manual can be found below.

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Attached are all forms and documents distributed during the level meetings at the annual Administrative Leadership Conference held August 5, 2020

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Attached are all forms and documents distributed during the level meetings at the annual Administrative Leadership Conference held August 5, 2020

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DATE: 
August 6, 2020

TO: 
Principals
All Special Education Staff

FROM: 
Lisa Robinson, Administrator of Schools
Kim Lloyd, Director of Special Education

SUBJECT:     
Update Contact Information for Office of Special Education

Please be advised that all questions and concerns regarding Special Education are to be directed to Amanda Hamblin effective immediately. Amanda may be contacted via phone at 801-567-8176 or by email at amanda.hamblin@jordandistrict.org. You may also contact the teacher specialist assigned to your school with any questions. Please work with your teacher specialist for your materials requests as well as any equipment needs or requests. The current teacher specialist assignments are attached here for your reference.

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We are offering ongoing training for existing programs. Teachers can register in JPLS. If you have a larger number of teachers who have not been trained in these programs and would like to request a school training please contact Michelle Lovell or Mandy Thurman.

Heggerty
Wednesday, August 12 4:30 - 7:30
Monday, August 17 5:00 - 8:00

MSRC
Thursday, August 13 4:00 - 7:00
Thursday, August 20 1:00 - 4:00
Thursday, August 20 4:00 - 7:00

 

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We have received the following information from the USBE regarding safety in administration of the KEEP Entry for kindergarten.

  • All kindergarten students will need to take the KEEP Entry in an in-person, one-on-one setting.
  • Schedule time with parents for individual testing appointments and follow school safety protocols that are in place (cleaning of materials, social distancing, etc.).
  • Optional safety protocols:
    • Have test administrators download a virtual copy of the Student Materials and project them on the white board to allow distancing while administering the assessment.
    • Use disposable manipulatives (lima beans, dried goods, etc.) as a way to cut down on time between testing appointments.
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