The biannual Literacy Promise Conference is scheduled for March 28 – 30, 2018. There’s an excellent lineup of presenters, including Doug Fisher. The featured author keynote is James Dashner (Maze Runner series). Fliers have been sent to each school with program and registration information. The Curriculum Department will pay the registration fee for one administrator per school. Please send registration forms to Amanda Hansen. Space is limited, so you’ll want to register as soon as possible. (Registration forms were distributed at Principals' Meeting on 12/5/17)
USBE Request for Information
On Tuesday an email was sent from USBE Purchasing staff to all principals requesting some information. Please disregard this request as it has been taken care of at the District level. As a reminder, USBE staff is supposed to communicate directly with the District for such requests. Before investing time into fulfilling USBE requests, please inform your Administrator of Schools of the request.
Destruction of Special Education Records
DATE:
December 1, 2017
TO:
High School and Center-Based School Principals
High School Special Education Team Leaders
FROM:
Laura Finlinson, Admin. of Curriculum/Staff Development & Special Programs
Lisa Robinson, Director of Special Education
SUBJECT:
Destruction of Special Education Records
School districts are required to keep special education records five years past the student’s twenty-second birthday. In compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), Jordan School District must notify parents and afford them the opportunity to receive special education records before destruction of those records can occur.
As of December 1, 2017, such notice will have been advertised to parents for students whose birthdates are prior to September, 1991 (i.e., students who are 27 years of age). Any records for this time period that have not been requested by January 31, 2018 should be submitted for destruction following the procedures identified below:
- A list must be submitted to the special education teacher specialist assigned to your school which identifies each student’s name, birthdate and student number for all files to be destroyed.
- The special education teacher specialist will review the list and notify the team once it is verified that the records may be submitted for destruction.
- NEW PROCEDURE: Follow the Shredding of Confidential Records procedures outlined in the September 8, 2014 memo from Auxiliary Services which reads:
Records to be destroyed will now need to be retained in a secure place at your school. When you have accumulated more than 10 boxes, please contact Columbus Secure Document Solutions at 801-262-1588 to schedule pickup and disposal.
Please remove records from loose leaf binders or hanging file folders. All confidential records must be boxed, taped shut and visibly labeled as CONFIDENTIAL TO BE DESTROYED. Boxes not secured and labeled will not be accepted. Please collect all boxes in one central location. At the scheduled date and time, please have someone available to direct workers where the boxes are for quick and efficient pick up.
Note that special education records may be submitted for destruction at any time after January 31, 2018 as long as the destruction meets the criteria and has been approved by the special education department.
- Please remember that the Utah State Records Retention Schedule mandates that student transcripts be retained permanently.
If you have questions, please call the special education teacher specialist assigned to your school.
cc:
Paul Bergera, Auxiliary Services
Susan Sudbury, Placement Office
Travis Hamblin, Student Services
Sandra Riesgraf, Communications
Changes in the USBE Testing Ethics Policy
DATE:
Thursday, November 30, 2017
TO:
Principals and District Administrators
FROM:
Laura Finlinson, Administrator of Curriculum and Staff Development
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability
SUBJECT:
Changes in the USBE Testing Ethics Policy
On November 2, 2017, the Utah State Board of Education revised and approved the 2017-18 Standard Test Administration and Testing Ethics Policy for Utah Educators. USBE has requested that we distribute this revised policy to educators who will proctor or administer any state-mandated testing during the 2017-18 school year.
The changes to this policy focus primarily on incentives and disincentives for students taking state-mandated tests. In addition, some clarification was provided on how SAGE test results can and cannot be used (see Summary of Changes: 2017-18 Utah Testing Ethics Policy document attached with this memo).
These changes do not require re-training of personnel. Principals and district administrators are asked to distribute the USBE policy document and Summary of Changes: 2017-18 Utah Testing Ethics Policy that accompany this memo to faculty and staff responsible for testing before the Winter Break. It is also recommended that this policy be available when principals train faculty members in preparation for the 2017-18 SAGE administration.
Please refer to Ben Jameson in the Evaluation, Research & Accountability Department with any questions or concerns. He can be reached at 801-567-8243 or ben.jameson@jordandistrict.org
High School Testing Bulletin – December 2017
Middle School Testing Bulletin – December 2017
Elementary Testing Bulletin – December 2017
“Be Well” December 2017 Newsletter
Human Resources Upcoming Events and Opportunities – December 2017
Principal’s Meeting – December 5, 2017
Principals’ Meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 5, 2017, at the ASB. Due to the DOK training with Karen Hess last Tuesday, we won’t have a combined PD meeting. Principals will go directly to their respective rooms for level meeting. Please note the start times for each level.
Elementary – Auditorium
Start Time: 9:30 a.m.
Middle – PD 103
Start Time: 9:00 a.m.
High – PD 113
Start Time: 8:00 a.m.
No Breakfast will be served but a Christmas luncheon will be provided by “Simply the Best Catering.” See you there!
Elementary Math Tournament Invitation
Daybreak Elementary invites schools to participate in their 8th Annual Math Tournament for students in grades 4-6. Early fee registrations are due December 19, 2017. Late fee registrations are due January 23, 2018. Please see the attached documents for invitation information, registration and questions.
Supporting Students Who Struggle in Mathematics
W-4 Payroll Reminder
December 2017 School Psychologists’ Meeting
DATE:
December 1, 2017
TO:
School Psychologists
FROM:
Laura Finlinson, Administrator of Curriculum/Staff Development & Special Programs
Lisa Robinson, Director of Special Education
Fulvia Franco, Program Specialist – Guidance
SUBJECT:
December School Psychologists’ Meeting
A school psychologists’ meeting has been scheduled for Friday, December 8, 2017, from 12:00 to 3:30 p.m. at the Jordan School District Auxiliary Services Building Auditorium (7905 South Redwood Road). We will begin with a holiday luncheon at 12:00 p.m. Pam Awana, Ph.D., a psychologist in private practice, will provide us with a presentation on Ramifications of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in Children and Adolescents.
Part-time Staff: I would appreciate it if you could adjust your schedules in order to attend this meeting.
cc: Principals
Important Payroll Dates for December 2017
November Safety Share – Slips, Trips, Falls and Safety Tips for all Employees
Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) Testing Checklist for 2017-18
DATE:
November 17, 2017
TO:
Principals
Special Education Teachers (Resource & Cluster)
FROM:
Laura Finlinson, Administrator of Curriculum/Staff Development & Special Programs
Lisa Robinson, Director of Special Education
Courtney Titus, Program Specialist
SUBJECT:
Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) Testing Checklist
Attached is the DLM checklist for all special education teachers who are administering the DLM assessment to any of their students for the 2017-2018 school year. You are required to complete and return the checklist to Ami Shah at the District Office by Thursday, December 21, 2017. This form is also available online at specialed.jordandistrict.org/staff/forms on the Special Education website.
If you need help with any portion of this checklist, please contact your school’s assigned Teacher Specialist.
Please direct any questions or concerns to Ami Shah at 801-567-8145 or ami.shah@jordandistrict.org or you may contact Courtney Titus at 801-567-8904 or courtney.titus@jordandistrict.org.
Surplus Reallocation and Auctions
A Surplus Reallocation and Auction is running on PublicSurplus.com which began on Thursday, November 2 and runs through Thursday, November 16. The reallocation items will roll to public auction until the end of November. Remember reallocation items are marked with a key icon; everything else is on the public auction. Please check to see if there are any items you may need at your schools. To see our items go to PublicSurplus.com
Please keep sending in your surplus paperwork as you get it so that we can continue to schedule pick-ups as needed. All paperwork is to be signed by your principal and then sent to your Administrator of Schools.
Thanks for all your help.