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Published on

DATE: 
May 25, 2016

TO:
Principals
All Special Educators and Related Service Providers

FROM: 
Laura Finlinson, Administrator of Curriculum/Staff Development & Special Programs
Lisa Robinson, Director of Special Education
Julie Brown, Program Specialist-Special Education

SUBJECT: 
Information Regarding Beginning of the 2016-17 School Year

As the Special Education Department reflects on the 2015-16 school year, we would like to send out our heartfelt appreciation for the hard work and dedicated service you have provided to students in Jordan School District. Each week we celebrate the amazing acts of teamwork, kindness, extra mile actions, and support that you provide to students, their families, and your colleagues. Your efforts are recognized and celebrated at all levels.

In looking towards the upcoming school year, there are several items that we wanted to make you aware of prior to the start of the new school year. We will provide a general description below and send out detailed information closer to the start of the new school year.

Upcoming:

  • Opening Professional Development – This year’s opening information will be provided in a variety of learning opportunities, including online, and small group targeted content trainings. We recognize that preparation time, prior to school starting, is limited and valuable. Therefore, we will not be convening a whole group opening training during the 3 preparation days for the 2016-17 school year.
  • Extended Year for Special Education Teacher Stipends – This year the legislature has extended the stipend options for qualifying Special Education teachers, Special Education Preschool teachers, and Speech-Language Pathologists to include 6 days. The details and timesheets will be sent to your school, but we wanted to inform you of the option to use these 6 extended days to complete IEP related duties the two weeks prior to or following your contract days beginning July 1, 2016. Year-round off-contract options are also available.
  • Woodcock-Johnson IV Training – Jordan School District has purchased the Woodcock Johnson IV Tests of Achievement to replace the Woodcock Johnson III, which will no longer be on the approved list for achievement testing for the 2016-17 school year. To facilitate the training of all special education teachers to administer this assessment, we have scheduled a variety of training opportunities on the JPLS website. A detailed flyer with registration information will be heading your way.
  • Compliance Reviews – Compliance updates and reminder information will be provided in an online format for you to complete during contract time at your convenience.
  • On-going Professional Development – There are many continuing and additional opportunities, available for targeted groups of staff, to participate in on-going professional development, that will begin either in the summer months or shortly after school starts in the fall. Please watch for additional information and registration information. Some examples are:
    1. Math Training for special education and general education math co-teaching teams
    2. Math content and instructional support for elementary resource teachers
    3. Revised eligibility for Specific Learning Disability (SLD) for secondary students
    4. Positive Behavior Supports and new Least Restrictive Behavioral Interventions (LRBI) Guidance
    5. IEP planning, development, and compliance support training for teams
    6. Essential Elements core curriculum alignment PLC’s

Once again, thank you for all you do, enjoy your summer, and we are looking forward to another fantastic year.

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Published on

DATE:
May 27, 2016

TO:
Principals

FROM:
Laura Finlinson, Administrator of Curriculum and Staff Development
Clyde Mason, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability

SUBJECT:
Research Project - Parent Breakfast Survey

The Research Review Committee has reviewed a research project in which your school has been asked to participate.

Project Title: “Parent Breakfast Survey”

Applicant: Lori Anderson, PhD, EHES

The project has been approved by the District Research Review Committee. The applicant has been directed to contact you to discuss the extent of the project and to obtain your permission to conduct the study at your school. If you have questions or concerns relating to participation, please contact Clyde Mason at 567-8243.

Thank you for your assistance.

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Published on

DATE:
June 1, 2016

TO: 
All Principals

FROM: 
Administrators of Schools
Ron Bird, Director, Information Systems
Mark Sowa, Curriculum Technology Consultant

SUBJECT: 
FIRE DANGER - Apple MacBook Aftermarket Battery

See attached memo with picture.

 

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Published on

DATE:
May 19, 2016

TO:
High School Principals and Head Secretaries

FROM:
C. Brad Sorensen, Administrator of Schools

SUBJECT:
2016-17 High School Summer Office Hours

Each high school in Jordan School District will be allocated $4,000 to assist in covering summer office hours for the 2016-17 school year.  Please note that benefits must be deducted from this amount.  Benefits are calculated at 8.45% to include FICA, Medicare, and Industrial Insurance. If you choose to use a full-time school employee that qualifies for retirement benefits, an additional 23.69% (Tier I-before July 1, 2011) or 20.02% (Tier II-after June 30, 2011) must be added to the total cost.

This money may be used for time worked from June 1 through August 31, 2016.  Please turn in timesheets monthly and August timesheets are due no later than September 6, 2016.  No money will be carried over from the summer hour allocation.  All timesheets for your summer hours need to be coded as 10-E-LOC-8707-2436-154 and should be sent along with your allocation form each month to Brad Sorensen’s office for approval.

If you have any questions, please call Brad Sorensen at 801-567-8233 or Cari Minnesota at 801-567-8173.

Thank you.

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Published on

DATE:  
May 27, 2016

TO: 
High School Principals, Counselors, Registrars

FROM:
Administrator of Schools
Dr. Anthony Godfrey, Associate Superintendent of Schools
Luann Leavitt, Consultant of Planning and Student Services
Steven Harwood, System/Program Manager Information Systems

SUBJECT:  
Codes for 12th Grade Students at End of Year

All seniors who completed the school year need to have a final status reported to the State.  They should be marked according to the following guidelines in the “Grad/DiplSts” field in Skyward on the Profile Screen.

  1. Students who exited/withdrew before the end of the school year should be left blank unless they are Early Graduates. Early Graduates should be coded by the school as “GR” (graduate).
  1. Students who graduate at the end of the year can be left blank, and Skyward will be set to code them as:
    1. “GR” – Graduate (those who Skyward shows have passed the civics test)
    2. “GP” – Graduation Pending (those who Skyward shows have not passed the civics test)
  1. Students who remain at the school until the end of the year and do not receive a diploma should be coded as follows by the school:
    1. “G3” – Basic High School Diploma, IEP team has determined that the student’s participation in statewide assessment is through the UAA and/or DLM
    2. “GM” – Basic High School Diploma, did not meet requirements of GR, or G3 but did satisfy other criteria provided specifically for military children in Utah Code 53A-11-1404
    3. “CT” – Certificate of completion, awarded by LEA
    4. “RT” – Retained Senior (special education students only)
    5. “GP” – Graduation Pending
    6. “AO” – Aged out of Special Education
    7. “DO” – Student finishes the year, but none of the above codes apply

The attached report shows students who have currently been identified.  If you did not receive an attached report no seniors have been identified, and indicates that all seniors received a diploma.  Please verify that the status for the seniors is correct.  Additionally, if there are students who are not receiving a diploma and are not on the attached list, please correct their Grad/Dipl Status Field in Skyward.  Notes: Special Education students who are seniors this year but will be returning next year should be marked as “RT” even if they will be participating in graduation ceremonies.  Additionally, any special education students who were marked “RT” in the past years who are not returning because they will age out over the summer should have their status changed accordingly. Students marked as GP will be counted as dropouts unless updated in the Oct 1 data submission.  Thank you.

The JSD Deadline for reporting this information is June 24, 2016.  Please contact Student Services upon completion (801-567-8251).

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Published on

DATE:
May 24, 2016

TO:
All Secondary Principals, High School Counselors, and Middle School Counselors

FROM:
Brad Sorensen, Administrator of Schools, Herriman K-12 Feeder System
Michael Anderson, Administrator of Schools, Riverton K-12 Feeder System
Laura Finlinson, Administrator, Curriculum and Staff Development

SUBJECT:
2016-17 Comprehensive School Counseling Program (CSCP) Calendar

See attached memo.

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Published on

Principals and teachers:

Please be aware that on July 7, 2016, Information Systems will be rolling over (archiving) the data from Mastery Connect for the 2015-2016 school year. This will enable all users to start the 2016-2017 school year fresh with new rosters and so forth. The data compiled from the 2015-2016 school year will still be available via the Mastery Connect Archives, accessible through your normal Mastery Connect home page. For help with accessing this data, or for help with any Mastery Connect processes regarding the new school year, please contact your respective district Curriculum Technology Specialist.
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Published on

DATE: 
May 24, 2016

TO:   
All Principals                 

FROM:
Scott Thomas, Administrator, Auxiliary Services
Herb Jensen, Director, Transportation
Sula Bearden, Coordinator, Transportation
Kittisack Soumpholphakdy, Transportation Activity Specialist                       

SUBJECT:
Moratorium Field/Activity Trip Dates and Times

See attached memo.

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Published on

Elementary Principals:

Summer Literacy Conference:
Please encourage teachers to register soon, while space is still available.  See attached flyer for details.

16-17 Planning Materials:
Please let teachers know the following documents are available on the CBL website to help in their planning for next year.  The password is Literacy…with a capital L.

Available NOW:
ELA Assessment Blueprints
Benchmarks 1, 2, and 3
Reading Passage Levels & Writing Genres for each assessment

Expected within the 1-2 weeks:
Suggested administration dates
ELA (SLO) Pre Test
Writing Rubric Scoring Guides
Year-At-A-Glance Curriculum Map
Sample Planning Guide
Blank Planning Template

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Published on

The STEM Math Software Grant Application has been released. If you are interested in applying for math software please read the requirements (below) and then fill out the google form (http://goo.gl/forms/NTfZigUl54Ikuce83) byFriday, June 3, 2016. The district will submit the requests for each school.

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Published on
Reminder: During the summer months we will still be running Surplus Reallocation and Auctions.  Please check PublicSurplus.com weekly to see if there are any items you may need at your schools.  Also please keep sending in all your surplus paperwork as you get it so that we can continue to schedule pick ups as they are needed.
If you have any questions, please contact Kris Wishart (801) 567-8709 or Corie Fuller (801) 567-8717.
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Published on

DATE: 
May 12, 2016

TO:  
High School Principals

FROM:    
John Larsen, Business Administrator
June LeMaster, Administrator, Human Resources
Brad Sorensen, Administrator of Schools
Brent Burge, Human Resource Administrator, Classified

SUBJECT: 
Additional Summer Pool Hour Request - High Schools

This is a reminder to all HS principals of the additional 100 summer pool hours previously approved.  The following guidelines are to be followed to ensure consistency and proper use of the additional pool hours:

  • The HS Principal must choose either the School Administrative Assistant-Attendance OR the School Administrative Clerk (Correspondence Secretary) to use the additional summer pool hours. The hours may not be split between the two positions.
  • The HS Principal must notify Brad Sorensen’s office by June 3, 2016 and report which assistant will work these additional summer pool hours.
  • There is a maximum of 100 hours which may only be used after the 206 contract ends June 10, 2016 and before the contract begins August 1, 2016. The employee may not exceed 40 hours in any week and any time not used will be forfeited.
  • No other assistant (full or part time) may use these pool hours.
  • All hours to be paid must be submitted on a time sheet to Brad Sorensen for approval. All hours will be tracked by Brad Sorensen’s office to ensure the hours are not exceeded.

We hope these additional summer pool hours will help you provide adequate coverage for the students and patrons you serve.  Please contact Human Resources if you have any questions.

Cc:
Cabinet

Payroll

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Published on

DATE:   
May 26, 2016

TO:  
Principals
Administrative Assistants

FROM:   
Administrators of Schools
Dr. Anthony Godfrey, Associate Superintendent of Schools
Luann Leavitt, Consultant for Planning and Student Services

SUBJECT: 
Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA)

DPAA441 Privacy Rights – Students and Family was effective in August 2000.  This policy covers privacy rights relevant to eight protected areas.

LEA’s must provide parents and eligible students effective notice of their rights under PPRA.  The notice must explain that an LEA is required to obtain prior written consent from parents before students are required to participate in an activity that concerns one or more of the eight protected areas listed on the attached “Protection of Pupil Rights Notification and Consent/Opt Out.”

The attached “Protection of Pupil Rights Notification and Consent/Opt Out” will be included in the elementary, middle and high school registration information and the online registration materials.

Before a student can participate in any activity which involves any of the eight protected areas, the attached consent form must be signed and returned by a student’s parent or guardian.  Parents should have at least a two-week window in which to return the consent form.  Since parents also have the right to review any related materials, the principal should have the materials ready for review when the consent forms are sent home.

For questions, please call Student Services at 801-567-8251, 801-567-8183.

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Published on

DATE:
May 20, 2016

TO:
All Principals
Administrative Assistants

FROM:
Administrators of Schools
Dr. Anthony Godfrey, Associate Superintendent of Schools
Luann Leavitt, Consultant for Planning and Student Services

SUBJECT:
Student Residency Questionnaire

Enclosed is a copy of the Student Residency Questionnaire form in English and Spanish.  This questionnaire has been developed to assist in the process of enrolling homeless students and to keep the district in compliance with the McKinney-Vento Act.  This notification must be included with the 2016-17 registration materials that you send to all parents/students.  Please send both a copy in English and a copy in Spanish. 

The forms will be included in the elementary, middle and high school registration information and the Skyward online registration materials.  Please make sure that the forms are returned with other registration materials.  The form isn’t optional.  All students are required to complete and return the questionnaire.

Please make additional copies of both the English and Spanish versions. (The two versions may be run back-to-back.)  These copies should then be given to the registrar, attendance office, and/or counselors to give to those students entering your school during the school year who did not receive the initial registration materials.  It is imperative that the parents of every student who attends your school, anytime during the school year, complete this residency questionnaire.

At the bottom of the questionnaire are instructions for the parents and the school.  If the school has any of the questionnaires returned that indicate a temporary residence, please forward the forms to the Jordan School District Homeless Liaison (Hilda Lloyd) in Alternative Language Services or call Hilda at 567-8308 or 567-8116.

Thank you for your help.

Enclosures

 

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