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Published on

DATE:  
February 2, 2016

TO:
Middle School Principals
High School Principals
Middle School Self Contained Support Class Teachers
High School Special Education Team Leaders

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

SUBJECT:  
Middle School to High School Transition for Self-Contained Support Classrooms

In order to support the transition of students in Middle School Self-Contained Support Classrooms (SCSC) to High School, the Special Education Department is providing an opportunity for the Middle School SCSC teachers to meet with the High School Special Education Team Leaders. Since most of the students will be attending their boundary high school, it is helpful for the current SCSC teacher to provide information on the needs of the student to create an appropriate high school class schedule as well as know the necessary accommodations for the student to be successful. Middle school teachers need to bring a copy of the current IEP, Evaluation Results Summary, Functional Behavior Assessment and Behavior Intervention Plan, Health Care Plan and a copy of the classes the students have completed or have in progress for high school credit. Half-day substitutes will be provided through budget code 1292. Special educators must make their own substitute arrangements. The transition meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 17th at the District Office in room 129. High school team leaders will need to be present from 8:00 a. m. – 12:00 p.m. Please see the attached schedule for middle school meeting times.  Attendance is at the discretion of the building principal.

BINGHAM HIGH
8:00-8:30 ERMS Mair
8:30-8:45 JPJMS Moscoso
8:45-9:00 OHMS Siavrakas
9:00-9:15 OHMS Taylor
9:15-9:45 SJMS Lyons
9:45-10:30 SJMS Jarrard
10:30-11:00 WJMS Preece

COPPER HILLS HIGH
8:45-9:15 JPJMS Charon
9:15-9:30 ERMS Mair
9:30-9:45 SJMS Jarrard
9:45-10:00 SJMS Lyons
10:00-10:15 WJMS Hansen
10:15-11:00 WJMS Zander

HERRIMAN HIGH
8:00-8:45 OHMS Siavrakas
9:00-9:15 ERMS Mair
9:15-9:45 SHMS Sneed
10:00-10:30 SHMS Marx
10:30-10:45 SJMS Lyons

RIVERTON HIGH
8:30-8:45 SHMS Jenkins
8:45-9:00 OHMS Taylor
9:00-9:30 OHMS Siavrakas
9:30-10:00 SHMS Marx

WEST JORDAN HIGH
8:00-8:45 JPJMS Charon
8:45-9:15 JPJMS Moscoso
9:15-10:00 WJMS Hansen
10:00-10:30 WJMS Preece
11:00-11:15 WJMS Zander

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The deadline for sending DIBELS parent letters home is February 12, 2016.  Attached are the updated letters (English & Spanish) for the Mid-year benchmark.  Letters are to be sent home for every first, second, and third grade student.  Letters do not go home for kindergarten students.

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Published on

DATE:  
February 2, 2016

TO:
Self-contained Support Class (Cluster) School Principals
Self-contained Support Class (Cluster) Teachers

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

SUBJECT: 
Projected Self-Contained Support Class (Cluster) Staffing Needs Survey for 2016-17

You will receive a tentative class list from Susan Sudbury for 2016-17. Enclosed is a Self-Contained Support Class (Cluster) Staffing Needs Survey and a Critical Need Justification Survey for next year.  Please note that the class list you received is current as of this date; however, the numbers of students assigned to your classroom(s) could change over the next few months and over the summer.

Please remember that we must continue to provide a free, appropriate public education (FAPE) for all of our students. Therefore, we ask special education teams to work with the special education department to explore creative and conservative ways to serve the students in our special education programs.

Outlined below are directions for completing the projected staffing request:

  • Please check your current 2015-16 staff allocation for accuracy.
  • Self-contained Support Class (Cluster) assistants will be allocated using the following guidelines (pending any State & Federal budget allocations that might require changes).

1)    Self-contained Support Class (Cluster) classrooms will be staffed to provide basic full-day coverage (either two 17-hour or one 35-hour assistant in designated settings). This allocation is assigned by the Special Education Department. The decision will be based on program type, student needs, budget availability and financial constraints.

2)    Additional staffing needs will be considered only if the class has a significant critical need that cannot be addressed in another manner. If there is a significant critical need, school teams must complete/submit the attached Critical Need Justification Survey. This form should objectively describe the specific circumstances and/or student(s) that require the requested CN staffing. Please be creative and conservative as you look at your program needs and available resources.

  • Contact our Placement Specialist, Susan Sudbury, at (801) 567-8355 if you have questions about the number of students assigned to your class for next year. We understand that the number of students assigned to the self-contained support classes could change over the next few months; however, we ask that you count only those students who are confirmed as of this date.  Teachers may revise their staffing needs survey should circumstances change by the end of the year. Please note that classroom numbers will be verified at the start of the 2016-17 school year to account for any changes that occur over the summer.

Note that all additional assistant positions are re-evaluated and re-allocated based upon available funds, caseload data and critical needs. DO NOT assume that you will have the same number of assistants allocated to your school each year.

We have also enclosed a current SCRAM printout. Please review and submit updated SCRAM information to Lisa Robinson at the District Office by Friday, February 12, 2016 for Traditional programs and Friday, February 19, 2016 for Year-Round programs. Even if you do not have any changes, please sign the SCRAM printout (as a team) and return it by the due date.

We appreciate how hard you work to meet all of your students’ needs. Please know that we will do our best to support and facilitate your needs. Your efforts to complete this information accurately will assist us in making fair and objective staffing allocations for next school year.

Return ALL completed staffing information to Lisa Robinson at the District Office by Friday,  February 26, 2016:

Projected Self-contained Support Class (Cluster) Staffing Needs Survey 2016-17

Critical Need Staffing Justification – submit only if there is a significant critical need

 

PLEASE CONTACT THE TEACHER SPECIALIST ASSIGNED TO YOUR SCHOOL

Debbie Nigbur             (801) 567-8329                                   Robin Silatolu    (801) 567-8068

Patricia Matthews      (801) 567-8356                                   Teri Griffiths      (801) 567-8024

Lindsey Baxter            (801) 567-8373

 

THANK YOU FOR WORKING SO HARD ALL DAY, EVERY DAY!
YOU ARE ROCKSTARS!!!

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Published on

DATE:
January 29, 2016

TO:
Principals
Special Education Team Leaders

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

SUBJECT:
TC-40D Tax Form for a Dependent with a Disability

See attached memo and tax form.

 

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Published on

DATE:     
January 27, 2016

TO: 
Elementary Principals

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

SUBJECT:
Research Project

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

Project Title:                   “Utah Elementary School Principals’ Preparation as Technology Leaders”

Applicant:                        Nathan Esplin

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 participate in this study.  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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Elementary Principals:

The Sorenson Legacy Foundation has provided funding through USOE for LEAs to apply for small grants to purchase arts materials and/or supplies for grades K-6.  You will find the grant application attached. Please note these important points as you complete your application:

  • Grants are for materials and/or supplies for implementation of arts programs in grades K-6 in music, visual art, drama, dance or media arts.
  • Grant amounts are determined by the number of K-6 students in the LEA according to the chart at the top of the application.
  • Grants will be processed as they are received. Available funds may not cover all requests, so early application is encouraged.
  • The application is a fillable form.  You should save the form to your computer, complete the application, save again and then email to:

cathy.jensen@schools.utah.gov

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Elementary Principals (5th-Grade):

The production of the CDs provided by the Utah Symphony for 5th-grade teachers to prepare their students to hear the symphony at Abravanel Hall had issues and are blank.  Please let your teacher know that all materials may be accessed on the symphony's website at:  http://usuoeducation.org/index.php/for-teachers/teacher-materials .  The 5th-grade materials are at the top of the page.
They are very sorry for this problem and hope that this access to the materials through their website will help you prepare students for their visit to the symphony.
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All Principals (K-12):

Please share the flyer, Workshops Presentations for Teachers and Students with all of your teachers.   This is put on by SHIFT, a program of the Utah Film Center that offers educators high-quality professional development on the filmmaking process (digital storytelling) and how to integrate it into the core areas.
Workshops and instructional materials provide comprehensive, standards-linked lesson plans to guide educators on how to produce documentaries, public service announcements (PSAs), instructional videos, personal narratives, and other short film projects with their students.  There is a strong emphasis on writing.
*There is a FREE 2-day workshop on Filmmaking in the Classroom on Feb. 19 & 20 at Thanksgiving Point.  You may find registration information in the attached flyer. 
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High School and Middle School Principals:

Any dance teacher that is teaching Ballroom Dance is invited to attend a Ballroom Dance Inservice on Feb. 9th from 7:00-2:00 p.m. in the JATC South Auditorium. Elaine Crane, former BYU Ballroom instructor, will be providing instruction from 7:00-11:00 a.m. with 11:00-2:00 teacher collaboration and planning to determine how this curriculum will be taught in JSD. Curriculum will pay for subs.Have teachers enter sub code as 5413. Please have your teachers email Mary Ann Erdmann, maryann.erdmann@jordandistrict.org, to let her know that they will be in attendance.
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