Jordan School District
DATE:
May 1, 2025
TO:
Principals
All Certified Special Education Staff
FROM:
Lisa Robinson, Administrator of Schools
Kim Lloyd, Director of Special Education
SUBJECT:
Year-End Checkout for Special Education
The items listed in the attached memo need attention as you prepare to close out the 2024-25 school year. Any questions or concerns that arise should be directed to your school’s Teacher Specialist for clarification.
DATE:
May 1, 2025
TO:
All administrators
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
McKinley Withers, Health and Wellness Consultant
SUBJECT:
May 7th Ask a Therapist LIVE!
In partnership with the Cook Center for Human Connection, our customized May Mental Health Series calendar is now available.
Access to the ENGLISH / SPANISH May Mental Health Series Calendar
What’s Included:
You are encouraged to share this calendar with parents, staff, and members of your community. Especially the upcoming Ask a Therapist LIVE event on May 7th at 6:00 pm (MST), which is part of the Mental Health Series platform. This event takes place once a month and offers a unique opportunity for parents to engage directly with a licensed family therapist. Parents can ask questions anonymously and receive personalized answers in real-time.
Please utilize the following to promote the Ask a Therapist LIVE on May 7th event.
Should you have any questions, please reach out to Angie Rasmussen at angie.rasmussen@jordandistrict.org or Mckinley Withers.
TO:
Administrators
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Jared Covili, Consultant in Teaching & Learning
Check out the attached PDF for the latest updates from Teaching & Learning for the month. Learn tips and tricks, sign up for upcoming PD, and learn about important updates from the T & L team.
DATE:
April 30, 2025
TO:
Principals
Assistant Principals
School Safety Specialists
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Matt Alvernaz, School Safety Coordinator
SUBJECT:
Monthly Drill Preparation (Drill of Choice)
Our monthly drill preparation will be held on May 7th at 3:00 PM with a second session at 3:30 PM. This month, each school will conduct a drill of choice. Administrators may choose to conduct any one of the safety drills previously covered throughout the year. The training will be an overview of conducting drills and the use of SRP. Each School Safety Specialist is expected to attend, along with administrators assigned to oversee school safety. All other administrators are welcome to attend as well. The meeting is also open to any staff who may be interested.
After each monthly training, all school staff should be trained by the administrator over school safety and the School Safety Specialist. After being trained each month, teachers should educate their students on each safety drill. Additionally, schools should communicate with their patrons regarding Standard Response Protocol(s) (SRP) and the drill being conducted each month. Videos, handouts, and other resources can be found at the link(s) below.
Information regarding Standard Response Protocol and other emergency procedures can be found in the Jordan School District Safety Manual. This will be an opportunity to ask questions and share ideas among the schools. Consider your school’s identified deficiencies and needed areas of improvement when determining which drill to select.
We will be holding this meeting over ZOOM, so please join using this link.
DATE:
May 1, 2025
TO:
All School Principals
School Administrative Assistants
Administrators of Schools
FROM:
John Larsen, Business Administrator
SUBJECT:
Monetary Donation Protocol
If a monetary donation is made directly to a school, the school should give the donor a written receipt. If a school needs help printing a receipt from Skyward, please contact Information Systems or Accounting for assistance. Donations of $250 or greater where the donor receives no benefit, such as advertising on a banner, require that the donor receive a written acknowledgement of the donation for IRS purposes.
Please remember to contact Lisa LeStarge in Business Services at lisa.lestarge@jordandistrict.org so a letter can be written to acknowledge and thank the donor. When requesting this letter, schools should specify that no goods or services were given to the donor in exchange for the donation.
DATE:
April 30, 2025
TO:
Secondary Principals
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Teaching and Learning Department Administrator
Norman Emerson, Fine Arts/Instructional Support Services Consultant
SUBJECT:
Library Materials Review
District Policy AA440 outlines a process through which parents, teachers, administrators, students, or Board members may request sensitive materials reviews of library materials. A recent review resulted in the following books being categorized as “objective sensitive materials” and are in the process of being removed from school library collections:
Under the same policy, book removal decisions may be appealed. The policy states, “The Jordan School District Board of Education will review the appeal and vote in a public Board meeting to decide the outcome of a sensitive material review appeal. The appeals process for these titles is now underway.
The District’s teacher librarians have been instructed to remove the books from their shelves and secure them until the appeal has been completed. Language arts department chairs have also been notified.
You will be informed when the Board makes a decision.
TO:
Administrators
FROM:
Michelle Love-Day, Director, Language and Culture Services
This endorsement program is open to K-12 contracted licensed personnel in Jordan School District. This does not include substitute teachers or paraprofessionals who are licensed.
IMPORTANT: As of August 2024, the JSD ESL Endorsement program has been updated to a competency based endorsement that aligns with TESOL standards and USBE requirements. This means the endorsement has undergone some changes and is formatted differently than in previous years. You will earn an endorsement with the Utah State Board of Education. A university credit option through SUU is available at your own expense. Language & Culture Services will not be paying for university credit.
NOTE: Your employee email that ends with "@jordandistrict.org" will be used for ALL correspondence.
Applicants will be placed in the order in which applications are received.
You can sign up for the endorsement using the link below. For more information, please contact your Language Teacher Specialists.
TO:
School Principals
Administrative Assistants
FROM:
Katie Bastian, Director of Nutrition Services
The State Office of Education and Utah Workforce Services has asked that we share the included flyers with our district. Additional Utah SUN Bucks (Summer EBT) information is available on our Nutrition Services Website.
TO:
Administrators
Administrative Assistants
FROM:
Sarah Palmer, Director of Payroll
Please see the document below.
TO:
All Administrators
FROM:
Scott Thomas, Administrator of Auxiliary Services
Brandon Conti, Risk Management Coordinator
Distracted driving is any non-driving activity a person engages in that has the potential to distract him or her from the primary task of driving and increases the risk of crashing. While all distractions can endanger drivers’ safety, texting is the most alarming because it involves all three types of distraction.
See the flyer below for more information.
DATE:
May 1, 2025
TO:
Principals
Assistant Principals
Elementary Administrative Assistants
Secondary Attendance Secretaries
Secondary Registrars
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director, Student Services
Caleb Olson, Enrollment Consultant, Student Services
SUBJECT:
Home School Updates – May 2025
Please note the following updates on home school processes and procedures.
Home School Affidavit Requirement Eliminated
HB209 from the 2025 legislative session takes effect on May 7, 2025. This law eliminates the requirement that parents submit a written affidavit prior to starting home school with their children, replacing the affidavit with a “one-time initial notification, that may include a letter of intent, to the local school board.”
The following changes will take effect on May 7, 2025, and should be communicated to parents with questions about home schooling:
The parent may also provide the notification to Student Services (801-567-8183) via phone call or in-person at the District Office.
Students who began home school prior to May 7, 2025 using an affidavit do not need to resubmit notification to the district.
Withdrawing Home School Students
When a school withdraws a student to home school, the student should be inactivated for the current and following school years and a withdrawal code of “TH” should be entered.
Utah Fits All Scholarship Students
Students who participate in the “Utah Fits All” (UFA) Scholarship are ineligible to enroll in Jordan School District for classes, including classes offered through the JATC. UFA scholarship funds for enrollment may only be spent with approved providers. At this time, the District has chosen not to become an approved provider, so any UFA student who chooses to enroll in District courses must return all scholarship funds.
TO:
Administrators
Administrative Assistants
FROM:
Jeri Gamble, Information Systems Support Services
Please be mindful of the Finance year-end deadlines. Click here to see deadlines for May 1-8.
DATE:
May 1, 2025
TO:
Principals
Assistant Principals
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Michelle Reyes, Prevention Specialist, Student Services
SUBJECT:
April Attendance Newsletter & Resources
Please see the attached newsletter for Panorama attendance resources, training opportunities & truancy mediation.
DATE:
May 1, 2025
TO:
High School Principals and Head Administrative Assistants
FROM:
C. Brad Sorensen, Administrator of Schools
SUBJECT:
2025-26 High School Summer Office Allocation
Each of the six traditional high schools in Jordan School District will be allocated $7,000 to assist in covering summer office hours for the 2025-26 school year. Kings Peak High School will receive $2,000 into this budget. The 100 additional summer pool hours that were previously allocated for the School Administrative Assistant-Attendance and/or the School Administrative Clerk for the six traditional high schools are now combined with this summer office allocation.
Please note that benefits must be deducted from this amount. Benefits are calculated at 7.75%, including 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 included in the total cost.
This money may be used for time worked from June 1 through August 31, 2025. Please contact Keele Leuluai in payroll to let her know who will be using the summer office allocation so she can add their name in True Time. No money will be carried over from this budget.
If you have any questions, please call Brad Sorensen at 801-567-8233 or Brenda Groo at 801-567-8173.
Thank you.
TO:
Elementary Principals
FROM:
Odette Desmarais, Administrator of Schools
Meredith Doleac, Administrator of Schools
Becky Gerber, Administrator of Schools
Lisa Robinson, Administrator of Schools
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Amanda Bollinger, Associate Administrator, Teaching & Learning
The Elementary Principal PLC originally scheduled for Friday, May 9, will now be combined with the Principal Meeting on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. Your instructional coach will be invited to attend from 1:00-3:30.
TO:
School Principals
Administrators
FROM:
Katie Bastian, Director of Nutrition Services
When we say school nutrition professionals are heroes, we mean it! That's why we celebrate them every spring with the National School Lunch Hero Day. Join schools across the country that are recognizing the difference these team members make for every child who comes through their cafeteria.
DATE:
April 24, 2025
TO:
All Principals
Department Directors
School Administrative Assistants
FROM:
April Gaydosh, Administrator of Human Resources
SUBJECT:
Requests for 2025-2026 Special Calendars – Licensed Only
Your assistance is requested, as the Human Resource Department is preparing special calendars for the 2025-2026 academic year for licensed employees. Special calendars are essential to ensuring appropriate contract pay, time entry, emergency protocols and temporary employee tracking. Employees who meet certain criteria, as listed below, should have a special calendar on file with the Human Resource Department.
A list of licensed employees at your school/department location who are currently on a special calendar for the 2024-2025 contract year will be emailed to you for review on Monday, April 28, 2025. If needed, please make all appropriate additions, corrections, or other changes by submitting an online Hire/Change form in Skyward to the Human Resource Department. Please follow the additional instructions below.
Criteria for determining if an employee requires a special calendar:
If you have an employee you would like to review to determine if they may need a special calendar, you may contact the Human Resources Department, HR Assistant Seniors, for assistance. If a list is not included, there are currently no employees on a special calendar at this location. However, if you anticipate a special calendar for a licensed employee, please follow the instructions below.
Instructions for Special Calendar Requests:
Important Reminders:
Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter. Failure to follow these procedures may cause an employee to be paid incorrectly. Any questions about this procedure or completing a special calendar should be directed to Julie Sharp, HR Senior Asst Elementary, at (801) 567-8230 or Lisa Garner, HR Senior Asst Secondary, at (801) 567-8226.
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TO:
Administrators
FROM:
Michelle Love-Day, Director, Language and Culture Services
WIDA Scores will be available in early May. As you are reviewing data and preparing to send home letters to families, consider the following resources:
If you have any questions, please reach out to your school’s Language Teacher Specialist - lcs.jordandistrict.org/language.
TO:
Administrators
Teachers
Counselors
FROM:
Michelle Love-Day, Director, Language and Culture Services
Language & Culture Services is providing a series of Professional Development throughout the summer, beginning in May!
May 19 & 20 - Addressing Discriminatory Language in Schools
For Administrators & Counselors only. Click on a date below to enroll.
Location: ASB Auditorium
June 17 & 20 - Family Engagement & Newcomer Support
For administrators/school leaders, teachers. Click on a date below to enroll.
Location: Juniper Elementary School
July 29 & 31 - Instructing Multilingual Learners - 0.5 USBE Credit Available
For educators and licensed staff working with & instructing MLs. Click on a date below to enroll.
Location: Juniper Elementary School
TO:
Administrators
FROM:
Carolyn Gough Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Chris Richards-Khong, Associate Administrator of Teaching and Learning
School-Based Associates Opportunity
The Jordan School District is excited to announce the School-Based Associates (SBA) program for the 25-26 school year. For many years, past CITES/ BYU Public School Partnership Associates participants have asked about bringing the powerful learning experiences within CITES/ BYU Public School Partnership Associates back to their colleagues in the classroom. JSD School-Based Associates will now make that desire a possibility!
The JSD School Based Associates mini grant awards will help schools nurture classroom teacher leaders (who are prior Associates alumni) as they facilitate cohort sessions for their school. The grant funds include a compensation stipend for teacher leaders. School cohorts explore ideas toward gaining a deeper understanding of education and the Partnership Commitments. Associates fosters collegial connections, exchange of viewpoints with one another, and builds lasting relationships.
The mini grant application process has been streamlined into a brief google form. Administrators or teachers can initiate this grant for a school. Use the application guide to help you keep things simple. Call Chris Richards-Khong with questions 801-567-8158.
Zoom Link Q & A Drop-in Sessions Available
April 29, 2025
11:00 - 12:50 PM
2:30 - 3:50 PM
April 30, 2025
8:00 - 8:30 AM
https://uetn-org.zoom.us/j/89348952593?pwd=1EfcVNujjKwKwWgzJbM2Djuy7Vikw0.1#success
ATTACHMENTS:
School Based Associates Flyer
