Jordan School District
Educators! Gear up and fall into Canvas bootcamp. Canvas bootcamp is the ultimate training ground where educators can transform their canvas skills with every click!
All Sessions are self-leveled. Teachers choose their canvas comfort level each session. So, whether you’re a one star beginner or a three star pro - there’s a level for everyone!
Registration for the Fall 2024 ESL endorsement class will be open May 6 on the Language and Culture Services website. Registration will close when full, so sign up quickly. These classes will be asynchronous. For additional questions, please contact Language and Culture Services.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and an opportunity to promote mental health resources to support student, staff, and family wellness.
May is a great time to foster open conversations about mental health through community events, sharing information, and highlighting resources available to your students and families at your schools. Here are some events and resources that educators may benefit from being aware of:
Resources
Events
SafeUT and HMHI Offerings (and recordings!)
Use this link for more information
Amid rising inflation and economic uncertainty, a secure retirement is becoming further out of reach for most Americans.
But, thanks to the substantial retirement benefit your employer funds on your behalf every paycheck, you’ve got a huge advantage.
Your URS benefits can be a gamechanger for your future. They far exceed what most workers in the private sector receive and are richer than even what most other states offer.
For perspective, nearly all public pension plans in the U.S. require employees to contribute out of their own pocket. The average employee contributions are 6.3% for employees with Social Security benefits and 9.0% for those without.
Stay engaged with your employer’s retirement benefits – they’re too valuable to neglect!
Memorial Day Recess
May 27, 2024
Critical Days
Licensed & ESP - May 24 & 28
As Per DP335B and DP335NEG: Licensed and ESP employees using an Annual/Personal leave day on Critical Days will be docked (Licensed $156 or ESP 40% of their daily rate) unless the leave reason and the policy exception are written in the time off description box.
Please refer to policy links above, or use the Critical Days FAQ for further clarification.
Last Five Days of School
May 29 - 31
As per DP335(B) and DP335 NEG: Annual/Personal leave shall not be taken during the last five days that students are in school unless listed as an exception in policy.
True Time Deadlines
Date Range Apr 1 – May 5
*True Time should be submitted and approved weekly
Important - Last Day of School
If May 31 is an employee's last working day, all True Time must be submitted and approved by the end of the day.
Substitute Deadlines
| Date Range | Due | Payday |
| April 16-30 | May 1 | May 10 |
| May 1-15 | May 16 | May 24 |
Teachers, administrators, and psychologists who began LETRS training in 2021-22 should have completed all unit classes and online bookwork on or before May 24, 2024. Those interested in receiving the stipend will need to have completed the required classwork and online bookwork and submitted this Google Form by May 24, 2024. After May 24, 2024 stipends for this cohort will no longer be available.
Teachers, administrators, and psychologists who began LETRS training in January 2024 should have completed all in person classes and online book work for units 1-4 by May 24, 2024. Those who have completed these requirements will receive their stipend on the June payroll. No further action will be required for this cohort.
(This does not effect employees on the URS Tier 1 plan or Tier 2 Defined Contribution plan)
You’ll be required to make a member contribution equal to 0.7% of your salary to fund your benefit in 2024-25.
As a member of the Tier 2 Public Employees System who has chosen the Hybrid Option, your employer pays the equivalent of 10% of your salary to fund your benefit.
If the yearly, actuarially determined cost to pay future benefits – the pension contribution rate – is less than 10%, you get the difference in the form of an employer-paid 401(k) contribution. This has been the case since the system was created by the Utah State Legislature in 2011.
The system was also designed so that if the pension contribution rate exceeds the employer contribution, the member must contribute from their paycheck to help fund the benefit.
*Effective July 2024, the pension contribution rate will increase into the range to require a member contribution equal to 0.7% of your salary.
This means you will have to pay a small amount from your paycheck to fund your Tier 2 Public Employee Hybrid Option benefit beginning July 2024. Your employer will automatically deduct this contribution each paycheck.
Example of What You’ll Pay Out-of-Pocket
These examples provide a perspective on how much you’ll contribute after-tax to help fund your benefit. Compare that small cost to the potential lifetime monthly benefit you could receive.
| Sample Salary | Amount deducted each paycheck if paid biweekly | Amount deducted each paycheck if paid monthly | For perspective, your potential lifetime monthly benefit* |
| $40,000 | $10.77 / biweekly | $23.33 / monthly | $1,750 monthly benefit |
| $60,000 | $16.15 / biweekly | $35 / monthly | $2,625 monthly benefit |
| $80,000 | $21.53 / biweekly | $46.67 / monthly | $3,500 monthly benefit |
*For illustrative purposes only. This example assumes a 35-year career and yearly 3% salary increase.
Who is impacted by this change?
This change applies to members in the Tier 2 Public Employees System in the Hybrid Option. You’re in the Tier 2 system if you were hired on or after July 1, 2011 without previous URS service credit. Check with your employer or log in to myURS at www.urs.org to find out which system is yours.
Your benefit is the Hybrid Option if you elected it, or were defaulted into it, after your 12-month decision period following your hire date. Because of state and federal law, you are unable to change your election after 12 months. Members who chose the 401(k) Option (Defined Contribution Plan) aren’t impacted.
What do I need to do to pay my contribution?
Nothing. Your employer will automatically deduct this contribution from your paycheck.
When will I begin contributing?
The 0.7% member contribution will be automatically deducted after-tax from your first paycheck on or after July 1, 2024. If you’re a school employee with a contract that starts September 1, the contribution will go into effect on your first paycheck after September 1, 2024.
Why are member contributions now required in my system?
This system was designed to require member contributions if costs to fund projected future benefits exceed a certain level. The projected costs have increased substantially recently, largely due to greater than expected salary increases among Utah public employees after 2020. Because the amount of your retirement benefit is tied to your salary, bigger raises will lead to larger monthly payouts in retirement. To ensure that your benefit is well-funded, URS, in consultation with our actuaries, increased the pension contribution rate (www.urs.org/rates) above the amount that employers are required to pay each pay period to fund your benefit. Contribution rates are re-evaluated yearly and may change from year-to-year, depending on the projected costs of future benefits. To better understand contribution rates and their impact on your retirement benefit, go to www.urs.org/rates.
Webinar
URS is offering a free webinar will explore how the Tier 2 system is designed to ensure adequate funding and why member contributions will be required.
June 13 at 10 a.m. | July 16 at 2 p.m.
Register at www.urs.org/ratesfaqs
On May 11, the Salt Lake Bees are are holding an appreciation night for teachers, staff and faculty. All JSD employees who present their ID badge at the box office will receive two free tickets and 50% off additional tickets (up to 6 additional tickets). For those who want to redeem this offer online go to beesgroups.com/teacher and use the promo code: INSPIRE
The Bees will be playing against the Sacramento River Cats on Saturday, May 11 at 6:35 p.m. at Smith's Ballpark. We hope to see you there!
Congratulations to the 2024 Jordan Education Foundation Outstanding Educators of the Year. Check out the video below.
The following are new administrative assignments:
New Assignments and Transfers effective for the 2024-25 school year:
New Administrative Intern Assignments effective for the 2024-25 school year:
All Jordan School District employees are invited to the Salt Lake Shred Educator's Night on April 27 the Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman. The Salt Lake Shred is a men's professional ultimate frisbee team that plays in the Ultimate Frisbee Association.
All employees get in free. Just show your District ID badge at the ticket booth. Ultimate frisbee is a fast-paced sport full of incredible athletics feats; if you've never been to a game, this is the game to come to! Shred will be facing out-of-region opponents, the DC Breeze. To learn more about the team, you can visit the link below.
Join us in celebrating our awesome lunch staff on National school Lunch Hero Day on Friday, May 3!
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.
Get Ready for Administrative Professionals Day: The Power-Up Edition! It's our moment to honor the empowerment maestros: executive assistants, secretaries, and all admin pros. They're not just the glue; they're the driving force!
Are you an admin pro ready to flex your muscles and show all that you can do? WGU is offering an exclusive scholarship to amplify your skills and supercharge your career.
Know an admin champion who's a force of nature? Nominate them, and let WGU transform this Admin Pros Day into a celebration of their unstoppable spirit!
The Challenge Obstacle Run is a family-friendly fundraising obstacle course run open to all ages and created to make a difference in Jordan District Classrooms! Sponsored by local businesses and Jordan Education Foundation, 100% of proceeds go directly toward Classroom Grants benefiting students & teachers in Jordan District!
The Challenge Run is open to the community with participation from all 67 of our schools.
The run begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 11 and ends with a (free), fun family festival with lots of free giveaways. You can participate in any one of the events (Obstacle Run, Festival, Fundraising) or in all three! Bring your family and friends and neighbors for a super fun day!
Come see what all the fun is about! For more details and to register online, visit: www.jefchallenge.org
What's happening in Work Based Learning? Spring is bursting with Work-Based Learning activity! From CTSO competitions to New programs and teachers, targeted small group field trips, teacher awards and more! There’s so much to celebrate as we wind down another year. Even so, let us know how we can support you whether it’s this year or next. Read on to check it out! Here's what's inside:
Digital Teaching and Learning is thrilled to announce the launch of Elevate Computer Science: Engaging Utah’s Educators in Preparing Future Leaders. The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) is offering scholarships to participate in their award-winning professional learning opportunities at no cost for Utah educators. Get ready to revolutionize teaching and learning in your classroom through innovative uses of technology to make learning awesome!
Read more below and complete this short form by April 26, 2024 to launch your professional learning journey! Upon completion, educators can receive stipends of up to $1,000!
Participants will be able to select one (or more!) of the following professional learning experiences:
ISTE Artificial Intelligence Course
ISTE Computational Thinking Course
ISTE Computational Thinking Pathway
Take the first step on your professional learning journey today by completing this short application form by April 26, 2024! Please note that completing this form does not guarantee admission. We have a limited number of scholarships and stipends available. We will be making selections and inviting applicants to register for program(s) on or before May 10, 2024.
If you have any questions about the offerings above, please contact James Gurney at jgurney@iste.org or Jared Covili at jared.covili@jordandistrict.org for more information.
ALL Utah educators are invited to attend the annual Show Up for Teachers conference, held on July 9, 2024 at the Mountain America Expo Center. 2,000 educator attendees will gather to celebrate the power of being a teacher and get access to the latest tools and resources to take care of their personal and professional wellness.
General registration is now open for the 2024 Show Up for Teachers Conference This year's theme is "Thriving Through Connection," featuring inspiring keynote addresses by Dr.Marisa G Franco and Robyn Benincasa, along with entertainment by the talented Will Rubio.
Teachers and other educators whose license will expire on June 30, 2024, are encouraged to begin the license renewal process IMMEDIATELY by going to the USBE website. Reminder letters regarding license renewal information will be sent out this month to individuals with expiring licenses.
Melanie Dawson and Katie Jarvis, administrators from River’s Edge School will be leading a professional development session on foundational classroom management strategies that make a difference in any classroom. This opportunity is open to elementary and secondary teachers and ESPs in all settings.
It will be held at Herriman High School tomorrow, Friday April 12, 2024 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. Please sign up on JPLS for this awesome opportunity!
JBAT Professional Development
Herriman HS- Auditorium
JPLS Info
Course #102021
Section #128091
This is an in-person training only and will not be recorded for viewing at a later time.
Blomquist Hale has two workshops coming up in April! See attached for workshop flyers and details outlined below.
To register for any of our upcoming workshops, please visit our website at blomquisthale.com/workshops/