Jordan Employee Memos

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Utah Retirement Systems one-on-one Retirement Planning Sessions will only be available via telephone or Microsoft Teams video conferencing software. These sessions will be identical in format to the in-person sessions that have previously been offered at locations throughout the state. These Planning Sessions are designed for ALL career stages: beginning, middle, end.

To register for an appointment:

1. Go to www.urs.org.
2. Log into your myURS account.
3. Click on the Education Tab.
4. Click on “Individual Retirement Planning Sessions” from the menu on the left side of the screen.
5. Find the date and time that works best for you. Although the URS offices are located in Salt Lake County, feel free to sign up for any telephone or video conference session wherever you live in the state.
6. Complete the Investor Profile Questionnaire. (You will be directed to the online questionnaire as you register for your appointment.)
7. Please have the following with you for your appointment:
   • your current gross pay rate,
   • any retirement plan balances outside of URS,
   • your URS account login information (user ID and password)
   • and your Social Security statement (get yours at www.ssa.gov).

URS will call you at the phone number listed on your myURS profile at the time of your appointment. Be sure to check this number for accuracy in advance of your appointment.

Please note:  These sessions are NOT to apply for retirement.

To apply for retirement, contact the URS Pension Department at (800) 695-4877.

Have you been considering a master’s degree? Come see if this is right for you! Meet faculty and ask questions of former/current students and learn if BYU can help you reach your career goals.

• Friday, May 21 at 4:00 pm
  ZOOM LINK Meeting ID: 977 5789 9840
  Passcode: TeacherEdu
• Friday, October 8 at 4:00 pm
  ZOOM LINK Meeting ID: 914 0964 3683
  Passcode: TeacherEdu

About the program:
2 year, evening and summer intensive

• Cohort model with small class sizes
• Low tuition with potential for funding opportunities
• Coursework completed on BYU campus
• GRE optional

• email: TEdGradSec@byu.edu
• website: www.education.byu.edu/ted/graduate
• BYU Master's Degree Flyer

The Teaching and Learning Social Studies & History team is hosting the 2021 Summer History/Humanities Academy on Tuesday June 22 - Friday, June 25 from 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. at at South Jordan Middle School.

The Academy will focus on using humanities primary sources (folk tales, artwork, literature, recipes, music, and etc.) to engage students in the study of  history.  Teachers grades 4-6 may apply.  Stipend of $500 will be given upon completion of Academy and required portfolio.

There are 15 slots available. Participation will be by application. The deadline for applications is May 28. If you're interested, fill out the application below and send it to pamela.sua@jordandistrict.org.

• 2021 Summer History/Humanities Academy Application

The Teaching & Learning Mathematics team is excited to offer a virtual 2 hour training for summer school math (see flyer for details).  Teachers will earn relicensure points, and these hours can also be counted towards the 8 hours of summer school preparation time paid for by the District.

Please contact Melissa Garber (melissa.garber@jordandistrict.org) or Orla Ryan Davis (orla.ryandavis@jordandistrict.org) with questions.

• Virtual Summer School Math Training Flyer

This is a drive-thru event. Students and their families are invited to attend the fair closest to their home.

Tuesday May 11, 2021
West Jordan Middle School
7550 S. Redwood Road
4:30-6:30 pm

Thursday May 13, 2021
Copper Mountain Middle School
12106 S. Anthem Park Blvd.
4:30-6:30 pm

Families will receive District and community resources. Refreshments will be served.
For more information contact:
Krista Mecham | krista.mecham@jordandistrict.org | 801-567-83 21
Toni Brown | toni.brown@jordandistrict.org | 801-567-8907

• Resource Fair Flyers (English & Español)

Dear Educators,
We would like to share a new professional learning opportunity with you called Utah Microcredentials. This resource is supported and funded by the Utah State Board of Education (USBE) and is available to all educators in Utah’s public education system, including teachers, instructional coaches, paraprofessionals, counselors, related service providers, administrators, and other educators.

Microcredentials acknowledge all the different types of professional learning that educators do, both formal, traditional courses and independent, self-directed learning. Realizing that educators are continually honing their craft, Utah Microcredentials provides a way to recognize that learning. Microcredentials represent instructional skills and concepts. A microcredential is competency-based recognition that the holder has demonstrated effective and consistent use of the target skill or concept as a part of their practice. Microcredentials are not earned through seat time, assignments, or tests. They are earned by submitting the required evidence for a specific microcredential on the target skill or concept.

Each Utah Microcredential is worth a 0.5 USBE credit, which may be used for relicensing and for salary changes in certain districts/charters. The cost for each is $20. Earning microcredentials is also a way to demonstrate leadership. Posting earned microcredentials on your webpage, social media, and even outside your door is an invitation to share your skills with others. For more information, you can use these resources:

• A narrated video that provides an overview of microcredentials,
• The UEN website for Utah’s Microcredentials,
• A one-pager of the most frequently asked questions about microcredentials.

You can start earning Utah Microcredentials on MIDAS. Thank you for all your hard work and dedication to supporting learning for our Utah students.

Summer School Elementary Mathematics Resources

The following guide has been designed for teachers to use as a resource when planning summer school mathematics interventions. Teachers who will be supporting our students during summer school are encouraged to check out the Summer School Sample Schedule document. More information will be provided during the summer school training on May 19 and 21.  

If you have any questions or need additional support please contact melissa.garber@jordandistrict.org or orla.ryandavis@jordandistrict.org

• Summer School Mathematics Training and Registration Information

Early Numeracy Assessment

Utah Legislators have found value in the data provided by the early learning reading screening assessment and have mandated an early learning mathematics screening assessment, beginning Fall 2021. (House Bill 114)

Key Points: 

• District to establish an early learning plan that includes early literacy and early mathematics (HB 114)
• USBE to provide a mathematics benchmark assessment in grades K-3. 
• USBE has selected Acadience Math assessment. Learn more on the Acadience Math K–6 page. 
• USBE will provide Accadience Math training. 
• More details will be forthcoming.

Open Enrollment is May 15, 2021 through June 15, 2021 for an effective date of September 1, 2021.

Online Insurance Enrollment System
InfinityHR/Arcoro ( www.infinityhr.com/) will be used for all benefit eligible employees to make benefit elections offered at Open Enrollment and for newly eligible employees. InfinityHR is also used to make changes due to qualifying events throughout the plan year.

All benefit eligible employees will login to the InfinityHR enrollment system to verify dependents, add beneficiary information and make open enrollment elections. Instructions below.

Health Insurance Benefit Changes
In an effort to maintain a comprehensive offering of benefits, while at the same time keeping premiums at the current level, the following changes will be made for 2021-22:

• Premiums: No Employee Premium Increase. Premium sheets are located on the District Insurance Department webpage.
• Medical: Reducing the out of pocket maximum on the Value plans from $6,600 individual /$13,200 family to $5,000 individual and $10,000 family.
• FSA: Health Care Account maximum remains $2,750. If you wish to participate in flexible spending, you must elect new amounts for your flexible spending account each year. FSA election amounts do not roll over from year to year. Administrative fee of $2.81 will be paid by the District if you elect $1,200 or greater.
• Prescriptions: Preferred insulin copayments capped at $75 per 90-day supply through the Express Scripts Patient Assurance Program. Preferred insulins are Humalog, Humulin and Lantus.

Enrollment guide, premium sheets, carrier information, certificates and notifications (i.e. CHIP, Medicare D Creditable Coverage) are available for review on the District Insurance Department webpage (http://www.jordandistrict.org/departments/insurance). If you require assistance in accessing the webpage you may contact the insurance office (contact information below).

Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) is a document, required to be made available by Health Care Reform. The purpose of the SBC is to provide information to help employees compare health plans. The SBC is available on the District Insurance Department webpage. A paper copy will be provided upon request. If you have any questions regarding the SBC, please contact a member of the Insurance Department for clarification.

Please familiarize yourself with the benefits in the master policy. A copy will be mailed to your home at the beginning of the new plan year and will also be available on the District Insurance Department webpage (http://www.jordandistrict.org/departments/insurance).

Jordan School District Department Contact Information

• Kathryn Brinton: 801-567-8255 Kathryn.brinton@jordandistrict.org
• Angela Ross: 801-567-8341 Angela.ross@jordandistrict.org
• Kori Thaxton: 801-567-8146 Kori.thaxton@jordandistrict.org

Arcoro Enrollment System - Instructions for enrolling in your benefits online
If you have previously logged into the system you can start this process on step 3 in order to log in for open enrollment.

1. You will receive two emails from the system: The first email is an account verification email that will provide a username and include a link to verify your account.  You can setup your password by clicking the "Verify Account" button.
   The second email will outline the enrollment window dates and provide the URL for the Arcoro site.
2. Once you have created a new password, you can use www.infinityhr.com to access the site
3. Once you are in the site you will see the login box. You will use the username that was emailed to you and the password that you just created to log in.  Once you enter your username and password and click "Sign In," you will be logged into the site.
   • If you have forgotten your password you can click on "Forgot your password" which will email you a link to reset your password.
   • If you have forgotten your username you can click on "Forgot your username" which will email you a link that will allow you to follow a process to get your username.

4. Once you have logged into the Acoro system, you will be taken to the your company's home page.  From here you will see "New Hire Event or Open Enrollment Event" in the drop down box, click "Begin Event" to make your elections.

• 2021-22 Open Enrollment Highlights

Check out the May 2021 Be Well newsletter from EMI. Stories include:

• Deciphering Medical Studies - Nearly every day we read or hear about the results of new medical studies. The amount of information is overwhelming and coverage varies among news outlets. Some research is groundbreaking, while other studies add to many years of scientific inquiry.
• Rethink Kid Food - Check any restaurant children’s menu and the selection will look much the same: burgers, pizza and chicken fingers. While familiar and delicious, these foods offer little nutritional value. They provide more salt and fat than children require, and rarely contain enough fiber or vegetables.
• Balancing Act - Work and Family We’ve all heard it’s important to have a work-life balance. But figuring out how to achieve it isn’t always easy.
• Blood Pressure Ranges Explained - It’s important to know your blood pressure numbers and what they mean. After all, high blood pressure raises the risk for stroke, heart attack, kidney disease and dementia.

To receive the monthly Be Well Newsletter via email and check out back issues, please visit the EMI Hope Health Newsletter page.

• May 2021 Be Well Newsletter

The Wellness Bus (TWB) is a community health initiative that helps people manage and prevent prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes.  TWB provides FREE, FAST and SAFE blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol screenings, in addition to nutritional counseling. Screenings include:

• Blood (Sugar) Glucose
• Blood Pressure
• Cholesterol
• Body Mass Index (BMI)

The wellness bus can be found at the following locations on these day:

• MONDAYS 9AM - 1PM: West Valley City Redwood Recreation Center 3060 S Lester St., West Valley City
• TUESDAYS 3- 7PM: Glendale Sorenson Unity Center 1383 S 900 W, Salt Lake City
• WEDNESDAYS 3- 7PM: Kearns Kearns Library 4275 W 5345 S, Kearns
• THURSDAYS 3- 7PM: South Salt Lake Central Park Community Center 2797 S 200 E, So. Salt Lake
• 1ST & 3RD FRIDAYS OF THE MONTH 10AM - 2PM: Provo Community Action Services 815 S. Freedom Blvd, Provo
• 2ND & 4TH FRIDAYS OF THE MONTH 10AM - 2PM: Ogden Marshall White Community Center 222 28th St, Ogden

Check out the Wellness Bus flyer, website and social media using the following links:

• University Health Wellness Bus Flyer
• University Health Wellness Bus website
• University Health Wellness Bus Facebook
• University Health Wellness Bus Twitter

JA Inspire Virtual Career Expo is Junior Achievement’s capstone career development program for 9th-12th grade students brought to life by our region’s employers. Using virtual technology, JA Inspire 2021 is a career expo event filled with local businesses and higher education exhibits providing downloadable career information and exhibitor videos.

Available at no cost to you, JA Inspire 2021 is adaptable for in-class or remote learning!

• The JA Inspire Career Expo live event day is Tuesday, May 11, 2021 from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• Students will have flexible access on the live day and extended student access for 90 days after the event.
• On April 19th, JA will provide teachers a link to our FlipSnack Digital Student Workbook.
• There are 5 pre-event lessons and 1 post-event lesson. The lessons are 15-20 minutes each and contain fillable PDF forms, embedded videos and a career assessment. These can be teacher led or assigned to students as self-guided.
• Over 60 local businesses, within many of the 16 career clusters, will have virtual booths with business, higher education and career cluster information, videos, pamphlets, and more. All booths are developed by the business, just like an in-person career fair.
• Students have the opportunity to visit as many booths as they would like. They may visit businesses within their career cluster chosen through the assessment, or they may visit others that seem interesting to them.
• The students' virtual backpack allows them to collect information from the booths and access it at a later date. Students will have access to the entire career fair for 90 days after the event, allowing them to share information with teachers and others at home.
• Motivational speakers and career readiness content from our booth sponsors are available live or on-demand in the auditorium.
• A Leaderboard feature motivates students to visit booths, watch videos and download documents.
• JA Inspire can be completed while in school or while students work remotely. It's up to you. There is no live interaction with or between students, so it is a completely safe environment for all.

• A Teacher Training Call was held last week to demonstrate the online portal and answer questions regarding the event. It can be accessed at the following link if you'd like to check it out:
  • JA Inspire Career Expo - Training Call
• Please share this with any students participating.
  • JA Inspire Career Expo - Student Workbook
• Finally, to register students, please visit the following site:
  • JA Inspire Career Expo - Registration. 
• We will assign confidential usernames for the students to use on the live day and share those with you in May. I've also attached the Educator Manual which contains FAQs for the event.

Saving Plan Options - Explains investment options and savings plans with URS 401(k) & 457(b) Plans, Roth & Traditional IRAs. You can learn about options, pick your plan, investments and enroll.

• URS Investment Options Brochure

Tier 1 Noncontributory Retirement System Pension Basics - Your URS pension gives you stable income throughout your retirement. After you retire, your pension pays you monthly for the rest of your life and possibly your spouse’s. This brochure explains how to estimate how much your pension will pay.

• URS Tier 1 Basics Brochure

Workout Warrior – The May theme is: Exercise Snacking. If you’re one who has a hard time fitting in a workout into your day, this challenge is for you. It will teach ways to get small, but beneficial bouts of exercise in throughout the day. "Exercise snacking" involves incorporating small, consistent bouts of exercise throughout the day. See if exercise snacking could work for you!

• Register here or at pehp.org
• Track your activity
• Report your step total at the end of the month
• Enter to win a $10 Amazon gift card

Wellness Challenge  – Get Outside is the theme for the May challenge. Join the challenge and give your health and mood a boost by getting outside! Join us for a different outdoor activity each week and see how good you feel.

• Week 1: Gardening
• Week 2: Walking
• Week 3: Biking
• Week 4: Hiking

Wellness challenges are email based, self-paced educational programs that focus on areas of well-being. Often used to jumpstart habits and personal goals, challenges provide information, resources, and motivation to help you achieve good health.

• Register Today or at pehp.org - Sign up early to receive all the weekly emails

In addition, PEHPs 2^nd Quarterly Webinar, Know Your Numbers – Get Back on Track will air at noon on Monday, May 3^rd.

• May 2021 PEHP Workout Warrior and Monthly Challenge Flyers

Your health should never have to suffer because your medicine is too expensive. Your copay will be $75 per 90-day supply of preferred and participating diabetes medications.  Preferred insulins are Humalog, Humulin, and Lantus, effective 5/1/2021.

• Express Scripts Patient Assurance Program Poster

Jordan School District has developed an instructional plan for literacy and has adopted curricula to strengthen instruction in both Tier 1 and Tier 2 settings to support all students and address disrupted learning.

Please join us to learn about the plan, the curriculum, and the suggested daily schedule to help you prepare for the coming year.  All K-6th grade gen ed. teachers, SCSC teachers, and coaches should sign up for a two day session.  Coaches may choose which grade level session to attend.  All sessions will be held from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. in either the ASB Auditorium or Presentation Room. 

Please check each session for the location. Teachers will be compensated with a $600 stipend upon full completion of the two day session. Please see the Literacy Launch Packet for dates and agenda. Sessions will be offered  in the fall for teachers not attending in the summer. Substitutes will be provided. Dates for fall sessions to be determined.

The Emergency Broadband Benefit is an FCC program to help households struggling to pay for internet service during the pandemic. This new benefit will connect eligible households to jobs, critical healthcare services, and virtual classrooms.

The Emergency Broadband Benefit will provide a discount of up to $50 per month towards broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute $10-$50 toward the purchase price.

The Emergency Broadband Benefit is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per household.
Who Is Eligible for the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program?
A household is eligible if one member of the household meets at least one of the criteria below:

• Qualifies for the Lifeline program;
• Receives benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision, or did so in the 2019-2020 school year;
• Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year;
• Experienced a substantial loss of income since February 29, 2020 and the household had a total income in 2020 below $99,000 for single filers and $198,000 for joint filers; or
• Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating providers' existing low-income or COVID-19 program.

When Can Families Sign Up for the Benefit?
The program has been authorized by the FCC, but the start date has not yet been established. The FCC is working to make the benefit available as quickly as possible.

Check out the Broadband Benefit Consumer FAQ for more information about the benefit and please continue to check this page for program updates.

• 2019-2020 WIDA scores will be used for ESL students who did not take this year's test. Please assure parents they do not need to opt out of the program if students were not tested. Thank you for your efforts with WIDA testing this year.
• Please complete the monitoring forms for 4th Quarter for levels 5 and 6.
• The LCS Culture and Diversity Team is hosting an online open house called “The Giraffe Club." Parents are invited to come see what we talk about to students in grades K-6.   The meetings will be held on Friday, April 9 at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m and Thursday, April 15 at 4 p.m.  The Zoom Meeting ID is 885 2800 7188.  The passcode is 386422.

The UServeUtah Youth Council is a youth-led advisory council that advocates for youth engagement in volunteerism, plans impactful projects in the community, and works with our commission to inform statewide public policy. Youth council members attend monthly meetings (currently held virtually), and upon successful completion of their service, they will receive a certificate and letter of completion from the Lt. Governor to help them gain employment or admission to higher education.

This is a great opportunity for civically-minded students to network with a wide range of professionals and other students from across the state, and a great addition to a resume or to a graduate school/future higher education application.

Each youth council member leads a community engagement project for a cause they are passionate about, with the support of UServeUtah staff. Past projects include environmental/recycling initiatives, the creation of a community garden, recruitment of volunteers for local nonprofits, serving refugees in the community, and more!

Students ages 16-22 have the opportunity to serve on the 2021-22 UServeUtah Youth Council. Selected youth council members will serve from September of 2021 through July of 2022.

We are accepting applications now through April 19th. Interested students can apply here. Please feel free to share this opportunity with any students who may be interested in participating, and please reach out to Wendy Carrigan with any questions.

Thank you!

• Apply to the 2021-2022 UServeUtah Youth Council

USBE Math Progressions

• Register Here

STEM Action Center Grants
Math Personalized Learning Grant
The K-12 Math Personalized Learning Software Grant provides schools and districts with access to a selection of math personalized learning software programs to improve student outcomes in mathematics literacy. Please click on the link to review available programs, features, and results. 

• Applications due for JSD signatures April 14, 2021.
  Michael Heaps Technology
  Amy Kinder Mathematics
• Applications due to the STEM Action Center on April 16.  

Professional Learning Grant
This program focuses on locally identified needs associated with STEM learning for K-12 teachers. These efforts connect thousands of teachers to opportunities to create valuable STEM-based curricula and teaching practices. Funded activities include coaching, mentoring, self-reflection, off-contract work, and effective professional learning communities (PLCs).

• Applications due for JSD signatures April 12, 2021. (Signatures vary depending on the project. Please see grant application and determine the appropriate administrators: Michael Heaps for Technology, School Principal, Superintendent)
• Applications due to the STEM Action Center on April 16. 

USBE Updates  -- More information will be available following the Utate State Board or Education meeting on April 8, 2021

Legislative Funding Updates

Early Learning Literacy and Mathematics Updates

Funding was reinstated to fulfill the purposes outlined in House Bill 114 in the 2020 General Session. The bill includes the following:

• Establish an early learning plan that includes early literacy and early mathematics 
• Administer a grant program for professional learning for early elementary educators
• Administer a grant for license applicants taking an examination on reading
• Provide a mathematics benchmark assessment in grades 1-3 (K is optional). USBE staff have already begun work to select a vendor and expect that a contract will be prepared for Board consideration during their April 8, 2021 meeting. More information will be coming but we will be administering the assessment beginning in the fall of 2021.

Assessment Updates
The 2021 legislative session has come to an end and now is the time to begin sorting through and implementing the associated changes. Of particular interest to assessment and accountability is S.B. 184S03 which includes, among other things, the following changes:

The state board is not required to identify schools not achieving state-established acceptable levels of student performance as described in Subsection (2)(b) for the 2020-2021 school year.

The state board is not required to assign to each school an overall rating in 2020-2021

The state board shall collect but is not required to publish the information described in Subsection (1) related to the 2020-2021 school year.

This bill, in addition to the addendum and waiver the USBE submitted to the U.S. Department of Education address the Board’s directive to “relieve schools from federal and state accountability determinations based on the 2020-2021 assessments.” You may be aware that on March 8, 2021 the U.S. Department of Education released an optional waiver template for accountability, school identification, and related reporting requirements that was not previously available. USBE staff are currently reviewing this new option to determine if a recommendation should be made to the Board to maintain the current addendum and waiver requests or resubmit, using the newly released template.

General Legislative Updates

• USBE legislative tracker with status and links for each bill https://schools.utah.gov/File/9460f48a-7c28-4eba-8f00-5479fb738ec7
• HB 2 Public Education Budget Amendments—the main money bill for this session.  This is where you can see where new funding has been established for newly passed programs https://schools.utah.gov/File/9460f48a-7c28-4eba-8f00-5479fb738ec7