January 28, 2020 Mountain Time - Study Session and Business Meeting

Ms. Stacee Worthen, Secondary Counseling Specialist

Presentation on counseling data as a condition for meeting USBE reporting requirements.

Desired outcome: Information to Board of Education.

Mr. Bryce Dunford, Board President

Mr. Matt Young, Board Secretary

Further discussion on goals set at the January 14, 2020 Board meeting.

Desired outcome: Board members will discuss prioritizing goals and how to sustain them long term.

Dr. Shelley Nordick, Administrator of Teaching & Learning

Additional discussion plan for Majestic Elementary School for the 2020-21 school year.

Desired outcome: Board of Education members will decide whether or not to include visual arts along with performing arts in the curriculum for the new program at Majestic Elementary School.

Ms. Marilyn Richards, Chair, Government Relations Board Advisory Committee

Statement of position by Board of Education on the tax reform approved in the December 2019 special session of the Utah Legislature.

Desired outcome: Board members will draft a statement of position regarding the recently approved tax reform.

? Mr. Bryce Dunford, Board President

Legal requirement for Board members to complete the Open Meeting Law Training annually in Utah Code 52-4-104; Reminder of where and how to complete the training.

Desired outcome: Board members will complete training as outlined.

Dr. Anthony Godfrey, Superintendent of Schools

Information to Board on possible student achievement measurements.

Desired outcome: Board members will make recommendations for revisions and/or additions to Board policy Ends 401 Student Achievement.

The reverence will be offered by Mr. Josh Stott, Assistant Principal, Joel P. Jensen Middle School.

Zach Nelson, Student Body President, Joel P. Jensen Middle School, will present the following "Celebrating Joel P. Jensen Middle School."

Good evening, members of the School Board.  My name is Zach Nelson, and I am the Student Body President for Joel P. Jensen Middle School.  This is my third year at JPJ and I have enjoyed my time and experiences there at my school. 

At Joel P., we believe in continuous growth.  A few years ago we became a growth mindset school.  Our theme was "#YET", and the faculty, counselors, and administrators emphasized that there is power in the word "yet."  Phrases like "I can’t do this" or "I don’t understand this", or "I haven’t learned this" suddenly change when we add the word "yet" to them.  We develop a growth mindset and anything is possible.  This year, our theme is, "Keep Going...Keep Growing!"  Once again, this theme is reflective of our growth mindset emphasis.  We are learning that it isn’t bad to fail at things sometimes, as long as we continuing trying and learning from our mistakes.

Besides being a Growth Mindset school, we are also a Standards-based Grading school.  We started our journey to becoming an SBG school a few years ago.  A few departments tried this each year for the past few years, and this year is the first time we are 100% Standards-based.  Our assessments are 90% of our grade and our practice is 10% of our grade.  Our teachers allow their students to take tests a second and third time, as long as we practice and prepare before each assessment.  Our teachers also are focusing more on the state standards, which are written on the board in many of our classes.  It is not a surprise to students what we are trying to learn each day.  Standards-based grading helps us learn with a purpose.

Did you know that more than 50% of our students start off at JPJ behind on their reading abilities?  One of our responsibilities is to help these students catch up.  We have had a lot of success with the Reading Plus program in our reading classes.  Students are making one, two, three, and even four years of growth in a single year because of this program as well as the instruction of the great reading teachers we have.  We also offer a reading camp to help our students each summer, which is like a springboard for students to begin the year.

Another summer camp we offer is a math camp.  Numeracy is also an area that our student body struggles with.  This year, we have created a goal for 85% of our students to know their 12-times tables.  We believe that knowledge of these multiplication facts with help students do better at math as they get into algebra and higher math levels.  If you stop by our school, you may see students wearing their "Multiplication Master" shirts, which they receive after checking off their times tables.

In talking to Mr. Leggat, he is proud of all of these things, but didn’t want me to forget to mention that we were recently recognized in the West Jordan Journal for having the least amount of tardies per student in our District.  Representative Steve Christiansen also visited our school within the past few weeks to find out just how we are doing it.  Mr. Leggat claims that we have been so successful due to our teachers, hall monitors, and administration being on the same page during our class breaks.  We are also consistent with our tardy program.  Our students have learned that as part of the culture at JPJ, we are on time, and we learn bell to bell.  We cannot waste any of our learning time.  Years ago, we used to have annual tardies that were above twenty and thirty thousand.  But over the past five years, we have been under 3,000 tardies each year.  We are all working together on this goal.

Mr. Leggat is also proud of our passing rate.  When he arrived eight years ago, 65% of the students were passing all of their classes.  That’s okay, but not great.  Lately, our students are passing all of their classes at a much higher rate:  87%.  This year we are trying to reach 88%, and the so far I’m happy to say that we are ahead of the game at over 90%.

I am proud to be a student at Joel P. Jensen Middle School.  I have great friends at my school.  I have great teachers that care about me.  I get lots of support from our counselors and administration.  I believe the kids and staff at JPJ are some of the friendliest around.  Most kids that come to our school don’t want to leave because they learn to love it.  Let me leave you with an invitation to stop by my school any time and I’ll take you for a tour.  I want everyone to know that "JPJ is a great place to be."

Thank you for your time this evening.

Whereas, dedicated service to Jordan School District was faithfully and effectively performed;

 Whereas, they consistently and conscientiously executed their responsibilities with integrity, honesty and loyalty;

Be it Therefore Resolved: That the Jordan School District Board of Education and District Administration declare appreciation for the outstanding service that was performed in the cause of public education and hereby express our sorrow at the death of these valued friends:

Recognized by Dr. June LeMaster, Administrator of Human Resources

Mr. Ammon Wiemers, Online Learning Consultant, Teaching and Learning

Recognized by Dr. Anthony Godfrey, Superintendent of Schools

• Comments must be appropriate for all ages and germane to the authority of the Board.
• The Board will not take public comment on personnel issues or statements regarding the character, professional competence, or the physical or mental health of an individual or a group whose members could be identified individually.
• Patron comment time is allotted first to residents of Jordan District, students, parents/guardians of current students, and current employees of the District. All others may address the Board if time permits.
• No more than 45 minutes will be allocated to public comments in a Board meeting.
• Both in-person and emailed comments are given up to three minutes to address the Board.
• Comments can be made either in person at the meeting or by submitting the comment via email to be read in the meeting if time permits. Comments will be heard from those attending in person prior to comments received electronically.
• To make an in-person comment, please sign up before the meeting begins with your name, address, and topic on the computer outside the meeting room.
• Patrons unable to sign up to speak prior to the start of the meeting may call the Office of the Business Administrator or Superintendent before 3:00 p.m. the day of the meeting to be placed on the sign-up sheet. 
  • Emailed comments to be read in the meeting should be submitted to boardcomments@jordandistrict.org before 3:00 pm the day of the meeting. A comment will not be read if it is not germane to the authority of the Board; regards the character, professional competence, or the physical or mental health of an individual; or is not appropriate for all ages. Comments not read in the meeting will be forwarded to the Board.
• The Board is unable, by law, to take action on items raised during the comment period that are not on the agenda.
• Silence by the Board on an issue does not suggest support or opposition to the message given.
• Persons who disrupt Board meetings with outbursts, cheers, jeering or applause may be removed from the meeting by appropriate legal means.

It is recommended that the students whose parents have filed affidavits with the Jordan School District Department of Planning and Student Services pursuant to Utah Code 53G-6-204 be issued certificates excusing them from attending public school.

Discussion and possible action to approve bid to outpatient mental health services for students and their families when referred by the Jordan School District.  Total amount of recommended expenditure: $200,000.00 per year (five-year contract).  Source of funding:  2019 HB373 School-based Mental Health Funds.

Discussion and possible action to approve bid to select a network systems hardware supplier working with the E-rate program to provide Network and Wireless Access Point equipment for the two new schools under construction.  Total amount of recommended expenditure: $390,290.98.  Source of funding:  New School Construction Funds.

Discussion and possible action to approve bid to select a network systems hardware supplier working with the E-rate program to provide Network and Wireless Access Point equipment for the two new schools under construction.  Total amount of recommended expenditure: $390,290.98.  Source of funding:  New School Construction Funds.

Discussion and possible action to approve bid to provide teachers at Bingham High School with computers that will allow them to develop a more collaborative culture in their classrooms and increase their teaching efficiency.  Total amount of recommended expenditure: $57,498.00.  Source of funding: Instructional Technology Supplies Budget.

Discussion and possible action to approve bid to replace damaged chillers at Copper Hills High School.  Total amount of recommended expenditure: $445,000.00.  Source of funding:  Districtwide Cooling/Heating Upgrade Fund.

Discussion and possible action to approve bid for a general contractor to construct the new elementary school in South Jordan.  Total amount of recommended expenditure: $16,757,400.00.  Source of funding:  Capital Projects Lease Revenue Bond.

Mr. Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent

Recommendation and possible action to approve proposed boundaries changes as the result of opening a new elementary school in West Jordan.

1. Public Input Regarding Proposed Boundaries for Falcon Ridge, Fox Hollow and Oakcrest Elementary Schools and Establishing Boundaries for the Elementary School in West Jordan
    
2. Action by Board of Education on Proposed Boundaries for Falcon Ridge, Fox Hollow and Oakcrest Elementary Schools and Establishing Boundaries for the Elementary School in West Jordan

INFORMATION ON THE PROPOSED BOUNDARY CHANGES:  Click here

Board members may report on Board Advisory Committees as well as Board, District or Community Affiliated Committees to which they are appointed.

1. Community Outreach Board Advisory Committee    
   Mrs. Jen Atwood, Committee Chair
    
2. Facilities Board Advisory Committee
   Mrs. Tracy Miller, Committee Chair
    
3. District Finance & Audit Board Advisory Committee
   Mr. Matt Young, Committee Chair
    
4. Government Relations Board Advisory Committee
   Ms. Marilyn Richards, Committee Chair
    
5. Innovations in Education Board Advisory Committee
   Mr. Darrell Robinson, Committee Chair
    
6. Executive Committee
   Mr. Bryce Dunford, Board President 
    
7. Other