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Letters for Leadership v.16, e.5

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LETTERS FOR LEADERSHIP

ADMINISTRATOR NEWSLETTER  |  Volume 16, Edition 5

Announcements

  • SLCSD Priorities 2026-27  - Our top priorities highlighted from our strategic plan for student success. (Draft only!!)
  • Common Expectations – Administrative guiding document for 26-27 school year.
  • October Cultural Calendar – Record of cultural observances for October
  • Friday, September 25 is a non-student day and the annual Office Professionals Conference at Hillside 8:00am-3:00pm. All contract office Professionals should be in attendance.

CELEBRATIONS – Please send to leeson.taylor@slcschools.org or angelina.tovar@slcschools.org by Wednesday at 5:00 PM.

Skyview Celebration

Sky View Academy received the Education Partner of the Year Award from Davis Technical College for our ongoing partnership at the Utah State Prison last Wednesday.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1JCQM7ei97

West Student Published in the SL Tribune

West's own Ananya Pallinti had a published editorial in the Salt Lake Tribune recently, sharing thoughts about Utah's Financial Literacy course.  Talented and bright West High Junior!

West Unified Sports

Congrats to the students, Coach Haily & Coach Vea for qualifying to play at the Special Olympics State Championships!  Great job!!!!

Bonneville Elementary School

Let’s join the Bonneville Elementary School family in celebrating Kindergarten Teacher Courtney Lee.  She was recently recognized by the Utah Education Association with the Excellence in Education Award.

ALL ADMINISTRATORS – Items for all building level administrators

  • DEADLINES
  • ACTION ITEMS
    • Laptop Cart Placement – Classroom laptop carts should not be located next to the door whenever possible.  This presents a safety risk in the event the cart catches fire and may also be a tripping hazard as staff and student enter and exit the classroom.  Thank you for cooperation.
  •  INFORMATION ITEMS
    • T&L Instructional Observation & Calibration Walks – Instructional Observation & Calibration Walks will provide principals with regular opportunities to visit classrooms, observe instructional practices, and engage in meaningful professional dialogue with colleagues.
    • Reminder:  Truancy and Compulsory Education Process Guidance – During the July 2026 Administrator Institute, administrators received training on attendance interventions, chronic absenteeism, in-school truancy, and truancy procedures. This memo serves as a reminder of the formal truancy and compulsory education process.
    • HB 273 Classroom Technology Amendments -- H.B. 273 establishes statewide requirements for balanced classroom technology use and artificial intelligence (AI) in Utah public schools. During the 2026-27 school year, the USBE will create a model policy outlining the allowable use of technology and artificial intelligence (AI) in the classroom. When the policy is completed, districts will review their current practices and create their own policies and administrative procedures to ensure compliance. No changes are required in our current school or classroom practices during the 2026-27 school year.
    • SPED EXTRA - Celebrations, initial referrals, staffing allocation process, safety care training, and more.
    • High Leverage Practices Course
      • The High Leverage Practices Course has just undergone a significant update and is available for enrollment again! High-leverage practices are the foundational, research-based instructional behaviors that effective K-12 educators use to optimize student engagement, streamline classroom management, and significantly accelerate academic outcomes. This course moves theory into highly actionable classroom practices and strategies designed to support diverse learner profiles across all learning environments. It is a self-paced, asynchronous course that earns 2 USBE credits.It’s a great way to focus your coaching work for teachers, and there are also microcredentials associated with this course. Please share with your teachers.  For more information, contact katie.hill@schools.utah.gov.
    • Roving Substitute Guidelines -- The purpose of this memo is to provide information regarding the current situation and guidance moving forward to address the needs of support staff (specifically, special education paraprofessionals and PE instructors) and the increased substitute expense.

USBE Updates

HIGH SCHOOLS – Items for high school administration

  • DEADLINES
    • Faculty sponsors, head coaches, and administrators planning overnight trips for Spring 2027 that were not approved last spring must submit the online I-19D form found here by Wednesday, October 21, 2026 (please note that some trip requests require additional conversation and may not be immediately approved--the sooner you can get them submitted so we can start our review process, the better). Please use our new Overnight / Extended Trip Checklist to guide trip planning and the approval process. The checklist, online I-19D form, and related resources are available on the district’s Overnight and Extended Trips or Activities webpage. Please share this information with staff planning spring trips so they can complete the required steps by the deadlines.
  • ACTION ITEMS
    • Updated 2027–28 Master Schedule Timeline – This memo shares the updated timeline for building 2027–28 master schedules. The timeline has two goals: to build master schedules that prioritize students' needs and interests, and to reduce the confusion, frustration, and long waits that students and families have experienced while schedules are finalized in the fall. 
  • INFORMATION ITEMS
    • Fundraiser Approval Process — Procedures and Responsibilities – This memo outlines the district’s fundraiser approval process under Board Policy G-27 (Fundraising Activities) and Board Policy I-16 (Clubs), and summarizes each stakeholder’s responsibilities. It applies to every school-sponsored fundraiser, and it includes the additional review step that applies at the high school level. Please share this memo with advisors, coaches, and club sponsors at your school, and route questions about specific requests to your Area Director.
    • Our BSN Sports / Adidas Partnership: What Families, Coaches, and Boosters Need to Know – Information about the District's partnership with BSN Sports and Adidas America, Inc., and to explain how it affects purchases of team gear, so that everyone has clear, consistent guidance.
    • High School Physical Education Credit for UHSAA Approved Sports – Students who participate in Utah High School Activities Association (UHSAA) sanctioned sports, excluding esports, may earn Physical Education (PE) credit through their athletic participation. This includes participation in UHSAA Unified sports, such as Unified soccer and Unified basketball.

MIDDLE SCHOOLS –Items for middle school administration

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS – Items for elementary school administration

  • DEADLINES
  • ACTION ITEMS
  • INFORMATION ITEMS
    • Individualized Reading Plans Available in PowerTeacher – The individualized Reading Plan (IRP) system is now operational and available through PowerTeacher. K–3 teachers can begin using the system to create and maintain IRPs for students who require a plan under SB 241.
    • Every year, 5th grade students and teachers have the opportunity to travel to Abravanel Hall and hear the Utah Symphony perform.  This year, the dates for those concerts include:
      • Feb 22 at 10 AM – 1800 seats available
      • Feb 22 at 11:30 AM – 300 seats available
      • Feb 23 at 10 AM – 760 seats available
      • Feb 23 at 11:30 AM – 400 seats available
    • Please have your 5th grade teachers reach out to Amy Burris with the date your school would like to attend no later than October 15, 2027.  She will arrange and pay for transportation.  This is a unique opportunity for your students because Utah is one of only 17 states with a full-time symphony orchestra in the nation.  Plus, this is completely paid for through our state legislature.  Please contact Amy right away.
    • Thanks, and Happy Listening 🙂

LEADERSHIP CORNER

  • SLCSD/School Leadership Alliance(SLA) Overview – Scope & Sequence for this year’s joint sessions for principals.
  • Accountability Terminology
    • Exemplary
      • Meaning: Performance significantly exceeds expectations.
      • The school demonstrates a high level of performance in the applicable accountability indicators. Student achievement and growth are strong, and evidence indicates that the school is providing effective and equitable educational opportunities.
    • Commendable
      • Meaning: Performance meets expectations and demonstrates notable strengths.
      • The school demonstrates satisfactory to strong performance across relevant measures, with particular strengths in academic achievement or student growth and adequate performance in other required areas.
    • Typical
      • Meaning: Performance generally meets basic expectations.
      • The school demonstrates adequate performance in key accountability measures, although achievement, growth, or equitable outcomes may vary across indicators or student groups.
    • Developing
      • Meaning: Performance is below expected levels in important areas.
      • The school demonstrates developing performance on one or more accountability measures and needs focused attention to improve student achievement, growth, or equitable educational opportunities.
    • Critical
      • Meaning: Performance is substantially below expected levels and requires significant improvement.
      • The school has serious needs in one or more accountability measures. Results signal the importance of targeted support, analysis of root causes, stronger implementation of effective practices, and close monitoring of student outcomes.
  • Educational Leadership Terminology
    • Quick fixing – Jumping into solutions instead of listening.
    • Steam Rolling – Monopolizing the dialogue without regard for others’ input.
    • Box Checking – Going through the motions without genuine care.
    • Cherry Picking – Only hearing what confirms your own view.
  • Dignity Documents

RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR SCHOOLS FROM DISTRICT DEPARTMENTS

*Unless otherwise requested, information will run for 2 weeks only.

**We are working on formatting to ease use, add clarity and increase access

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