Some of you may have been contacted by the University of Utah regarding a potential air quality monitoring study.
Executive Director Issac Astill is currently working with the university to put an agreement in place to ensure that neither the school district, individual schools, nor specific locations are published, identified, or referenced in any way in study findings, reports, or external communications.
Once this agreement is finalized, the university professor may reach back out to interested schools to coordinate the placement of the monitoring equipment. Until that time, no commitments or arrangements should be made.
Executive Director Astill will follow up with additional guidance once the agreement is complete.
Thank you for your cooperation, and please feel free to reach out to him with any questions.
As we kick off the new school year, we’d like to highlight a few important IT procedures.
After-Hours and Weekend IT Support
If you experience an IT issue outside regular hours, please submit an IT help ticket (https://helpdesk.slcschools.org). When we receive a report of a network or system outage in the evening, it will be addressed the following morning. If the request comes on the weekend, the problem will be worked on within 24-48 hours, though holiday support times may vary.
If you are having an activity after hours or on weekends relying on the computers or network and would like system support, please schedule that with me at least two weeks in advance. Be prepared to provide an account number for potential technician overtime costs.
Monthly System Maintenance
To ensure the smooth operation of our IT systems, regular maintenance is necessary. We’ve established a maintenance schedule for the 2025-26 school year to minimize disruptions for staff and students.
Maintenance will occur on designated weekends each month, during which intermittent system outages may be expected. We will send out notifications each month detailing the affected systems.
The planned maintenance window is typically from 5 pm on Friday through Saturday. Occasionally, maintenance may continue into Sunday. Critical updates may be applied outside this planned maintenance schedule.
Please review the maintenance dates below and plan accordingly.
August 29-30
September 26-27
October 24-25 (limited due to end of term)
November 14-15
December 19-20
January 23-24
February 27-28
March 27-28
April 17-18
May 15-16
June 26-27
July 17-18
IT Help Tickets
When requesting support, please remember to use the IT help ticket system (https://helpdesk.slcschools.org). Tickets submitted through this system are prioritized over emails or phone calls. Utilizing the help ticket system allows us to better analyze data and improve our service.
We wish you a successful start of the school year.
Each year, the School Safety Plan must be updated to ensure all emergency procedures and school-specific information are accurate and current.
Purpose of the School Safety Plan
The School Safety Plan is designed to:
Record all school-specific emergency information.
Provide procedures for responding to various emergencies (e.g., fire, natural disaster, lockdown).
Include emergency contacts, phone numbers, and evacuation sites.
Serve as a guide for school staff, first responders, parents, and others who need to be familiar with the school’s emergency protocols.
Annual Update Process
1. Distribution of Template
When: Second week of July each year.
What: A 4-page Safety Plan Template is emailed to all school principals.
Why: This template must be completed with the school’s updated emergency information, including:
Emergency contacts
Phone numbers
Off-site evacuation locations
2. Principal’s Responsibility
When: Completed template is due by the end of July.
What: School principals must provide accurate and updated school-specific safety information by filling out the template and returning it to Facility Services.
Why: This ensures each school’s emergency plan reflects current and accurate details.
3. Review and Compilation
What: Once submitted, Facility Services:
Reviews each school’s information for completeness and accuracy
Updates each school’s safety plan accordingly
Compiles the information into a standardized 32-page School Emergency Plan for each school
4. Return of the Final Plan
When: By the end of August
What: The finalized 32-page Emergency Plan is returned to each principal, containing all updated emergency procedures and contacts.
Principal’s Role in Plan Implementation
What: Principals are expected to share the finalized School Safety Plan with all relevant staff and personnel annually, including:
School staff (teachers, administrators, custodians, office staff)
School Resource Officers (SROs)
Substitute teachers
Parents (limited to relevant information such as student pick-up procedures and off-site evacuation locations)
Any other personnel who must be aware of emergency procedures
When: The plan must be shared as soon as it is received and no later than the start of the school year (or immediately after receiving the final plan).
Mid-Year Updates
What: If any changes occur during the school year (e.g., emergency contacts, off-site evacuation locations), schools must update their Safety Plan.
When: Changes must be submitted to Facility Services as soon as they occur to keep the plan current.
Important Changes for the 2025–2026 School Year
New Requirement: Beginning with the 2025–2026 school year, Safety Plans must also be shared with school leadership (i.e., administrators and district leadership), in addition to staff and first responders.
Timeline Overview
Task
Deadline
Template sent to principals
Second week of July
Completed template due
End of July
Final Safety Plan returned to principals
End of August
Safety Plan shared with school staff
By start of the school year (or immediately after receiving the final plan)
Updates to Safety Plan (if any)
Ongoing, as needed
Safety Plans shared with school leadership (2025–2026)
By start of the school year (or immediately after receiving the final plan)
Welcome to a new school year! It was just over a year ago that we were in final stages of preparing for multiple school boundary changes due to school closures; that heavy lifting made us a year wiser as we reflect and prepare for the upcoming year(s).
We need your input as we anticipate future needs. The purpose of Board Policy G-5 (and its newly updated administrative procedures) is to "ensure a regular systematic review of the configuration and organization of district schools and, in compliance with state law, establish a process for adjusting boundaries, relocating or closing special enrollment programs, or permanently closing schools."
Our focus right now is to "ensure a regular systematic review"... I need 30-60 minutes from you (just you for now - on a Teams call) to discuss your specific school's boundaries and special enrollment programs (if you have one). What's going well? What needs to be adjusted (if anything)? What feedback have you received in your community? And if you're a principal new to your school, you may have many more questions.
We hope this message finds you well. We are writing to provide guidance regarding HB 77 – Flag Display Amendments, which was recently passed by the Utah Legislature and will take effect May 7, 2025. This legislation outlines specific regulations regarding which flags may be displayed on or within government property, including public school campuses.
For years, Salt Lake City School District has been known for our commitment to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for all students and staff, and we remain committed to this goal and the values underlying that commitment. We also appreciate the pride and passion many of our students and staff feel in their beliefs and causes. While this law imposes certain limitations, we will continue to foster school environments where all students feel seen, supported, and valued. In order to understand and implement this legislation, we are providing the following protocols for our schools.
Key Provisions of HB 77
HB 77 defines “display” as placing a flag in a prominent location where the flag is easily visible. A “flag” is defined as a usually rectangular piece of fabric with a specific design that symbolizes a location, government entity, or cause.
To ensure district-wide compliance, please note the following flags are permitted for display:
The official United States Flag
The official Utah State Flag
The current and official flag of another country, state, or political subdivision (e.g., another school district or city)
A flag that represents a city, municipality, county, or other political subdivision within Utah
A flag representing a branch, unit, or division of the U.S. military
The National League of Families POW/MIA flag
A flag that represents a recognized Indian tribe
An officially licensed college or university flag
A historic version of the U.S., Utah, or other state/national flags
An official public school flag
An official flag of the U.S. Olympic/Paralympic Committee, International Olympic/Paralympic Committee, or a specific Olympiad/Paralympiad that occurred or will occur
A flag of an organization authorized to use space within a public school, during the time they are using the space
We understand that some of you may feel inclined to demonstrate your support for various causes, groups, and beliefs by displaying items that do not meet the definition of flag and thus do not violate the new law. While we support you in your goal of signaling a welcome environment, there is additional information that you should consider in displaying items. In addition to HB 77, the Utah State Board of Education (“USBE”) issued a letter on April 10,2025, reminding educators of Utah Admin. Code R277-217(25), Educator Standards, that states that an educator may not “through instruction, materials, or symbols . . . endorse promote, or disparage” a particular viewpoint. The letter also indicated how the public may report violations of this section. We are providing you with this information not as a threat of district action, but as an awareness that USBE, as the licensing authority for Utah educators, has indicated that compliance with these rules and laws is not only expected but vital.
Action Steps for Schools
Review all flags currently displayed in your school or on your school property, including in classrooms, hallways, and offices.
Remove any flags that do not fall within the categories listed above by the end of school onMay 6, 2025, to ensure full compliance with the law upon its effective date.
When in doubt, please consult with the General Counsel before displaying a new flag to confirm it meets the legal criteria.
Ensure that flags displayed during temporary use by authorized organizations are removed promptly after their use of the space ends.
The Office of the State Auditor is tasked with overseeing compliance with this legislation and may impose fines for violations. As such, we must be diligent and proactive to ensure our flag displays align with this new legislation.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter and for your continued leadership in ensuring our schools remain compliant, welcoming, and student-centered.
Dear Athletic Directors and those who submit field trip requests,
As we approach the final six weeks of school, I wanted to send a reminder regarding field and activity trip requests. Due to the high volume of submissions, many of which are coming many weeks in advance, we are quickly reaching the limits of what our department can support. Please note that the following dates have already exceeded our transportation and logistical capabilities and are therefore blocked out for any additional trips:
April: 18, 23, and 29 May: 01, 07, 21, and 22
To help us manage resources effectively, please adhere to the following trip request guidelines:
Requests must be submitted at least 10 school days in advance.
Without special consideration, trips will only be scheduled during the following timeframes: o 9:00 AM - 1:30 PM and 4:00 PM - 11:00 PM Monday through Friday
I would also like to remind you that when a bus arrives at a school for a trip pickup, it is imperative that student/athletes get on the bus at the scheduled time. This has been especially problematic with athletic trips when we are trying to get teams to their competitions before afternoon bus routes. When the teams arrive late to the bus, that bus will also be late picking up students to return home after school. This turns into a domino effect now making that bus late for their second school.
Transportation will contact the school 5-minutes after scheduled departure time to inform them the bus has been waiting and will leave at 7-minutes after scheduled time. At the 7-minute mark transportation will contact the school to inform them the bus is leaving without the students due to late arrival.
Your cooperation is greatly appreciated as we work to support all programs equitably during this busy time. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need clarification.
We are writing to inform you of the finalized school start and end times for the upcoming academic year. Given that this has been a topic of considerable interest and discussion in recent years, we wanted to ensure you had this information in advance, anticipating that questions may arise from members of our community.
We are solidifying a two-tier schedule where every school follows either the Tier 1 start and end times or the Tier 2 start and end times. These tiers specify the bell schedule for each school as well as early dismissal times and Fridays as early dismissal days. The two tiers’ bell schedules are presented below.
Bell Schedule Overview:
Tier 1: 8:00 AM – 2:30 PM Early Dismissal: 1:30 PM
Schools: (18 Elementary) Ensign, Emerson, Rose Park, Liberty, Franklin, Meadowlark, North Star, Edison, Indian Hills, Washington, Nibley Park, Mountain View, Whittier, Newman, Parkview, Backman, Uintah, Escalante (5 Middle) Bryant, Clayton, Glendale, Hillside, Northwest
Tier 2: 8:45 AM – 3:15 PM Early Dismissal: 2:15 PM
Schools: (5 Elementary) Bonneville, Wasatch, Beacon Heights, Dilworth, Highland Park (6 High Schools) East, Highland, West, SCORE, Innovations, Horizonte
Key Considerations for Implementation:
SLCSE-Bryant Middle School Schedule Adjustment: SLCSE-Bryant Middle School will transition to Tier 1. This change resolves a key audit finding related to wait times for students at West High School.
Universal Tier Assignment for All Schools: Regardless of current transportation needs, all schools will be assigned to either Tier 1 or Tier 2. This is essential, as transportation services must be available for any student who may require it, including those that may be subject to an Individualized Education Plan (IEP).
Aligned Early Dismissal Times: Early dismissal dates and times have been adjusted across schools to align with transportation schedules. This alignment will help minimize disruptions to instructional time, ensuring greater efficiency and continuity in the learning process.
We anticipate that seven schools will be adjusting their bell schedules for the upcoming year. SLCSE-Bryant Middle School will transition to the Tier 1 bell schedule, while Uintah, Bonneville, and Escalante will be placed on a designated tier. Meadowlark and North Star will have a revised early release time, and Rose Park Elementary will shift its early release day to Fridays instead of Wednesdays.
We trust that these adjustments will positively impact our schools and the wider community. If you have any questions or would like further clarification, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Please be advised that all schools and buildings are expected to participate in the Great Utah ShakeOut on Thursday, April 17 at 10:15 AM. There will then be a radio check test at 10:30 and further information will be shared about that shortly.
This statewide earthquake drill is a valuable opportunity to engage our students and staff in a real-world emergency preparedness scenario. To maintain consistency across the district, we ask that everyone begins the drill at exactly 10:15 AM.
What You Need to Do:
Conduct the drill with full participation from staff and students at 10:15 AM.
Focus on engaging your school or building in meaningful emergency response actions.
Report any successes, challenges, or concerns to your assigned Area Director after the event.
As part of our continued commitment to student safety and in alignment with Utah State Board of Education and the Utah Division of Risk Management, please be advised of the following updates regarding field and activity trip scheduling:
No field or activity trips shall begin between the hours of 11:00pm and 4:30am.
All field or activity trips must conclude (school bus returned to transportation) by 1:30 am.
If a trip cannot be completed by 1:30am, an overnight stay is required.
These time restrictions are effective immediately and must be adhered to for all current and future trip planning. Thank you for your cooperation in ensuring the safety and well-being of our students and staff. I would also like to direct your attention to the attachment addressing general trip procedures and specific time restrictions for areas out of the Salt Lake Valley.
If you have any questions or need further clarification, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.
Thank you
Ken Martinez
Transportation Director
Previous Guidelines
School bus drivers and schools are expected to adhere to the following procedures:
Departure Times: School bus must leave at the scheduled time.
Bus Loading: Ensure the school bus is fully loaded and prepared for departure at least 5 minutes in advance of scheduled departure.
Communication: Maintain regular communication with coaches/leaders regarding departure schedules and any potential delays related to events or weather.
School bus drivers must complete:
Pre-Trip Inspection: Conduct a thorough pre-trip inspection one hour before departure. Should any issues arise, promptly contact Ashley or the service team for assistance.
Adhering to these procedures ensures smooth operations and safety for all involved.
The following areas have specific guidelines: Departure times. No later than.
Logan Area
10pm
St. George Area
7pm
Moab Area
7pm
Vernal Area
8pm
If a bus is unable to leave by the designated time, students, leaders, and school bus driver will have to spend the night and return home next day.
Prior to spring break, we had some individuals who were not district employees try to access a server/networking room at Washington Elementary. We have had this occur in the past at Rose Park Elementary as well.
The only persons who are authorized to access a server/networking room in the district office or school building are the individuals listed on these websites:
If the individual requesting access is not pictured on these websites, they must be accompanied by an individual whose picture is on these websites. Otherwise, no one should be permitted access to the server/networking rooms. If someone not listed on these websites tries to access one of these rooms, please contact Sam Quantz.
