Skip to content

Category: Business Admin

Published on

Dear Principals,

In our ongoing effort to ensure all students receive the support they need to thrive, we are pleased to introduce a clear and supportive procedure for requesting additional resources that will govern all future requests for additional resources. This process is grounded in the principles of equity, student-centered decision-making, and shared accountability. Your voice and leadership are essential in helping us meet the diverse and evolving needs of our school communities.

Purpose of the Process

To establish a transparent, data-informed, and equity-driven system through which school leaders may formally request additional resources based on identified student needs and strategic priorities.

Guiding Principles

  • Alignment with district priorities:  SLCSD Priorities 2025-26  - Our top priorities highlighted from our strategic plan for student success.
  • Equity over equality: Resources are allocated based on student need rather than equal distribution (Gorski, 2013).
  • Student-centered decision-making: Requests should reflect actual enrollment, demographic shifts, and the academic or behavioral needs of students (Leithwood, 2010).
  • Support for diverse learners: Prioritization is given to schools serving high numbers of multilingual learners, students with disabilities, and those in under-resourced communities.
  • Transparency and accountability: A collaborative process with stakeholder involvement and clear communication throughout.

Petition Submission Process

Step 1: Review school data that serves as the basis for request

  • Review current school-level data with your area director:
    • Academic performance
    • Behavior trends
    • Enrollment patterns
    • Staffing ratios
    • Facility needs
School Data PointWho to contact if you have questions about accuracy or need additional clarity
Academic PerformanceDr. Patrick Jefferies, Supervisor, Data & Assessment or Dr. Christine Marriott, Director of Title I and School Improvement
Behavior TrendsDr. Allison Martin, Director of SEL & Preventive Services
Enrollment PatternsSam Quartz, Chief Information Officer
Staffing RatiosLogan Hall, Executive Director, Human Resources or his designee
Facility NeedsIsaac Astill, Executive Director, Auxiliary Services

Step 2: Draft a resource petition

  • Complete the District Resource Petition, which includes:
    • Description of the requested resource(s)
    • Supporting data (quantitative and/or qualitative)
    • Expected impact on student outcomes
    • Explanation of alignment with school and district strategic goals

Step 3: Area Director review

  • Schedule a consultation to review your petition with your Area Director.
  • Revisions or recommendations may be made to strengthen alignment or clarify outcomes.
  • Once approved by the Area Director, it will proceed to the District Review Process,

District Review Process

Step 4: Cabinet-Level review

After the deadline, a cross-functional Cabinet committee will evaluate requests using the Weighted Resource Allocation Formula (see below) and determine feasibility and alignment with district-wide initiatives.

Step 5: Communication of decision

  • A formal written response will be provided in accordance with the annual timeline.
  • If approved, a deployment timeline and point-of-contact will be shared.
  • If declined, the rationale will be explained and next steps will be offered for support and/or resubmission.

Weighted Resource Allocation formula

To ensure fairness and transparency, each petition will be evaluated using the following scoring system (Total Possible: 100 points):

FactorWeightDescription
Student Enrollment and Demographics25 pointsProportion of high-need students (e.g., FRL, ELL, SPED)
Academic & Behavioral Data20 pointsEvidence of gaps in achievement, chronic absenteeism, or behavior challenges
Access Impact20 pointsDegree to which resource addresses disparities or underserved student groups
Alignment with Strategic Goals15 pointsHow well the request aligns with district/school improvement priorities
Stakeholder Engagement10 pointsInvolvement of parents, staff, and community in needs assessment and planning
Feasibility & Sustainability10 pointsPracticality of implementation and potential for sustained impact

Minimum threshold for consideration: 65 points

Implementation & Monitoring

Step 6:  Review & Feedback

Relevant staff will review resource allocation with building staff.

Step 6: Resource deployment

Work collaboratively with the assigned district departments (e.g., HR, Finance, Facilities, SPED) to implement the resource as planned.

Step 7: Evaluation & reporting

  • Monitor effectiveness using outcome data and feedback tools.
  • Submit a mid-year and end-of-year report summarizing impact.
  • Adjustments may be made as necessary for sustainability.

Ongoing support and improvement

  • School Leadership & Support will maintain a log of all approved petitions for transparency.
  • Annual reviews of the process will be conducted by Cabinet to assess equity and efficiency.
  • Principal feedback will directly inform system refinements.

Supporting Tools

Final Note

We thank you for your dedication to equity, excellence, and innovation. This process is not simply about resource distribution—it is about recognizing the unique stories of your schools and responding with meaningful support. Together, we will ensure every student in Salt Lake City School District receives the opportunities they deserve to learn, grow, and succeed.

For questions or additional support with your resource petition, please contact your Area Director or the Office of School Leadership & Support.

Published on

SmartBoard Replacement Information

After a thorough year-long review, including feedback from school administration, teachers, technical evaluation, and cost/benefit analysis, it has been determined that we will move forward with the following interactive devices in the classroom. 

ViewSonic Interactive Boards at the Elementary Level

Deciding Factors

  • Feedback received through visits and teacher survey.
  • We save almost $200-300 per board.
  • We will have a 7-year warranty instead of a 5-year warranty.
  • ViewSonic software will run the Smart Notebook software that many elementary teachers use.
  • ViewSonic boards performed better than the SMART brand.
  • Will support untethered teaching as well

Installation plan

·IT will work with school administration to determine which classrooms are updated first with as little classroom disruption as possible.

·Installation will take a coordination with district electricians and installers. 

·We are currently working on creating that plan with Auxiliary services and will send out that plan once it is finished. 

·Goal is to replace about 150 boards this year

·The rest of the boards are being replaced over the next 3-5 years.

·The goal is to begin installation in October/November.

Budget Needed

·Schools will not need to budget for this as it will be paid out of the district capital technology outlay funds.

Training

·School technicians are being trained within the next few weeks so there is onsite support.

·IT will work with school administration to develop training opportunities as boards are installed in the school

·IT will work with Teaching & Learning and School Leadership and Support to develop a comprehensive training plan going forward.

Epson Interactive Projectors (still in testing phase) at Secondary Level, with optional ViewSonic Interactive Board option

Deciding Factors

  • Feedback received through visits and teacher survey.
  • having more whiteboard space was one of the most frequent requests.
  • The vast majority of secondary classrooms do not use SMART notebook software or use the touch capability
  • The picture will be displayed on the whiteboard, allowing the whiteboard to serve dual functionality.
  • Allows for untethered teaching.
  • If the Epson Projector does not work in the classroom, ViewSonic Interactive boards will be installed 

Installation plan

·These devices have already been installed in some classrooms in the district

·IT has reached out to high school principals to receive the names of a few teachers willing receive these new projectors for additional testing.

·After final testing is completed, installation will take place over the next 3-5 years.

Budget Needed

·Schools will not need to budget for this as it will be paid out of the district capital technology outlay funds.

Training

·School technicians will be trained on the boards for onsite support.

·IT will work with school administration to develop training opportunities as boards are installed in the school

·IT will work with Teaching & Learning and School Leadership and Support to develop a comprehensive training plan going forward.

Published on

Last year we piloted the Sherpa AI absence tracking tool with 11 schools, free of charge. The pilot generated strong interest across the district and many schools are eager to use the tool to support attendance efforts. 

However, because the cost of implementing Sherpa AI exceeds $50,000 we must go through a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process. This ensures transparency and gives qualified vendors the opportunity to submit bids for the services we are seeking such as timely and improved communication with families regarding student absences, robust data tracking, and more.

This RFP process typically takes about 10 weeks to complete. During this time, please continue your efforts to connect with families of absent students. If you need support, I would be happy to join you and your attendance team in a meeting to generate ideas to continue to improve attendance efforts at your sites. 

In the coming days, I’ll also be showing you how to access your attendance data on PowerSchool Analytics and Insights. This will allow you and your attendance team to begin identifying students who are chronically absent and to start developing targeted interventions. We’ll also begin thinking about systems and supports that can be put in place to better serve the student groups most impacted by chronic absenteeism.

As always, if you have any questions, please reach out any time.

Published on

Summary:

We have a new list of approved textbooks for 7-12 core social studies/history courses. When ordering textbook materials for social studies/history courses, please select from the approved list for the core classes:

  • Utah Studies
  • US History I
  • World Geography
  • World History
  • US History II
  • US Government & Citizenship. 

Expectations for Implementation: 

  1. Communication: 
  • The approved list of textbooks and the buy guides are located in the District Document Center under Teaching and Learning >> Social Studies. 
  • When ordering new textbook materials, teachers must select from the approved list. 
  • Depending on the available budget, teachers may choose from physical and/or digital materials. 
  • We recognize not all teachers will purchase materials. Purchasing social studies textbook materials is at the discretion of school administrator and/or teacher. 
  • For teachers using textbook materials as their main source of curriculum, it is important to update their materials within the school budgetary timeline for purchasing social studies materials. 
  • Schools purchase the materials. The T&L Department can help coordinate your order.
     
  1. Collaboration: 
  1. Timeline: 
  • August 20, 2025 through next adoption cycle (potentially 2032)

Keywords:  text books, social studies, history, approved materials, 7-12 

Published on

Summary:

We have a new approved textbooks Health I and Health II courses. The district is purchasing the teacher materials and a classroom set of student materials for every district Health teacher. Subsequent replacement will be the responbility of the school.

If schools choose to purchase online student licenses, they may do so from their site funds.

The books are:

  • Glencoe Teen Health (middle school)
  • Glencoe Health (high school)

Books are purchased through Mountain State Schoolbook Depository.

Rationale:

H.B. 233 — School Curriculum Amendments prohibits local education agencies (i.e., public schools) from using or allowing health-related instruction or materials provided by entities that perform elective abortions. That includes materials created, funded, or donated by those providers, as well as any instruction delivered by their employees or volunteers.

SLCSD had approved several presentations from providers that are no longer permissible. The new Health curriculum will help support teachers in designing their instruction in Health I and Health II.

Expectations for Implementation: 

  1. Communication: 
  •  Information about delivery will be forthcoming.
  • Information about a ½ day training will be forthcoming. Subs will be provided.
  1. Collaboration: 
  • Contact Katie Lowery with questions.
  1. Timeline: 
  • August 2025 through next adoption cycle (potentially 2032)

Keywords:  text books, health, curriculum, approved materials, 7-12 

Published on

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.

Best regards,

Sam Quantz
Chief Information Officer
Salt Lake City School District
Office: 801.578.8329

www.slcschools.org

www.slcschools.org

Published on

Good Afternoon Administrators!

I'd like to extend an extra special welcome to all new administrators joining SLCSD this year. I am an education specialist in HRS, and the focus of my job is pre, new, and early educators. This email is to explain the process regarding pre-educators that spend time in our district.

We LOVE hosting student teachers, practicum students and interns! Especially since we have wonderful educators and students to learn from. SLCSD receives requests from several of our state colleges and universities as well as some online programs to place their students in our schools. HRS has worked with these institutions in developing MOUs and a placement process to ensure the success of all involved with this collaborative effort. 

The placement process starts in HRS with receiving requests from mostly placement coordinators. I also get requests from instructors, cohort leaders, and students themselves. This all depends on our arrangement with each institution. When you receive a placement request for observations, practicum or field hours, or student teaching, please direct the requester to contact me directly. After the details of the placement are reviewed, I will facilitate that placement with a school administrator before anything is confirmed. 

For internships, usually in school counseling or administration, there is an application and screening process. This would include anyone interested in fulfilling internship requitements for licensing, even current employees of SLCSD. You can also direct those individuals to me and I will provide them with next steps. 

If you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to reach out. I'm here to help! I look forward to collaborating with each of you this year in various capacities. 

Kellie May, M.Ed. (she/her/hers) 

Education Specialist - Mentors/Alternative Pathway to Professional Educator License (APPEL) / Grow Your Own (GYO) / Pre-service Educators  

Salt Lake City School District 

2019 Utah Teacher of the Year   

Office (801) 578-8215 

https://www.slcschools.org/departments/human-resource-services

Follow the district: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter 

Excellence and Equity: every student, every classroom, every day 

Published on

Dear Principals,

I hope this message finds you well and that your summer planning is off to a strong start.

I’m reaching out with a gentle reminder regarding the importance of timely approval of P-Card transactions. As outlined in Board Policy F-2 and detailed in the P-Card Manual (page 4), principals are responsible for ensuring that all credit card purchases at your site are in full alignment with district purchasing policies and procedures.

When you approve a transaction, you are verifying that this responsibility has been fulfilled. We’ve noticed delays in the approval process, and we want to support all sites in staying current and in compliance.

As noted in the manual, continued non-compliance may result in the loss of P-Card privileges—either for the individual staff member or, in some cases, for the entire site. While we know this is never the intention, we want to be proactive in avoiding those outcomes.

Please take a few moments to ensure your approvals are up to date and that systems are in place to keep them current moving forward. Your attention to this matter is greatly appreciated and helps us maintain fiscal integrity across the district.

Thank you for your leadership and continued partnership.

Published on

Hello Principals,

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. 

Just click on this link and sign up for an available hour that works for you - I'd like to meet with you before you kick off the school year with staff and students:  Book time with Brian Conley: Boundaries & Planning Meeting

Please respond before July 15.

Sincerely,

Brian

Published on

As we work together to maintain the highest level of professionalism and consistency across our district, we would like to remind you of the established protocols concerning employee work schedules and job titles.

Effective immediately, no changes to work schedules, job titles, or responsibilities should be made without prior approval from both the Area Director and Human Resources. These approvals are necessary to ensure that any adjustments align with district policies, budget constraints, and overall staffing needs.

Rationale:

The District understands that school operations often require flexibility, but it is crucial that we maintain district-wide consistency and fairness in staffing decisions. This protocol helps ensure that we are in compliance with contractual obligations, legal requirements, and the district’s strategic goals.

Expectations for Implementation:

Should there be a need to adjust schedules, reassign duties, or modify job titles for any staff member, please follow the outlined steps:

  1. Submit a written request to your Area Director detailing the proposed changes and the reasons for them.
  2. Upon review and conditional approval by the Area Director, Human Resources will conduct a compliance check to verify alignment with district policies.
  3. Final approval must be obtained in writing from both the Area Director and HR before any changes can be implemented.

Conclusion:

Thank you for your cooperation and ongoing dedication to fostering a supportive and efficient work environment for all staff members. If you have any questions or need further clarification, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Keywords: Job Titles, Work Schedule

x Powerful Protection for WordPress, from Shield Security
This Site Is Protected By
Shield Security →