To: Athletic Directors, Coaches, Activities Advisors, and Booster Club Leaders, East, Highland, and West High Schools
From: SLCSD Purchasing Department and Athletics & Activities
Date: 10/9/26
Thank you for all you do to support our student-athletes and activities programs. We're writing to share 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.
About the Partnership
The agreement was awarded through a formal, competitive process led by the Purchasing Department and is governed by State of Utah Contract #MA4120. It began as a proposal from Highland High School's Athletic Director, was shared with the Athletic Directors at East and West, and moved forward only because all three schools agreed.
The agreement brings real benefits to our students and programs, including up to $1,400,000 in BSN/Adidas products or promotional funds over the initial term, annual spend rebates of up to 10%, additional promotional merchandise, and branding, facility, and professional development support. In exchange, the District has committed to exclusive use of BSN/Adidas for team competition gear. When we all follow the guidelines, every school and program benefits.
What Is Required
Competition gear must be purchased through BSN Sports. This applies to any size order and includes:
Team uniforms
Team travel gear worn to or from competitions, such as bags, warm-ups, hoodies, and sweats
Apparel or gear worn or displayed during competition, on the sideline, or on the bench
Teams must wear Adidas during competition. This applies to all varsity and sub-varsity programs. It also applies whenever the District, a school, a booster club, a parent group, or an outside donor provides branded apparel, footwear, or accessories for a team. Lacrosse, hockey, and swim programs may use non-direct-competitor brands for competition uniforms. No other brand's name or logo may appear on competition uniforms or apparel, apart from Adidas, the school or District, or an approved athletic conference.
What Is Encouraged but Not Required
The following items do not have to be purchased through BSN/Adidas, but we strongly encourage it, because those purchases help earn additional gear, uniforms, and benefits for our schools:
General team T-shirts and spirit wear for fun runs, 5Ks, and other one-time events
Practice gear and workout gear
Footwear, unless purchased by the team for use during competition, on the sideline, or on the bench
Staff and coach apparel, and items for booster clubs, club sports, and intramural programs
BSN can also provide custom or decorated apparel and footwear from other brands, offered at team discount pricing.
A Few Helpful Reminders
Please check before you buy. If you're unsure whether an item is covered, contact your coach, Athletic Director, or SLCSD Athletics & Activities before purchasing.
Donations and outside purchases. Before accepting donated or independently purchased uniforms, warm-ups, or spirit wear, please confirm with SLCSD Athletics & Activities that they comply with the agreement. Required competition gear should not be purchased from other manufacturers, local screen printers, or online retailers without prior written approval from Athletics & Activities or Purchasing.
Footwear exceptions. These may be considered case by case with prior written approval from Purchasing, so please ask before purchasing.
Ordering process. Orders are placed through each school's assigned BSN representative, along with a BSN quote, a School Treasurer's Purchase Request, and an approved Purchase Order. Your coach or Athletic Director can guide you through these steps.
BSN Rewards. SLCSD Athletics & Activities manages these funds, so schools should not redeem or apply them independently.
Why Every Purchase Matters
Even small orders count toward the District's exclusivity commitment. Purchases made outside the agreement can reduce the rebates and promotional merchandise available to all three high schools. Following the guidelines helps keep those benefits flowing back to our student-athletes.
We're grateful for your partnership, your generosity, and your enthusiasm for our teams. If you have questions, please reach out to your school's Athletic Director, SLCSD Athletics & Activities, or the Purchasing Department. We're happy to help.
TO: High School Administrators (Principals and Assistant Principals)
FROM: Office of School Leadership and Support
DATE: September 30, 2026
RE: 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.
Three flowcharts are attached — one each for coaches, club sponsors, and parents or community members — along with the full district checklist they are built from. Coaches and club sponsors should keep their flowchart on hand when planning a fundraiser; front-office staff may find it useful to share the parent version with families who have questions.
THE APPROVAL PATH
Every request moves from the advisor (adult faculty/staff) to the Area Director for final approval, with parents notified twice along the way. At high schools, the Athletics and Activities Supervisor reviews the request before the Area Director grants approval.
1. Advisor submits in SuccessFund. The teacher, coach, or club advisor identifies why the school is fundraising and exactly what the funds will be spent on, confirms the request is an allowable purpose, and submits the request through SuccessFund.
2. Principal reviews. The principal checks the request against law, board policy, and school procedures, confirms it does not put students at risk of injury or the school at risk of financial loss, and confirms equitable benefit for male and female student athletes where Title IX applies. If appropriate, then the principal approves.
3. Athletics and Activities Supervisor reviews (high schools only). This review sits between the principal and the Area Director and applies to every high school request, not only athletics fundraisers. After vetting the request, the Activities Supervisor submits the request to the Area Director.
4. Area Director give final approval to fundraiser applications. Advisors may appeal a denied or limited fundraiser to the Executive Director of School Leadership and Support (EDSLS), whose decision is final.
5. Fundraiser runs; evaluation submitted. After the fundraiser ends, the advisor submits Form G-27: Fundraising Evaluation to the principal.
PARENT NOTIFICATION
All parents of participating students are notified twice about the requested fundraiser: At least 30 calendar days before the event, when the fundraiser is proposed, and again at least 15 calendar days before the event, once it is approved, with the type of activity, what the funds will buy, and the estimated time commitment.
SCHOOL AND STUDENT CLUBS (POLICY I-16)
School (curricular) clubs are eligible to use school-sponsored fundraising and a school financial account. Student (noncurricular) clubs cannot take part in school-sponsored fundraising; they may raise funds independently but must state in writing, in all materials, that the club is not school-sponsored. If a fundraiser is tied to club membership, parents/guardians must sign the district-approved parental consent form granting permission for their child to participate.
PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Set school-specific fundraising procedures and a yearly cap on school-wide or group fundraisers.
Review each request for compliance with law, board policy, and these procedures.
Confirm the request does not put students at risk of injury or the school at risk of financial loss, and confirm Title IX equity for athletics.
Approve, then forward to the Athletics and Activities Supervisor and the Area Director.
Give written permission if a group wants to pre-pay for resale merchandise.
Review fundraising account balances with each activity’s sponsor every year.
Charitable fundraisers: work with the School Community Council on charity selection, confirm the charity is a 501(c)(3) in existence 5+ years, and obtain the superintendent or designee’s approval before any funds are collected. Only one school-wide charitable fundraiser is allowed per year.
Clubs: give the School Community Council an annual report on authorized clubs, including additions and drops, and apply bulletin board, PA system, and newspaper access equally to all student clubs.
Ensure that the supporting materials are posted via websites, newsletters, other appropriate avenues for access by the school community.
NEVER APPROVABLE
Any of the following is an automatic red flag and should not be approved:
Raffles of any kind — illegal in Utah Door-to-door fundraising to strangers Required individual fundraising or fundraising quotas Funding textbooks, supplies, regular home-to-school transportation, or building or classroom construction Bonuses, compensation or gifts to coaches or staff from fundraising proceeds Publicly posting individual student fundraising performance Unapproved crowdfunding or online platforms Missing instructional time to fundraise
In addition, if an outside organization is collecting funds from an illegal activity (e.g. a raffle), the school cannot accept funds from that fundraiser.
Questions about a specific request should go to your Area Director. Questions about these procedures generally may be directed to the Office of School Leadership and Support.
To: Principals, School Administrators, Teachers, and Transportation From: Ken Martinez, Transportation Director, Isaac Astill, Executive Director, Auxiliary Service
Date: August 13, 2026 Subject: Standard Operating Procedures for Zūm Pass Usage, Student Boarding, and Space-Available (Transportation)
Purpose
The Salt Lake City School District is implementing consistent procedures for Zūm pass usage, student boarding, transportation eligibility, and space-available transportation requests for the 2026–27 school year.
The purpose of these procedures is to strengthen student safety, improve communication with families, provide accurate ridership information, and support effective transportation planning. At the same time, our primary responsibility is to ensure that students are transported safely to and from school.
The 2026–27 school year will begin with a soft implementation of Zūm pass usage. Students are expected and strongly encouraged to use their Zūm passes; however, students will not be denied transportation or left at a bus stop solely because they do not have, cannot locate, or are unable to use their Zūm pass.
These procedures apply to District-operated transportation routes and are intended to provide a clear and consistent approach for school administrators, staff, drivers, students, and families.
I. Zūm Pass Usage and Student Boarding
A. Encouraging Zūm Pass Use
Students who have been issued a Zūm pass should be encouraged to tap their pass when boarding and exiting the bus on every trip.
Consistent pass usage provides valuable information that supports:
Parent and guardian notifications;
Accurate student ridership information;
Transportation route planning;
Capacity planning; and
Accurate transportation records.
Schools should reinforce the importance of Zūm pass usage with students and families while emphasizing that the pass is intended to support transportation operations and student safety—not to create a barrier to transportation.
B. Students Without a Pass or With a Nonfunctioning Pass
If a student does not have a Zūm pass or is unable to use the pass:
The driver should politely remind the student to bring and use the pass on future trips.
The student should be allowed to board.
The driver should not delay the route or create a confrontation regarding a missing, lost, or nonfunctioning pass.
Repeated concerns should be reported to the Transportation supervisor.
Lost, damaged, or nonfunctioning passes should be addressed through the established replacement process. Students should continue to receive transportation while a replacement is being obtained.
II. Unknown or Potentially Ineligible Riders
There may be circumstances in which a student does not appear on the driver's current rider list, a Zūm pass does not register, or there is a question about whether the student qualifies for transportation.
In these circumstances:
The student should be allowed to board for that trip.
Drivers should not attempt to resolve transportation eligibility questions with students at the bus stop.
When necessary, the driver should record sufficient information to identify the student, including the student's name, school, route, and boarding location.
Eligibility concerns or repeated occurrences should be reported to the Transportation supervisor.
Transportation administration will review the student's eligibility and determine whether additional follow-up is necessary.
If a student appears to be repeatedly using transportation services for which they are not eligible, Transportation will work with school administration so that the concern can be addressed with the student and parent/guardian outside of the bus environment.
III. No Turn-Away Expectations
Drivers should make every reasonable effort to ensure that students are safely transported to and from school.
A student should not be denied boarding solely because:
The student forgot or lost their Zūm pass;
The student's pass does not scan;
The student does not currently appear on the driver's rider list; or
There is an unresolved question regarding transportation eligibility.
Eligibility questions, repeated misuse, and pass-compliance concerns should be addressed through the Transportation administrative process rather than by the driver at the bus stop.
If there is a safety concern or circumstance that prevents the bus from being operated safely, the driver should immediately communicate with Dispatch or a Transportation supervisor.
IV. Communication with Students and Families
Interactions with students should remain calm, respectful, and focused on safety.
Drivers and school staff should communicate that consistent Zūm pass use:
Provides important information and notifications to parents and guardians;
Helps the District understand actual ridership;
Assists Transportation with route planning and determining available capacity; and
Improves the accuracy of student transportation information.
The goal is to remove barriers to transportation while encouraging compliance.
School administrators should reinforce this message with students, families, and staff.
V. Transportation Eligibility and Space-Available Requests
The District recognizes that some students may request transportation even though they do not otherwise qualify under applicable transportation eligibility or distance requirements.
The District's space-available process is intended to provide a consistent method for considering these requests while ensuring that qualified students remain the priority and that actual route capacity is understood before space-available transportation is approved.
A. Qualified and Nonqualified Students
Qualified students are students who meet applicable state and District transportation eligibility requirements, including applicable distance requirements or District-approved safety-related exceptions.
Nonqualified students are students who do not meet the normal eligibility requirements but may request transportation when space is available on an existing route.
Qualified students will always receive priority when determining route assignments and available capacity.
VI. Beginning-of-Year Ridership Evaluation Period
For approximately the first four weeks of the 2026–27 school year, Transportation will evaluate actual student ridership on each route.
During this evaluation period:
Students will be strongly encouraged to consistently use their Zūm passes.
Transportation will use available ridership information, driver observations, and route data to establish actual route utilization.
Space-available and exception requests will generally not be approved until the evaluation period is completed.
Transportation will use this information to determine which routes have available capacity after qualified students have been accommodated.
This approximately four-week evaluation period replaces the previous practice of making determinations after approximately 15 school days.
VII. Students Riding During the Interim Period
During the beginning-of-year evaluation period, drivers should not independently remove, deny, or refuse transportation to a student because there is a question regarding eligibility.
If a potentially nonqualified student is already using a route:
The driver should continue transporting the student unless directed otherwise by Transportation administration.
Repeated or questionable use should be reported to the driver's supervisor.
Transportation will review the circumstances and coordinate with school administration when follow-up with the student or parent/guardian is necessary.
The intent is to resolve eligibility concerns administratively rather than leaving a student at a bus stop.
VIII. Space-Available Request Process
Following the approximately four-week ridership evaluation period, a parent or guardian may submit a Transportation Exception or Space-Available Request to the Transportation Department.
Transportation will consider:
Actual ridership on the requested route;
Bus seating and safe operating capacity;
Qualified students assigned to the route;
Historical and current ridership trends;
Route and stop locations;
Operational feasibility; and
Whether accommodation would require an additional route, vehicle, stop, or significant cost.
Space-available transportation may be approved when sufficient capacity exists after qualified riders have been accommodated.
IX. Approval and Denial of Space-Available Transportation
A. Approval
Space-available transportation may be approved when sufficient capacity exists and the request can be accommodated without negatively affecting qualified students or District operations.
Families should understand that:
Approval is based on available capacity.
Approval does not establish permanent transportation eligibility. It will be considered on a yearly basis.
The accommodation may be modified or discontinued if qualified ridership increases or operational needs change.
B. Denial
A request may be denied when:
Available capacity is insufficient;
The accommodation would negatively affect qualified riders;
An additional route, vehicle, stop, or significant operational expense would be required; or
Other operational or safety considerations prevent the accommodation.
Parents and guardians will be informed of the determination.
X. Ongoing Ridership and Eligibility Concerns
When Transportation identifies a student who appears to be repeatedly using services for which they are not authorized, the following process should be followed:
Driver: Report the concern to the Transportation supervisor.
Transportation: Verify the student's eligibility and circumstances.
Transportation: When appropriate, contact school administration.
School administration: Work with the student and parent/guardian to resolve the concern outside of the bus environment.
Drivers should not be placed in the position of confronting students about ongoing eligibility or removing students from transportation services without administrative direction.
XI. School Administrator Responsibilities
Principals and school administrators are asked to support consistent implementation by:
Communicating the expectations for Zūm pass usage to students and families;
Reinforcing that students should not be stranded because of a missing, lost, or nonfunctioning pass;
Directing transportation eligibility questions to Transportation rather than attempting to resolve them at the bus stop;
Supporting Transportation when repeated eligibility or ridership concerns require school-based follow-up;
Communicating with families in a calm, respectful, and solution-oriented manner; and
Helping students understand that Zūm pass usage supports safe and effective transportation planning.
School administrators should work collaboratively with Transportation when concerns arise and avoid placing drivers in the position of making eligibility determinations.
XII. Records and Communication
Transportation will maintain appropriate records related to:
Exception and space-available requests;
Approvals and denials;
Route capacity considerations; and
Significant or repeated eligibility concerns.
Schools and drivers will receive updated information as necessary when ridership assignments or transportation circumstances change.
XIII. Key Operating Principles
The following principles should guide implementation throughout the school year:
Student safety comes first.
Students should not be stranded while an eligibility question is being resolved.
Zūm pass usage should be strongly encouraged.
Qualified students receive priority for transportation.
Actual ridership should be established before space-available requests are approved.
Space-available transportation is not automatic and should be reviewed each school year.
Route capacity may change throughout the school year.
Drivers should transport, encourage, report, and communicate—not resolve eligibility disputes at the bus stop.
Closing
Thank you to our principals, school staff, Transportation team, and bus drivers for your partnership in implementing these procedures. A consistent, respectful, and student-centered approach will help us improve transportation operations while maintaining our shared commitment to student safety.
When questions arise, please remember the basic expectation:
Transport. Encourage. Report. Communicate.
Transportation and school administration will work together to address eligibility, repeated misuse, and other concerns through the appropriate administrative process.
Questions or concerns should be directed to Dispatch or the appropriate Transportation supervisor.
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. Leadership Academy -- Moving from the classroom or coaching role into school administration is a major shift. The Assistant Principal Leadership Academy is built to help our 1st and 2nd year assistant principals successfully navigate that transition and grow their leadership capacity. This program gives you direct, hands-on experience with the actual district systems and operational practices that keep a building running smoothly. Over the course of the year, we will dig deep into student services, special education compliance, master scheduling, and Let’s welcome a new team member!!!!! Riley Crowford has been selected as the top candidate for Assistant Principal at East High. Riley comes to SLCSD from Granite School District where he currently serves as Dean of Students, and previously as Administrative Intern and High School Teacher with over 10 years of classroom experience. CELEBRATIONS – Please send to leeson.taylor@slcschools.org or angelina.tovar@slcschools.org by Wednesday at 5:00 PM. Thanks to everyone that came out to the soccer match Wednesday night!!! ALL ADMINISTRATORS – Items for all building level administrators DEADLINES PUBLISHED 2026 Principal Tackle List.docx ACTION ITEMS 26-27 Title IX Trainings – Required trainings for Title IX and updating your school's Deputy Title IX Coordinator information. 26-27 Start of School Title I Updates – To support a successful beginning to the 2026–2027 school year, we are asking the principals of Title I schools to please complete the following required Title I tasks by Friday, August 28, 2026. Completing these items early will help ensure your school is well prepared for the year ahead. If you need assistance at any point, please do not hesitate to reach out to Dr. Taylor. School LAND Trust Updates: Following the August 1 annual rollover of the School LAND Trust Reporting Website, a new Fall Requirements Form will replace the Council Membership Form and Principal Assurance Form for FY27. Because August 1 falls on a weekend, there will be a brief delay before the new form becomes available. During the transition period of August 1–4, please donot submit or update information using the Council Membership Form or Principal Assurance Form. Instead, wait for the Fall Requirements Form to become available, which is currently estimated for August 5. Please refer to this guide for additional information about the new Fall Requirements Form, including step-by-step instructions for completing and submitting the form. If you have questions, please contact the USBE School Children's Trust team at schoollandtrust@schools.utah.gov. INFORMATION ITEMS Assessment Plan for SY 2026-27 – This document is the comprehensive overview of assessments. For specific dates of testing windows, questions about administration, or training on administration, please contact Dr. Patrick Jefferies, Assessment & Evaluation Supervisor. Acadience Testing Calendar for each school is available and can be found by clicking here. Reach out to Dr. Jefferies in Assessment & Evaluation with any questions. Math Acadience: If your school has chosen to administer Acadience Math to your K-3 students, you must notify Lynette Peck (lynette.peck@slcschools.org) by Wednesday, August 12th and indicate if you will be using the free manual entry licenses provided by USBE, or if you will be purchasing digital licenses ($2.95 per student) if you would like assistance from the district testing team. Please be aware that the district will not be printing Computation or Concepts & Applications packets as was done in the past when this was a state-mandated assessment. Schools are responsible for printing these materials on their own. Digital files are in the District Document Center and can also be found by following this LINK. INCOMING STUDENT DATA: Data for incoming students is now available at https://apex.slcschools.org/apex/r/slcsd/student-performance-reports-teacher-access. This can be report can be run and downloaded any time and it will reflect your currently enrolled students. Reach out to Dr. Jefferies with any questions or to schedule a data consultation. KEEP Administration update: One important change is the discontinuation of the five SLCSD Math items. This decision was finalized after testing materials had already been packed. When your testing materials arrive over the next week or so, please remove and securely destroy the light blue SLCSD Math Test Administration Manual and the light blue Student Materials. Do not administer these items or attempt to enter data for them. KEEP scoring access: Anyone who will be administering the KEEP will need access to the data system to enter scores. Please have each individual apply for access via the Employee System Access Application located here: ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus Training Reminder ---Anyone administering Kindergarten testing must have completed the required trainings: Testing Ethics Training – Required annually for all test administrators. Administrative Guidance for Parking – The intent of this guidance is to support orderly parking practices while maintaining fairness for all staff and visitors and reinforcing a welcoming school environment. Transportation Contact Information -- As we prepare for the upcoming school year, we would like to share the Salt Lake City School District Transportation Department contact information to help ensure you can quickly connect with the appropriate staff for transportation-related needs. New way to enter incidents in PowerSchool PowerSchool as updated how we enter discipline incidents into PowerSchool, please see the attached document for steps on creating incidents. Incident Entry Steps Helping families with Parent Portal Families will use their Parent Portal login to complete online registration for returning students. This document will help you support parents with their ParentPortal login. Supporting Parents with Parent Portal Getting technology help The best way to get technology help is to enter a support ticket: https://helpdesk.slcschools.org Each school is assigned a technician; however, systems are supported by a number of different people. Entering tickets allows us to get your request to the right person in an efficient manner. Requesting technology Technology for your building is requested through the School Improvement Plan Application in the 'Technology Requests' section. You will also be able to see an assigned budget based upon your school that is calculated using your school enrollment and staff FTE count. Staff are assigned technology based upon their position. Guidance about requesting technology can be found in this document in the District Document Center: Capital Technology Guidance Monthly IT maintenance To ensure the smooth operation of our IT systems, regular maintenance is necessary. We’ve established a maintenance schedule for the 2026-27 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 28-29 September 25-26 October 23-24 November 20-21 December 18-19 January 22-23 February 26-27 March 26-27 April 16-17 May 14-15 The full maintenance calendar can be found here: Salt Lake City School District - IT Calendar USBE Updates Licensing Newsletter -- These newsletters provide critical updates regarding Utah Educator Licensing for administrators, Human Resource officers, APPEL Directors, university faculty and others. SEOP Newsletter – August newsletter USBE August Attendance Newsletter – USBE Attendance information for the month of August.
HIGH SCHOOLS – Items for high school administration DEADLINES ACTION ITEMS Calculating Added Value GPA -- Additional value is awarded to courses that demonstrate a higher level of academic rigor. This system ensures students are recognized for the commitment they make when enrolling in advanced coursework. INFORMATION ITEMS Monthly Registrar Meetings -- Mandatory monthly meetings for high school registrars are essential to ensure consistency, efficiency, and compliance across the school district. These meetings serve several critical functions: MIDDLE SCHOOLS –Items for middle school administration DEADLINES ACTION ITEMS INFORMATION ITEMS ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS – Items for elementary school administration DEADLINES ACTION ITEMS INFORMATION ITEMS Math Acadience Order process for 2026-27: Any school can use manual licenses for K-3 Math Acadience paid for by USBE. Schools can pay $2.95/student with school funds to upgrade to digital licenses and avoid hand entry of data in K-1. For more details, please click here. To order licenses for grades 4-6, email quotes@acadiencelearning.org to purchase. TRAINING: Starting now, participants can self-enroll in the Canvas course for the SY26-27 administration and scoring of the Acadience Math assessments. Once they complete the module(s) and submit the survey they will receive a certificate of completion. Self-enroll URL link https://usbe.instructure.com/enroll/C6FRBW Please reach out to Dr. Patrick Jefferies, Assessment & Evaluation, with questions. patrick.jefferies@slcschools.org RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR SCHOOLS FROM DISTRICT DEPARTMENTS SPED Scoop – Special Education Newsletter Student Services Resources Teaching & Learning Salt Lake City Education Foundation School Leadership & Support Administrative Memos
*Unless otherwise requested, information will run for 2 weeks only.
I hope you are off to a great start to the new school year. Thank you for your continued commitment to ensuring our Title I programs provide meaningful opportunities for family engagement and remain fully compliant with federal requirements.
To support a successful beginning to the 2026–2027 school year, please complete the following required Title I tasks by Friday, August 28, 2026. Completing these items early will help ensure your school is well prepared for the year ahead. If you need assistance at any point, please do not hesitate to reach out.
1. Plan and Hold Your Annual Title I Parent Meeting
For most schools, this meeting is held in conjunction with your Back-to-School Night.
Please ensure that:
The meeting date and time are posted on your school's website calendar as soon as possible.
Your presentation includes all required Title I information for families.
You customize the district : Title I Presentation Templateby adding your school's name and any school-specific information.
Your completed presentation is posted on your school's Title I webpage on or before the day of the meeting.
Beginning August 27, our office will begin reviewing school websites to verify that these requirements have been completed. Please ensure all required materials are posted and finalized by Friday, August 28, 2026, to ensure compliance before the Labor Day weekend.
Thank you for your partnership and for the tremendous work you do each day to support students and families. Your efforts are critical to building strong school-home partnerships and ensuring the success of our Title I programs.
If you have any questions or need support, please don't hesitate to reach out.
I appreciate your leadership and wish you a successful start to the 2026–2027 school year.
As the end of the year is quickly approaching, a reminder that public funds may not be used for retirement or other employee celebrations. This includes all school or district funds, including school discretionary funds. Faculty Sunshine funds or other donations may be used.
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 Point
Who to contact if you have questions about accuracy or need additional clarity
Academic Performance
Dr. Patrick Jefferies, Supervisor, Data & Assessment or Dr. Christine Marriott, Director of Title I and School Improvement
Behavior Trends
Dr. Allison Martin, Director of SEL & Preventive Services
Enrollment Patterns
Sam Quartz, Chief Information Officer
Staffing Ratios
Logan Hall, Executive Director, Human Resources or his designee
Facility Needs
Isaac Astill, Executive Director, Auxiliary Services
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):
Factor
Weight
Description
Student Enrollment and Demographics
25 points
Proportion of high-need students (e.g., FRL, ELL, SPED)
Academic & Behavioral Data
20 points
Evidence of gaps in achievement, chronic absenteeism, or behavior challenges
Access Impact
20 points
Degree to which resource addresses disparities or underserved student groups
Alignment with Strategic Goals
15 points
How well the request aligns with district/school improvement priorities
Stakeholder Engagement
10 points
Involvement of parents, staff, and community in needs assessment and planning
Feasibility & Sustainability
10 points
Practicality 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.
Annual timeline will be distributed by School Leadership & Support by September 15th of each year.
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.
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.
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.
