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Category: Communications

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Dear Salt Lake School District Team,

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.

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Dear Principals,

As we continue to prioritize student safety and manage risk responsibly across our district, we want to clarify our position regarding the use of inflatables and requests for field trips to trampoline parks.

Due to risk management and liability concerns, Salt Lake City School District does not permit the use of inflatable structures (such as bounce houses, inflatable slides, etc.) for school-sponsored events. Similarly, field trips to trampoline parks will not be approved and will be denied upon submission.

While we understand the desire to provide engaging and enjoyable experiences for students, we must ensure all activities align with district safety protocols and minimize unnecessary risk.

Thank you for your understanding and for your ongoing commitment to providing safe, enriching opportunities for our students. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need assistance identifying alternative options for student activities.

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Dear Team:

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:

  1. Tier 1: 8:00 AM – 2:30 PM
    Early Dismissal: 1:30 PM
    1. 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

       
  2. Tier 2: 8:45 AM – 3:15 PM
    Early Dismissal: 2:15 PM
    1. Schools:
      (5 Elementary) Bonneville, Wasatch, Beacon Heights, Dilworth, Highland Park
      (6 High Schools) East, Highland, West, SCORE, Innovations, Horizonte

       

Key Considerations for Implementation:

  1. 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.
  2. 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).
  3. 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.

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Dear Team,

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:

  1. Conduct the drill with full participation from staff and students at 10:15 AM.
  2. Focus on engaging your school or building in meaningful emergency response actions.
  3. Report any successes, challenges, or concerns to your assigned Area Director after the event.

Important Resources:

Before planning your drill, please visit https://www.shakeout.org/index.html.
The website includes:

  1. Step-by-step guidance for organizing your drill
  2. Flyers and information in multiple languages to support your school community
  3. A place to register your school as a ShakeOut participant and record your activities

We strongly encourage every school to register and take full advantage of the tools provided.

If you need assistance or have questions, please contact Christina Diaz in Facilities at christina.diaz@slcschools.org  or (801) 886-8927

Thank you for your attention to this important effort and for helping ensure we’re all prepared.

Isaac

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Dear Principals,

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:

  1. No field or activity trips shall begin between the hours of 11:00pm and 4:30am.
  2. All field or activity trips must conclude (school bus returned to transportation) by 1:30 am.
  3. 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:

  1. Departure Times: School bus must leave at the scheduled time.
  2. Bus Loading: Ensure the school bus is fully loaded and prepared for departure at least 5 minutes in advance of scheduled departure.
  3. Communication: Maintain regular communication with coaches/leaders regarding departure schedules and any potential delays related to events or weather.

School bus drivers must complete:

  1. 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. 

  1. Logan Area
    1. 10pm
  2. St. George Area
    1. 7pm
  3. Moab Area
    1. 7pm
  4. Vernal Area
    1. 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.

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Access to Server/Networking Rooms

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:

https://www.slcschools.org/departments/information-technology

https://www.slcschools.org/departments/technical-services

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.

Thank you,

Sam Quantz 

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StudentSquare

We will be launching StudentSquare for students in grades 9-12 in the next couple of weeks.  Students will receive an invitation email from parent square that looks like this.

This is the next step in our ParentSquare rollout.  Teachers and staff will be able to send monitored/logged direct messages to students.

Thank you,

Published on

Dear Team,

I hope this message finds you well. As we work together to ensure the smooth operation and continued improvement of our school system, I would like to remind everyone of the importance of adhering to the proper leadership channels when corresponding on district matters.

Lines of Authority and Responsibility
The lines of direct authority are those approved by the Board of Education and are reflected in our district organization charts. These lines represent not only a clear direction of authority and responsibility but also serve as important pathways for communication and collaboration within the district. By following these established structures, we ensure that all staff members are informed and that matters are addressed at the appropriate levels.

Referral of Matters
When an issue or matter requires administrative action, personnel should refer it to the administrator to whom they are directly responsible. If needed, the matter can then be referred to the next higher administrator. It is essential that all personnel keep their immediate administrator informed of their activities, as transparency and communication help us maintain a cohesive and efficient district.

Complaint Resolution Process
It is also important to note that School Board Policy G-18 outlines how we resolve complaints here in SLCSD.  This ensures that all staff members have access to a fair process in case they wish to challenge a decision, while also respecting the established leadership channels. The district highly encourages individuals to try to resolve their concerns at the lowest level. To that end, the district suggests that the individual making a complaint discuss the relevant issues with the person about whom s/he is complaining if the complainant feels s/he cannot approach the person with whom s/he has a concern, s/he can fill out the G-18: Complaint Resolution Request Form and submit it to Respondent’s supervisor.

Two-Way Flow of Communication
While the lines of authority represent direction, they also serve as avenues for the two-way flow of ideas and feedback. Collaboration and open communication are key to continuously improving the programs and operations of our school system. I encourage everyone to use these channels not only to report issues but also to share ideas and suggestions that can benefit our students and staff.

Thank you for your continued dedication to maintaining clear and respectful communication, and for your commitment to supporting the success of our students and schools. Together, we can ensure that our leadership processes function smoothly and that we work collaboratively toward our shared goals.

If you would like a refresher for which area director is responsible for which school, it can be found here.

Published on

Hello!

We have some important updates to share about the organizational changes within our district.

Effective March 5, 2025, the Teaching & Learning Department and the Special Education Department will merge to create the Teaching & Learning Division. This move reinforces the district’s commitment to an inclusive, data-driven, and instructional-focused approach to serving students with disabilities while improving collaboration between general education and special education teams.

By combining our special education and general education leaders into one division, we will be better able to:

  1. Ensure that special education is fully integrated into district-wide instructional strategies and supports.
  2. Create a system where general education and special education teachers collaborate more effectively to support diverse learners.
  3. Embed special education expertise into PLCs to ensure teachers have access to strategies that support students with disabilities.
  4. Foster and support shared responsibility for the success of each student.
  5. Demonstrate a commitment to both legal and instructional excellence.

Change is inevitable and brings with it both opportunities and challenges. We are committed to a smooth transition that will support our ongoing collaboration and clear communication. We are excited about the possibilities that our new configuration will bring.

  1. Teaching & Learning Division:
    1. The Special Education Director will now report to the Executive Director of Teaching & Learning.
    2. The Extended Learning Programs (ELP) department has been renamed as the Advanced Academics department. This will better reflect the K-12 focus of the department.
    3. The STEM Department will coordinate math, science, and digital learning.
    4. The Literacy Department contacts will be updated when a Literacy Supervisor is hired.
    5. The Enriched Learning Department will coordinate Fine Arts programs, Health/PE, Social Studies/Civic Readiness, and National Board.
  2. The Evaluation and Assessment Supervisor, when hired, will report to the Executive Director of School Leadership & Support. The E&A Supervisor will liaison with T&L and Information Technology to coordinate evaluation projects and assessment administration.
    1. The Supervisor and Evaluation & Data Insights team are based in the School Leadership & Support wing.
    2. The Assessment team, under the direction of the Chief Information Officer, will move from Beardsley into the district office at the end of the year. They will be based in the central section of the T&L wing and have shared space at Beardsley.

As we navigate this transition, we appreciate your adaptability, professionalism, and dedication to ensuring a smooth process. Your commitment to our shared goals and to supporting one another during this time reflects the strength of our team. Together, we will continue to create an environment that fosters collaboration, efficiency, and excellence. Thank you for your patience and hard work as we move forward.

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