Our new logo is unveiled. We hope you like it. I feel it very effectively communicates our rich history, our confidence in moving forward, and the essential elements of our mission as a District – to lead, educate, and inspire. The beginning of this next year is especially unique. There will likely never be another time like this to try to engage all of our community around our mission. That community includes employees, parents, students, patrons without students in our schools, businesses, cities, and Salt Lake County. Among several elements that will be new about the Jordan School District, the unveiling of the logo is the first and one of the more visible. It is intentionally meant to grab attention – lots of it. We contracted with a great design firm, Swivelhead Design Works in Salt Lake City, that was excited to help us. One reason is because the owner is a Jordan District graduate. Matt Doyle saw an opportunity to “give back” to the institution that provided the foundation upon which he has built a successful career. In the midst of many things that have divided us in the past, the new logo is one thing around which we can all unite.
Archive for the 'District Division' Category
Wednesday (March 18) was a particularly important day for Jordan School District. The decision of the Arbitration Panel was released. This decision launches us to a new level in the process of being prepared as a District for the 2009-10 school year. There’s a lot of significant detail and reasoning in the written decision itself. I encourage you to review it to get a sense of the complexity of the issues and the basis upon which the arbitrators ruled. Their reasoning, rationale, and suggestions to the Legislature are admirable.
Realizing that this is an oversimplification, here’s the essence of the arbitrators’ decision:
1. Both districts retain buildings, fixtures, furnishings, land, water rights, and equipment currently in the geographic boundaries of their district. There is no exchange of money for these assets.
2. Cash fund balances will be allocated based on the student populations of the Canyons and Jordan School District, respectively 41% and 59%.
3. One exception to these distribution processes is school buses. They will be allocated based on historical usage, meaning, the number of buses needed to transport students this year, east and west, will be the same as will be needed and allocated to each district for next year. The only decision to be made is how to assign buses fairly based on age, mileage, and make of bus (diesel, CNG). The Transition Teams are assigned to determine these agreements.
Ultimately, the arbitrators grounded themselves in a decision making model that took into account students in each district. I’m very pleased this was their primary criterion. It’s a good feeling to have this behind us. It’s been a long process leading to a positive conclusion.
Sh-h-h-h-h-h. I’ve got a secret . . . sort of. Jordan School District will have a new logo beginning July 2009. I’ve seen it. The Board has seen it. In fact, the Board has looked at several before selecting the one that best reflects and communicates our history, ideals, and strengths. So, why is it a secret? Only because we won’t be using it until July when we begin a new era as a school district. A logo is important in order to communicate what sets one organization apart from another. When done right, a look, an image, and a word, communicates volumes about who we are and what we will continue do better than anyone else. So why not just show us the logo? What’s the big deal? After all, Dixie College showed us theirs. Well, I’ve learned there is an art, strategy and maybe a little science to unveiling a logo. There needs to be some anticipation, some speculation, some drama, some sequencing, some build-up, etc. So yes, it’s a little unfair to tell you I have a secret and then not “show” you what it is. But I will – later – closer to July. I just thought that you may be interested to know that among the many things that will be new to all of us this next school year, a new District logo will be one of them. I can’t wait to show it to you because it truly reflects what we are all about.
I’ve met recently with PTA leaders, School Community Council Chairs, and school administrators from around the District. Without exception, everyone is looking for information about issues relating to the District division. Here is an update:
• Hearings before the three-member Arbitration Panel begin Monday, Dec. 8, and will last through Dec. 19. Then the decisions of dividing the District assets rest in their hands. We’ll have to wait until mid to late January to know what the panel decides.
• The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver will hear oral argument regarding the Herriman City appeal of the constitutionality of the vote to divide the District on Jan. 14, 2009. We don’t know when to expect the court’s decision.
• The three boards of education have come to an understanding about how they will fill administrative vacancies that occur between now and June 30, 2009. Vacancies will be filled by Lead or Interim assignments, and permanent administrative positions will be named as soon as possible.
• The Remaining Jordan School District Board is studying budgets and school enrollment estimates in preparation for developing a funding strategy that will ensure our success.
We have made great deal of progress the past two weeks in finalizing lease agreements for new District facilities. Jordan School District has signed an agreement to lease property at 7800 South Redwood Road. Many District services currently housed at the Auxiliary Services Building and some District services will be housed there. The Board will soon finalize a lease agreement for additional space to ensure that all current District-level services can be in place by July 1, 2009. Our lease agreements are for three years with options to renew the lease or, if desired, purchase the property. We have kept every option open for the District so we can maximize our financial resources and be able to continue to provide exceptional services to students and patrons. Once the lease agreements are finalized, we will enter into a third-party contract to have the space modified to fit our needs. I encourage you to keep an eye on the property on Redwood Road to see the transformation to a very functional, appropriate District facility we will all be proud of.
The Jordan School District Board of Education (west) is moving forward with steps to be independent of the Canyons District regarding shared services. After nearly a month of proposals and counter-proposals, the remaining Jordan District Board has determined it is in the best interest of its students and employees to move on without sharing services. The history of these proposals can be found on the Board’s Web site.
What does this mean? It means that both the Jordan District and the Canyons District will need to provide independent services and departments for payroll, insurance, accounting, information systems, printing, testing and accountability, intra-district mail, library-media, purchasing, nutrition services, building maintenance and repair, building security, energy management, transportation, warehousing, home and hospital services, and community education. Inasmuch as these need to be fully operational before July 1, 2009, both districts need to identify building space and get services up and running.
For the west, the first order of business is to lease office space within its district. Then, some remodeling will need to take place, furnishings and equipment must be ordered, and technology infrastructure needs to be established. This will take about seven months. By acting now, the Jordan School District Board feels it can be ready to provide services to students and staff without interruption by July 1, 2009.
The process for dividing District assets is different from the process that may determine shared services for staff and students. Dividing District assets is the role of the three-member arbitration panel. They will render a decision in January 2009. Sharing services to students and staff are decisions that will be made between the two boards of education in the new and remaining districts.
Dividing District assets mainly involves ownership of vacant land, school buildings and other facilities, buses, vehicles, building contents, and cash balances in various accounts. The question of dividing those assets in a fair manner has been the work of the transition teams and is now the work of the arbitration panel.
Shared services can be divided into two general categories, (1) business services, and (2) programs for students and staff. Business services include payroll, insurance, accounting, purchasing, auxiliary services, transportation services, etc. Programs for students and staff include special education, access to applied technology programs, staff development, guidance services, ESL services, student registration, home and hospital services, crisis teams, homeless services, etc. There are lots of these kinds of services.
Let’s talk about some rumors- five of them – economic ones – the ones that might affect our District. I didn’t make these up. I’ve been asked about them. There are many more that I am asked about every day.
Rumor #1: The budget will be cut by 30 percent next year.
What I know: I’ve never heard that budget cuts could reach 30 percent next year. I do know that local school districts were held harmless during the last special session of the Legislature. Public education as a whole starts out next year in a deficit position of $74 million. Governor Huntsman has proposed using the state’s $100 million “rainy-day fund” to fill this deficit. That would get us by one more year.
Rumor #2: The District split is expensive. The sinking economy will stop the division from happening.
What I know: A slowed economy will not stop the District split. Either court or legislative action would be required to stop, or postpone, the District split. Herriman City’s lawsuit is awaiting review by the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver. The Legislature will convene in late January.
Rumor #3: The Governor will call a special session of the Legislature to stop the District division.
What I know: Governor Huntsman has considered convening a special session on this issue in the past. It remains an option, but I’ve not heard any recent talk to convene before the next regular session of the Legislature in January.
Rumor #4: All District personnel and services will need to be relocated before next July.
What I know: The issues surrounding sharing programs and services between the two districts are currently in discussion, but haven’t been resolved. When this is finalized, we will know what personnel, if any, may need to relocate. We should know very soon.
Rumor #5: We will no longer be able to hire computer lab teachers due to budget cuts.
What I know: I don’t know what the budget for next year will be.