Remote Learning In Salt Lake City School District

Press release from the Salt Lake City School District:

December 14, 2020

December 10, 2020

Dear Salt Lake City School District community,

During the past week, you may have seen posts on social media about the Black Lives Matter flag and LGBTQ Pride flag hanging inside Rose Park Elementary. I appreciate the concerns that have been shared, but I want to make sure our community understands the purpose of these flags.

The flags are not a political statement nor are they meant to take sides on any political issue. For years, Rose Park has flown flags to represent the heritage countries of Rose Park students and their families. Several years ago, the school added a Pride flag to express support for a Rose Park student who came out. And this summer, with racial injustice at the forefront of many across the country, a Black Lives Matter flag was added to send an explicit message that Rose Park Elementary is a welcoming and safe space for all members of our community.

Our district and city, and the Rose Park community specifically, are some of the most diverse communities in our state, and the flags show the school’s and district’s desire to be an inclusive and welcoming environment for the entire community. The district fully supports the flags at Rose Park, and the decision to hang these flags is backed by policies in our district that bolster ALL students and specifically prohibit discrimination. More importantly, the flags show our students and families we love them and want them to succeed. That’s a goal I hope the entire community can support.

FREE FLU SHOTS

This year, it is more important than ever to get your annual flu shot. If you still need to get your flu shot, the Westside Coalition and the Salt Lake County Health Department will host a free flu shot clinic this coming Sunday, December 13. The clinic will be at the Utah State Fairpark (155 North 1000 West, Salt Lake City, Utah 84116) and will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free vision screenings by Friends for Sight will also be available.

LOOK FOR THE GOLDEN TICKET

Starting next week, be on the lookout for a Golden ticket in our Grab and Go meals for students. The tickets will be placed randomly in meal bags at all school meal sites. Students who receive a Golden Ticket should bring it back to the meal site where the ticket was received to redeem it for a prize.

The prizes were donated by the Dairy Council of Utah and include backpacks, pedometers, frisbees, notebooks, NFL trading cards, lanyards, school supplies, and clothing. The grand prizes are NFL autographed footballs, mini helmets, hats, and photographs.

The prize contest runs from December 14 through January 22.

NO FOOD SERVICE DURING WINTER RECESS

Winter Recess is quickly approaching. For two weeks, December 21 – January 1, schools will be closed, which means we will not be serving student meals, and we will not be hosting any food pantry distributions at our schools.

• Grab and Go meals for students will be available next week but will not be served during Winter Recess. The last day for Grab and Go meals before Winter Recess will be Friday, December 18.
• Our last Food for Families distribution before Winter Recess will take place on Thursday, December 17, at the Liberty Elementary Community Learning Center, 2:30-5:30 p.m.

SALT LAKE TEACHERS AMONG FINALISTS FOR NATIONAL AWARD

The Utah State Board of Education announced the names of the six 2020 Utah finalists for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. We are so proud that three of the six are from Salt Lake City School District! Heidi Boogert from Highland Park Elementary is a finalist in Elementary Mathematics. Jennifer Carver-Hunter from Mountain View Elementary and Linette Sheffield from Dilworth Elementary are finalists in Elementary Science.

The Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) is the highest honor bestowed by the United States government specifically for K–12 science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), and/or computer science teaching. Finalists serve as models for their colleagues, inspiration to their communities, and leaders in the improvement of STEM education.

I hope you have a great week.

Sincerely,

Larry Madden
Interim Superintendent
Salt Lake City School District

December 3, 2020

Dear Salt Lake City School District community,

This week was our last Board of Education meeting for 2020. We said farewell to our three outgoing Board members, Michelle Tuitupou (Precinct 1), Michael Nemelka (Precinct 2), and Samuel Hanson (Precinct 5), and thanked them for their service on behalf of the students and educators of the Salt Lake City School District. In January, we will welcome three new Board members, Joél-Léhi Organista (Precinct 1), Jenny Sika (Precinct 2), and Mohamed Baayd (Precinct 5). We also congratulated Board Member Kristi Swett on her re-election to the Board of Education. Ms. Swett and the new Board members will be sworn into office during our first Board meeting in January 2021.

Here are a few more announcements for this week.

Early Open Enrollment

Students who live outside of district or school boundaries and who are interested in enrolling in a Salt Lake City School District school for the 2021-22 school year may apply for an out-of-resident transfer during the Early Open Enrollment period. This will run from December 1, 2020, until 4 p.m. on February 19, 2021.

We believe every child can learn, and Salt Lake City School District has programs and services to assist all students and families. By offering a wide array of programs and services, we strive to the meet the needs of every child and offer a variety of choices to every parent.

More information about Early Open Enrollment can be found on our website .

Food for Families

The Salt Lake Education Foundation will distribute food for families on the following dates and at the following locations:

• Wednesday, December 9, 2020, 3:00-5:00 p.m
  Rose Park Community Learning Center (1105 W. 1000 N., Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Thursday, December 10, 2020, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
  Glendale Community Learning Center (1388 S. Navajo Street (1340 W.), Salt Lake City, Utah
• Thursday, December 17, 2020, 2:30-5:30 p.m.
  Liberty Community Learning Center (1078 S. 300 E., Salt Lake City, Utah)

Holiday Giving

Every winter, hundreds of families in our district struggle to find shoes, socks, clothing, or even food, let alone holiday gifts. This year, the need is even higher due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact in our city. There are several ways you can help make a difference in the lives of our students this holiday season.

• Salt Lake Education Foundation - The Foundation works with community partners to make sure the basic needs of our students are met, enabling them to become life-long learners. You can support the foundation’s efforts directly at: http://donate.slcschools.org .
  • One of the great projects our Foundation is involved in is the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Project . Many children and seniors in our community will have gifts this holiday season thanks to generous community members adopting these “angels.” This year, you can adopt an angel online .
• KSL’s Quarters for Christmas – 100% of donations made to KSL’s Quarters for Christmas Campaign return back into our community for children’s shoes, clothing and coats.
• Coats 4 Kids - ABC4 News is teaming up with the Salt Lake City School District for the first Coats 4 Kids drive. ABC4 hopes to collect 10,000 coats for students in our school district. Donating is easy! All you have to do is drop off a new coat for a child at one of several drop-off locations across Salt Lake County. See the ABC4 website for drop-off locations .

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Larry Madden
Interim Superintendent
Salt Lake City School District

November 24, 2020

Dear Salt Lake City School District community,

It’s the week of Thanksgiving, and this time of year, many of us take time to consider the things for which we are thankful. While 2020 has been a year of ups and downs, I’d like to share a few things from my list.

• I’m thankful for the opportunity to serve as your Interim Superintendent this year. The job is not always easy, but I get to work with a team of district leaders and administrators who genuinely care about your students.
• I am thankful for our teachers, custodians, bus drivers, classroom aides, Child Nutrition workers, computer technicians, librarians, and all the district employees who show up every day and help keep our schools running. Their dedication is an example to me every single day.
• I am also thankful for you, our students and families. This year has thrown us some curves, and your patience and willingness to make changes have been extremely helpful.

During this Thanksgiving week, some of the services we typically provide will not be available. Our Grab and Go meals for students will not be available on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday. These days off are vital for our Child Nutrition teams, who have been working non-stop since March. Our schools and district offices will also be closed on Thursday and Friday.

And don’t forget, Wednesday, November 25, is a Digital Learning Day, which means it is an asynchronous learning day for students. (Asynchronous learning means class will not be held live. Instead, the learning can happen on the student’s own time and at the student’s own pace.) Teachers will provide asynchronous lessons for students on this day. More information can be found on our website: https://www.slcschools.org/news/2020-21/wednesday-nov-25-is-a-digital-learning-day/ .

Finally, as you celebrate this Thanksgiving, remember to do so safely. Almost the entire state is considered a high-risk area for the transmission of COVID-19 right now, and the mandate to wear a mask when out in public or when meeting with people who do not reside in your home is in place for our own health and safety. I strongly encourage you to follow Governor Gary Herbert’s recommendations that people gather only with those in their own households and practice social distancing. We need to do all that we can to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Sincerely,

Larry Madden
Interim Superintendent
Salt Lake City School District

November 19, 2020

Dear Salt Lake City School District community,

On Tuesday night, the Board of Education voted to offer an in-person option for our youngest learners beginning at the end of January. This will begin sometime the week of January 25 with students in pre-K, kindergarten, and 1st grade. We will expand to bring in students in 2nd through 6th grades after that. (Please note this will not include 6th graders who attend a middle school.)

Working closely with the Salt Lake County Health Department, we have examined the latest COVID-19 data for all the school districts in Salt Lake County. The data indicate that elementary school-aged students are contracting COVID-19 at similar rates across the county, regardless of whether they are currently attending school in person or online. There is no statistically significant difference in COVID-19 rates for elementary aged students in Salt Lake County, which tells us that even though COVID cases are rising in our community at large, the risk does not increase significantly for elementary students when they attend school in person. After consulting with pediatric epidemiology experts, our local health department, and my leadership team, I felt comfortable making this recommendation to our Board of Education.

Making a proposal to offer an in-person option is not something we took lightly. Please know that we make decisions with the best interests of students and employees – for both safety and educational opportunities – at heart. We will continue to monitor health department data, including to learn more about the impact this change may have on both children and adults.

Remote learning will continue to be an option for those who feel that is the right choice for their family, and district leaders will work closely with school leaders over the next several weeks to determine how to best structure these two learning options. I will continue to provide you with updates every Thursday as we approach the week of January 25, and we will have a dedicated page on our district website with information about this transition available soon. You will receive school level updates from your student’s principal.

The virus is currently out of control in our communities, and we need your help to change that before the end of January. Now is the time to take personal responsibility for getting our community spread under control. Please wear your mask routinely, practice social distancing, and limit contact with people who do not live in your same household. The infection rate can change rapidly, and we all need to do our part to keep each other safe.

If you have questions, please reach out to me or to your Board of Education member . Please read on for additional announcements.

Sincerely,

Larry Madden

______

DIGITAL LEARNING DAY

Wednesday, November 25, 2020, is an asynchronous learning day for students. (Asynchronous learning means class will not be held live. Instead, the learning can happen on the student’s own time and at the student’s own pace.) Teachers will provide asynchronous lessons for students on this day, just as they do on Wednesdays during our regular week of remote instruction. Students will have at least four hours of asynchronous learning planned by their teacher(s). Elementary teachers should provide four hours of learning for students. Middle school and high school teachers should provide approximately one hour per class period, based on the number of periods per day.

More information is available on our website: https://www.slcschools.org/news/2020-21/wednesday-nov-25-is-a-digital-learning-day/ .

COVID-19 TESTING

The Salt Lake County Health Department will be offering free COVID-19 testing next Tuesday, November 24, at the Maverik Center, 3200 South Decker Lake Drive, West Valley City, UT 84119. COVID-19 testing will be available from 2-5 p.m.

COVID-19 testing at the Maverik Center now requires registration before you arrive. Visit https://bit.ly/SLCoMavCOVIDTest or call 385-468-4082 to register.

FLU SHOTS

This year, making sure your family members get a flu shot is more important than ever. Free flu shots are available, Monday – Saturday, at several locations in Salt Lake County. You can find the locations, times, and dates on the Salt Lake County website .

STUDENT TECHNICAL SUPPORT

Starting Monday, November 23, the student and family technical support hours at our three Community Learning Centers will be Monday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed on district holidays.

• Glendale/Mountain View Community Learning Center (1388 Navajo St, Salt Lake City, UT 84104)
  Enter in the south door.
• Liberty Community Learning Center (1078 S 300 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84111)
  Enter on the east side of the building (not on the west through the main school doors).
• Rose Park Community Learning Center (1105 West 1000 North, Salt Lake City, UT, 84116)
  Enter in the main doors.

Sincerely,

Larry Madden
Interim Superintendent
Salt Lake City School District

November 12, 2020

Dear Salt Lake City School District community,

Our district is currently searching for its next superintendent. As part of the search process, the district is soliciting community input via an online survey. The survey is open to ALL community members, regardless of whether they have children who are students in the district, and will be available through Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. 

The online survey is available in the fourteen languages spoken most frequently by families in the Salt Lake City School District: English, Spanish, Arabic, Bosnian, Burmese, Chinese, French, Kinyarwanda, Kirundi, Korean, Somali, Swahili, Tongan, and Vietnamese. Links to the survey in each language can be found on the district website: https://www.slcschools.org/news/2020-21/superintendent-search-community-survey/ . 

Please read the other announcements for this week below.

BOARD MEETING ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17

Our Board of Education will meet on Tuesday, November 17. They will begin with a Board study session at 5 p.m. and will start the regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will be live-streamed on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/slcschools .

Anyone interested in making a public comment can sign up online , or contact Lisa Alleman at lisa.alleman@slcschools.org or 801-578-8351, in advance of the meeting. On the day of the meeting, individuals who have signed up for public comment will be e-mailed a participant link/password to access the waiting room for the board meeting. Approximately fifteen minutes will be allotted for public comment, with each individual being allotted three minutes to speak. Slots will be filled in the order that individuals log into the meeting’s waiting room.

The waiting room will open 20 minutes before the public meeting opens. Obtaining the link/password for the waiting room does not guarantee any individual the right to speak in board meeting. It is expected that approximately five individuals will be allowed to speak given the time constraints of the board meeting.

FOOD FOR FAMILIES

The Salt Lake Education Foundation will distribute food for families on the following dates and locations:

• Wednesday, November 18, 2020
  • Rose Park Community Learning Center (1105 W. 1000 N., Salt Lake City, Utah)
  • 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
• Thursday, November 19, 2020
  • Glendale Community Learning Center (1388 S. Navajo Street (1340 W.), Salt Lake City, Utah)
  • 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
  • Liberty Community Learning Center (1078 S. 300 E., Salt Lake City, Utah)
  • 3:00 – 6:00 p.m.

You can view all the currently scheduled pick-up days on our website .

FREE COVID-19 TESTING

The Salt Lake County Health Department will be offering free COVID-19 testing and free flu shots (while supplies last) every Tuesday and Thursday in November at the Maverik Center, 3200 South Decker Lake Drive, West Valley City, UT 84119. COVID-19 testing and flu shots will be available on those days from 2-5 p.m.

#

FREE FLU SHOT CLINICS

This year, making sure your family members get a flu shot is more important than ever. Free flu shots will be available at the following locations/dates:

• Wednesday, November 18, 3-6 p.m.: Rose Park Community Learning Center, 1105 W. 1000 N., Salt Lake City, UT 84116
  • This opportunity is made possible through the Salt Lake Education Foundation. Community food resources will also be available.
• Thursday, November 19, 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.: Glendale Community Learning Center, 1388 Navajo St., Salt Lake City, UT 84104
  • This opportunity is made possible through the Salt Lake Education Foundation. Community food resources will also be available.
• Thursday, November 19, 2:30 – 5:30 p.m.: Liberty Community Learning Center, 1078 S. 300 E., Salt Lake City, UT 84111
  • This opportunity is made possible through the Salt Lake Education Foundation. Community food resources will also be available.

Free flu shots are also available, Monday – Saturday, at several locations in Salt Lake County. You can find the locations, times, and dates on the Salt Lake County website .

Sincerely,

Larry Madden
Interim Superintendent
Salt Lake City School District

November 06, 2020

Dear Salt Lake City School District community,

I wanted to provide a recap for you of some information I shared in our Board of Education meeting earlier this week. (If you are interested in watching the recording of the meeting, you can find that on our YouTube channelView the board meeting discussion on YouTube.) Please note that the Board did not take a vote to change our mode of instruction. For the time being, we remain in remote learning.

After consulting with the Salt Lake County Health Department, the Utah Department of Health, and with epidemiologists at the University of Utah, I shared with our Board members a model of how we might safely bring students back into the classroom. We know COVID-19 numbers have been rising steadily in our county and in our state, so this is not an immediate recommendation, but rather, a plan for when we are ready to bring students back. The Board indicated from the beginning that we want to bring students back into the classroom as soon as possible, but we need to make sure we do it safely.

I introduced an idea for beginning with our youngest learners (Pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and 1st grade students). Data from our county health department – and the experiences of neighboring school districts – suggest that these young students have a relatively low rate of COVID-19 transmission that can be mitigated through protocols such as mask-wearing, social distancing when possible, frequent hand-washing, and regular sanitizing. Our own assessment data indicates that these students are most at risk for falling behind academically without in-person instruction. These early years are crucial for students, as they learn the fundamentals of reading, letters, and sounds. While our teachers have done an extraordinary job so far in remote learning, we would like to look at a model that would bring Pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and 1st grade students back to the classroom first.

After we see how our youngest learners do in person, I suggested looking at bringing back students in 2nd and 3rd grade, and then moving on to our upper elementary grades (4th and 5th grades and 6th grade at some of our elementary schools) after that. Please note this would not include 6th graders in middle school. Because the rates of transmission remain high among teenagers and older students, right now, this model does not include a path for bringing back middle and high school students.

We’ve heard from families across the district about their experiences with remote learning. What is clear is that remote learning is working well for some families and not at all for others. While we wait for a full return to in-person learning, the Board provided guidance on Tuesday to expand opportunities for small group, in person instruction at all our schools. Currently, small group instruction is happening for targeted student populations, and we hope to expand these opportunities at each school. You will hear more from your school principal in the coming weeks about how this might impact students at your school.

I will keep you informed about any new developments and invite you to tune in to the next Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, November 17.

Sincerely,

Larry Madden
Interim Superintendent
Salt Lake City School District

October 29, 2020

Dear Salt Lake City School District community,

We’re just a few days away from Election Day, I want to encourage all who are able, to make your voice heard and VOTE. There are many races on your ballot, including some Board of Education seats. In Salt Lake County, the election is being conducted primarily by mail, but there are opportunities to vote in person early and on Election Day (Tuesday, November 3). Here are the various ways to vote in Salt Lake County:

1. Mail your ballot via the U.S. Postal Service. No postage is required. Your mail-in ballot must be postmarked by Monday, November 2.
2. Return your ballot at one of 21 ballot drop boxes in Salt Lake County. Ballot drop boxes are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, until 8:00 p.m. on election night (November 3). Use this link to find a drop box location near you .
3. Vote early in person. Salt Lake County voters may vote in the County Clerk’s Office (2001 South State Street, South Building, First Floor) on weekdays from October 20 through October 30 from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. Voters may also vote early at any of the county’s early voting locations. (Click here to view the full list of early voting locations in Salt Lake County .) Identification is required to vote in person early or on Election Day. (Click here to view a list of acceptable forms of ID .) Early voting will take place on weekdays beginning October 26 through October 30 from 2:00 – 7:00 pm.
4. Vote in person on Election Day (Tuesday, November 3). Because of COVID-19, voters are strongly encouraged to vote by mail. Election Day vote centers will be open on Election Day from 7:00 am – 8:00 pm for voters who did not receive a ballot, who need ADA accommodations, or who were otherwise unable to vote by mail. Valid ID is required. Voters are required to wear masks. Poll workers, voting machines, and voters in line will be socially distanced by 6 feet. Click here to view the full list of vote centers that will be open on Election Day .
5. Drop off your completed mail-in ballot at an Election Day vote center. Voters may drop off their completed ballot on Election Day at a Vote Center during polling hours (7:00 am – 8:00 pm). Voters don't need to wait in line to deposit their vote-by-mail ballot at an Election Day Vote Center.

In our county, same-day voter registration is available at any of the Early Voting Locations or Election Day Vote Centers. You can register and vote at the same time. Remember to bring identification and proof of residency.

Regardless of how you vote this year, please make sure you cast your ballot. Your voice is important, and many elections on the local level may be decided by just a few votes. Please encourage your children age 18 or older to vote, as well.

If you have other questions about voting or voter registration in Salt Lake County, please contact the Salt Lake County Election Division at 385-468-8683 or got-vote@slco.org . Voters with disabilities who need special accommodations may contact the Election Division to make an appointment by calling 385-468-7400.

BOARD MEETING ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3

Our Board of Education will meet on Tuesday, November 3, at 4pm. The meeting will be live-streamed on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/slcschools .

FOOD FOR FAMILIES

The Salt Lake Education Foundation will distribute food for families on Thursday, November 5, 2020 at two of our community learning centers:

• 10:30am – 12:30pm: Glendale Community Learning Center, 1388 Navajo St, Salt Lake City, UT 84104
• 3:00pm – 6:00pm: Liberty Community Learning Center, 1078 S 300 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84111

You can view the other food pick-up days for November on our website .

FREE COVID-19 TESTING

The Salt Lake County Health Department will be offering free COVID-19 testing and free flu shots (while supplies last) every Tuesday and Thursday in November at the Maverik Center, 3200 South Decker Lake Drive, West Valley City, UT 84119. COVID-19 testing and flu shots will be available on those days from 2-5pm.

#

FREE FLU SHOT CLINICS

This year, making sure your family members get a flu shot is more important than ever. Free flu shots will be available at the following locations/dates:

• Thursday, October 29, 3-6pm: Liberty Community Learning Center, 1078 S 300 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
  • This opportunity is made possible through the Salt Lake Education Foundation. No cost eye screenings will also be available in partnership with Friends for Sight.
• Tuesday, November 3, 2-5pm: Maverik Center, 3200 South Decker Lake Drive, West Valley City, UT 84119
  • Flu shots are no cost while supplies last. Free COVID-19 testing will also be available. This is sponsored by the Salt Lake County Health Department.
• Thursday, November 5, 10:30am-12:30pm: Glendale Community Learning Center, 1388 Navajo St, Salt Lake City, UT 84104
  • This opportunity is made possible through the Salt Lake Education Foundation. No cost eye screenings will also be available in partnership with Friends for Sight.
• Thursday, November 5, 2-5pm: Maverik Center, 3200 South Decker Lake Drive, West Valley City, UT 84119
  • Flu shots are no cost while supplies last. Free COVID-19 testing will also be available. This is sponsored by the Salt Lake County Health Department.

Sincerely,

Larry Madden
Interim Superintendent

October 21, 2020

Dear families,

As you know, we are currently in the middle of a search for our next superintendent. If you haven’t already done so, please take a few minutes right now to take our Community Survey: https://www.slcschools.org/news/2020-21/superintendent-search-community-survey/ . By filling out the survey, you’ll help us narrow down the list of qualities our community feels should be taken into consideration as we work to fill this important leadership role for our district.

Please read the other announcements for this week below.

CHANGE TO STUDENT MEALS PROGRAM

Winter is coming, and with it come cold temperatures and inclement weather. Starting tomorrow, Thursday, October 22, our meals will be served a little differently, depending on the weather. On days with low temperatures or inclement weather, our meal pick-up may take place from inside the school to help protect our Child Nutrition employees and keep them healthy throughout the winter season.

When you arrive to pick up your student meals, look for a sign or directions leading you to the area of the school where meals will be available. Exact pickup locations will vary by school. At some locations, drive-thru pick-up may still be an option. The meals will typically be available at a door near the school cafeteria. Please avoid going to your school’s main entrance or to the front office.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we make this change. Our student meals will continue with our “Lunch Today, Breakfast Tomorrow” style, where students receive a sack lunch to be eaten that day and a sack breakfast, which can be refrigerated and eaten the next day. They will be available each weekday to children ages 0-18.

You can find the full list of student meal sites here: https://www.slcschools.org/news/2020-21/remote-learning-fall-2020/meals-for-students/

BOARD MEETING NEXT TUESDAY

Next Tuesday, our Board of Education will meet to hear more information from Dr. Adam Hersh, Pediatric Infectious Disease expert with Primary Children’s Hospital. Dr. Hersh spoke at last night’s Board meeting and shared information about the Utah Health and Economic Recovery Outreach (HERO) project. This project can help provide COVID-19 testing opportunities to our schools that may allow us to bring students back to the classroom sooner than expected. The meeting will be live-streamed on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/slcschools .

FREE FLU SHOT CLINIC

There are many reasons to get an influenza (flu) vaccine each year, but this year, getting a flu shot is more important than ever. Taking measures to protect ourselves against the flu will help make sure we don’t overwhelm our healthcare systems if they are treating patients with the flu in addition to treating patients with COVID-19.

The Westside Coalition is offering a free, dive-thru flu shot clinic for community members. The clinic will be held on Saturday, November 7, 2020, at the Mestizo Coffeehouse (631 W. North Temple). The vaccines will be available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

INTERNET ACCESS

Internet access is essential for remote learning, and we realize some families in our district may not have the ability to afford adequate Internet access. To help solve this problem, the Salt Lake Education Foundation has partnered with Comcast to provide broadband Internet service at no cost to families in need. We also have a limited number of Internet hotspots that can be loaned out to families.

If your family needs help, please contact your school’s principal, and they will refer you to the proper district contact.

HELPFUL LINKS

• Food for Families: https://www.slcschools.org/news/2020-21/remote-learning-fall-2020/food-for-families/
• Meals for Students: https://www.slcschools.org/news/2020-21/remote-learning-fall-2020/meals-for-students/
• Superintendent Search Community Survey: https://www.slcschools.org/news/2020-21/superintendent-search-community-survey/

Sincerely,

Larry Madden
Interim Superintendent
Salt Lake City School District

October 14, 2020

Dear families,

Happy Fall Recess! As we adjust to the new COVID-19 guidelines issued by Utah Governor Gary Herbert yesterday, I want to take a moment to remind you about our COVID-19 visitor guidelines. These guidelines are in place whenever you or your students visit one of our campuses, including to pick up breakfast and lunch meals for students. You can find the guidelines here in English and right here in Spanish .

Today’s newsletter has some important info for the coming week.

U.S. CENSUS DEADLINE IS OCTOBER 15

The U.S. Supreme Court recently issued a decision in support of halting the census count on October 15. That means TOMORROW is the last day for you to complete the 2020 Census. Remember the census is crucial to determining how much money we will receive for our schools. Please take a moment right now to fill out the Census if you haven’t already done so . The Census is 100% confidential and is available in multiple languages. After you fill it out for your household, make sure your friends and family members fill out the Census also.

COMMUNITY SURVEY FOR SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH

We are currently in the middle of a nationwide search for a new superintendent. We want to make sure we hear what’s important to YOU as we work to fill this position. Will you please take a few moments to fill out our community survey ? The survey will be open until November 2, 2020. Please take a few minutes now to give us your feedback. You can find the survey in several languages on our website .

STUDENT MEALS DURING FALL RECESS

Our schools may be closed tomorrow and Friday for Fall Recess, but meals for students will still be available. Our "Grab and Go” meal service provides breakfast and lunch each weekday to children, ages 0-18. This is done in a “Lunch Today, Breakfast Tomorrow” style, where students receive a sack lunch to be eaten that day and a sack breakfast, which can be refrigerated and eaten the next day. All 22 locations will be open during Fall Recess.

For complete information and a listing of student meal locations, visit our website .

FOOD FOR FAMILIES

We wanted to give you a quick reminder about the hours and locations to pick up emergency food for families, provided by our partnership with the Utah Food Bank.

• October 22
  Glendale Community Learning Center (1388 S. Navajo Street (1340 W.), Salt Lake City, Utah)
  10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
• October 28
  Rose Park Community Learning Center (1105 W. 1000 N., Salt Lake City, Utah)
  4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
• October 29
  Liberty Community Learning Center (1078 S. 300 E., Salt Lake City, Utah)
  3:00 – 6:00 p.m.

BOARD MEETING LIVESTREAM NEXT TUESDAY

We invite you to join us for our next Board of Education meeting. The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 20, 2020. It will be livestreamed on our YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/slcschools .

The Board Meeting agenda will be posted soon on our website .

Sincerely,

Larry Madden
Interim Superintendent
Salt Lake City School District

October 8, 2020

Dear families,

On Tuesday, we had one of our longest Board meetings in a while. Our Board and district leaders spent a lot of time reviewing the feedback you gave us via our online survey, looking at the latest data from the Salt Lake County Health Department, and weighing our options for how to provide the best possible education for our students right now.

After meeting with the county health department and learning more about COVID-19 cases in other schools, learning from other school districts in the county, and examining conditions in Salt Lake City, I made a recommendation to the Board to allow for more flexibility in our in-person learning opportunities during the remote learning period.

As needed, some small groups of Special Education students and English Language Learners have been able to attend in-person sessions with their teachers this fall. We are extending that flexibility to schools as they look at other targeted populations, including some of our youngest learners (pre-K through 2nd grade) and high school seniors at risk of not graduating. Please check with your student’s principal for information related to in-person small group instruction.

I also shared with the Board a little bit about the Utah Health and Economic Recovery Outreach (HERO) project. I’ve been meeting with representatives from the university to discuss testing options for our schools. If we can work with this project to amplify testing opportunities for students and school employees, we may be able to safely return to in-person learning sooner.

I will keep you in the loop as I learn new information that might impact our learning plans in the Salt Lake City School District. Please read the information below for some important updates.

DISTRICT HOTLINE

Our Family Resource Hotline is open and ready to help. District families in need of resources can call 801-301-6476 to ask for help. The hotline will operate Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. A voicemail inbox will be available during off-hours and will be monitored throughout the weekend.

The hotline will provide support to families needing help with homework, student tech/devices, emergency food resources, and other basic needs. Families can also arrange emergency food deliveries if they are unable to make it to our food distribution sites. If we cannot directly provide assistance, we will do our best to connect families to community resources that can help.

Help is available in English and Spanish. We can provide support via interpreters in other languages, as needed.

ELP APPLICATIONS DUE

If your student is currently in grades 1-7 and you are interested in enrolling them in our Extended Learning Program (ELP) for the 2021-22 school year, applications are due by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, October 14, 2020. Assessments will begin in November.

Extended Learning Program (ELP) services are provided to meet the needs of identified gifted/talented and high ability students. These services offer students the opportunity to engage in learning with greater depth, complexity, and rigor through differentiated curriculum and instruction. More information is available on our website .

The application is also available on our website .

FALL RECESS

A quick reminder that Fall Recess is next week, and we will not have classes on Thursday, October 15 or Friday, October 16.

INTERNET ACCESS

We realize access to the Internet is essential and that many of our families struggle with getting adequate access for their students’ remote learning. To help alleviate this, we have ordered and received an additional 800 Internet hotspots, which can be loaned out to families during the remote learning period. The Salt Lake Education Foundation has also created a partnership with Comcast to provide broadband Internet service at no cost to families in need. These services are available by requesting help from your school.

If your family needs help with Internet access, please contact your school’s principal, and they will refer you to the proper district contact.

KIDS CAFE DINNERS

We’ve partnered with the Utah Food Bank to provide a Kids Café Dinner at select schools, in conjunction with our regular “Grab and Go” meal service program on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

In addition to receiving breakfast and lunch, at nine designated school sites, children ages 0 to 18 may now also receive food for dinner on Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 10:30 am and 12:30 pm. Each child will receive enough food/groceries to provide dinner for five days.

This FREE program is open to ALL children ages 0 to 18. School enrollment or free/reduced lunch status are not required. Kids Café dinners will be provided on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the following schools:

Tuesdays

• Bennion Elementary
• Mary W. Jackson Elementary
• Meadowlark Elementary
• North Star Elementary
• Parkview Elementary

Wednesdays

• Edison Elementary
• Glendale Middle School
• Liberty Elementary
• Rose Park Elementary

STIMULUS CHECK ENROLLMENT ASSISTANCE

There are approximately 70,000 people in Utah who are eligible for a stimulus check but haven’t claimed one. Families and individuals may be eligible even if they didn’t complete 2019 taxes.

Next week, Tax Help Utah, in partnership with Utahns Against Hunger, Salt Lake City, and the Salt Lake County Mayor’s Office for New Americans are providing enrollment assistance October 12-14th from 2-6pm at Library Square 210 E 400 S (in the old KCPW office). A future Saturday date is currently being planned. (Please note that face masks will be required.)

November 21 is the deadline to request your stimulus check, but the sooner you apply, the faster you will receive that money.

SURVEY RESULTS

Thank you to those of you who responded to our survey last week. We heard back from the parents of nearly half of the students in our district. The survey was sent to parents via email in both English and Spanish.

The feedback from the survey has already been incredibly helpful. Our goal is to return students to in-person learning as soon as we can safely do so, but for now, we want to make sure we optimize the remote learning experience as much as possible. Below are some of the things we learned from your responses:

• 72% of parents felt that remote learning is manageable for their child.
• 99% of parents indicated they have access to Internet at home. This percentage was the same across the East, Highland, and West networks.
• 98% of parents in the East and Highland networks and 97% of parents in the West networks indicated their student has access to a computer or tablet to use for remote learning.
• By November 10, if COVID-19 numbers stay close to what they are right now, 54% of parents would prefer to continue with remote learning.
• 31% of parents indicated they would prefer for their student to return to in-person learning regardless of COVID-19 numbers.
• 18% of parents would opt to keep their child in remote learning, even if the district as a whole is able to return in person.
• 64% of parents felt safe with their student participating in socially distanced, in-person, small group instruction at their school.

You can view the full survey results on our website .

What this survey tells us is that remote learning, while not a perfect solution for every family, is working for most families in our district. We have heard from many of you about the desire for more flexibility and hope that expanding small group work as described at the beginning of this email will help meet some of the needs our families have communicated to us.

Thank you again to all who participated. We will have additional opportunities for families to provide input, but I want to remind you that you can always reach out to me or to your School Board member directly. You can find contact information for our seven Board members on our website .

Sincerely,

Larry Madden
Interim Superintendent
Salt Lake City School District

This press release was produced by the Salt Lake City School District. The views expressed are the author's own.