[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6312554,"mediaKeyId","2390732-020d34b84d9c448859afd5996f227180","parentId",2390732,"title","Therapists tell Jordan School Board low pay driving departures; district asked to consider salary adjustments","audioSeconds",166,"startMs",8095000,"endMs",8261000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2390732-020d34b84d9c448859afd5996f227180&start=8095&end=8261","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2390732-020d34b84d9c448859afd5996f227180/thumbnail_8095000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6312554/Utah/Therapists-tell-Jordan-School-Board-low-pay-driving-departures-district-asked-to-consider-salary-adjustments","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6312554-7408e2ac1b4229b935da4590944223bc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770975629&Signature=UoQzz-D7xqmzcvmgP4JXgmAvyU72uuWJH511mcrKz6T7nmHOFERnc3dP0eOAuSnOpbEXxcMYBc8WiVC77zvUxPBvISES1pUN1Hd0WT9r5qe-aiI-XN9dtvgCZne429IRSqsbWZu2C8rJy~TXVUMpgyHCIMkgFuy5ep8xsf8uLJ3LE0AseIwZP8z3-CONFo~sNH2q29GiBuuG4cNmRkdm1P6mKsZ68sPM6PJaWhhM2StA2TbYy54qxr0SiJrFsMlQGPZF1xXj~AgZxFM8JYZesCFS40XEWAfqeBOELdEZKxmGK6PNVzK4Y5Eef1q-fmCUqbwoCHxlf-NvnG8sdFKI0Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-02-26T03:32:59Z","article","Occupational therapists, physical therapists and speech-language pathologists told the Jordan School District Board during public comments on Feb. 25 that current pay scales make it difficult to retain experienced clinicians and recruit new staff.

Melanie Kanek, identified as motor development team lead and an occupational therapist with 16 years in the district, told the board the district employs roughly 20 OTs and 12 PTs, including early-intervention staff and clinicians serving Curry Sue Hamilton school and itinerant therapists across the district. Kanek asked the board to \"please consider a salary adjustment to invest in our current experienced therapists,\" noting that while Jordan’s starting salaries are \"somewhat competitive,\" Jordan falls behind neighboring districts by year five and beyond.

OT colleague Kelly Wood, a 20-year Jordan employee, told the board the district’s experienced therapists are a critical asset: “School taught us the book knowledge to be an OT or a PT. In my experience, however, a new therapist does not come out of graduate school with the ability to efficiently implement the knowledge in a setting as unique as this.” Wood warned that losing experienced staff would force the district to hire more therapists to maintain current service levels and urged compensation that is “competitive and reflect[s] the district's desire to retain the very best highly skilled and knowledgeable therapists.”

Speech-language pathologists made similar appeals. Wendy Barrett and Amy Ludlow said recruitment and retention are difficult because SLPs can be paid more in hospitals, clinics and private practice. Barrett asked the board to consider pay adjustments such as master’s-plus pay scales, paying for board certification, or other mechanisms used by other districts to better match the private sector.

Janet Sanders, president of the Jordan Education Association, thanked the board for its past collaboration and urged continued joint approaches despite recent legislative changes affecting collective bargaining. Several teachers and JEA leaders praised district policies (cell phone rules, paid hours for extra time) and encouraged continued partnerships.

Why it matters: Occupational therapists, physical therapists and SLPs provide services mandated by IDEA (Individual with Disabilities Education Act), and staffing shortfalls can affect the district’s ability to provide FAPE (Free Appropriate Public Education). Several speakers tied retention directly to student outcomes and recommended salary adjustments to secure experienced clinicians.

What the board did: Public comment concluded without an immediate action vote. Board members asked staff to note the testimony and implied that compensation and staffing for these roles would be considered during budget and HR planning.

Ending: The public comment period put district workforce pressures — especially for therapists who serve specialized and federally mandated roles — on the board’s agenda. Staff follow-up and potential pay-scale changes may be discussed during upcoming budget deliberations.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","February 25 2025 Jordan School District Board of Education - Live Stream","oneSentenceSummary","Occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists and teachers’ association leaders addressed the board during public comment, urging higher compensation to retain experienced therapists and avoid hiring gaps for federally mandated services.","taxTitle","Jordan School District, Utah School Boards, Utah","taxId",65959,"location","Utah","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6312559,"Board asks staff for PBIS/Multi-Tiered Systems report to evaluate expansion and special-education impacts",2304,4815000,7119000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2390732-020d34b84d9c448859afd5996f227180&start=4815&end=7119","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2390732-020d34b84d9c448859afd5996f227180/thumbnail_4815000.jpg","/articles/6312559/Utah/Board-asks-staff-for-PBISMulti-Tiered-Systems-report-to-evaluate-expansion-and-special-education-impacts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6312559-6ad30bdf8f2f608c2642ec38f00006e3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770975629&Signature=YDLfwDvZXRWjTYblzrgvgPe0c-8urQqa22gFDNE3zPMaWt2qi6Ug4g4oTgvxB3yLeqdLn85gmydIyUnh9kjdZXHbr7EVnng9moLZFI5xc9fJRtuVoxYmNWxIK~GdsOFOqbQM4srC2X2o317gl1uC~4WUQ4UqSU~Xwcnoyd7bZ7tP5dd14dRgq0eBXRxn-ZMkyjlDyg8Ys-ETW2qfbgW9gcx-~z8xfUWYrIMXRgdIrohP5DxHZ4kk0A0WZgxf9~ZV333G7vW3IAcbvh0Bv1jLekT4HAMSCSIUB2DUzAEbW074pOo0-4XHHEhlPfzo1JIezN3ENQJqpPerzWTrL4CqwA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Jordan School District Board of Education asked staff at the Feb. 25 study session to return with a report on the district’s Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports (PBIS) program and related Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) work, including quantitative results and recommendations on resource needs for expansion.

Board members described MTSS and PBIS as candidates for a focused board priority for the coming year. They asked for clarity on which problems the board should prioritize — academic supports, behavioral interventions, or social-emotional wellness — and directed staff to provide both quantitative trend data and qualitative findings from schools that have implemented the program at scale.

What staff will return with: the board asked staff to show how PBIS implementation has affected outcomes in schools with full implementation (including referral counts, disciplinary incidents, and instructional time preserved) and to break the data down by special-education versus general-education populations. The board also requested expert recommendations on what additional staffing, training, or funding would be required to expand PBIS districtwide and to sustain it with fidelity across principal and staff turnover.

Why it matters: PBIS and MTSS aim to reduce classroom disruptions and provide tiered supports so interventions can be delivered earlier and more efficiently. Several board members stressed that a durable, schoolwide tier 1 system is a precursor to identifying meaningful tier 2/3 needs; staff told the board that the district already has PBIS in many elementary schools and that implementation has been affected by COVID-era interruptions.

What the board said: Board member Lisa Dean asked staff to include special-education impacts and whether special-education students are receiving the same system used at their school. Dr. Anthony Godfrey (superintendent) and staff said they would bring experts and recommended data to the next round, including both statistical evidence and case-study examples of implementation and barriers.

Ending: The board framed the request as a narrow, actionable next step: return with (1) outcomes data for PBIS schools, (2) a split of effects on special-education vs. general-education students, and (3) recommendations from district experts on the resources needed to expand the program with fidelity.","After a broad discussion about supports for behavior and academics, the board directed staff to report on the Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports (PBIS) program’s results in implemented schools and advise whether expansion and additional resources are warranted — including breakdowns for special-education students.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6312565,"Jordan School Board approves $10.86 million in summer projects, awards multiple construction and equipment bids",5927,2986000,8913000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2390732-020d34b84d9c448859afd5996f227180&start=2986&end=8913","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2390732-020d34b84d9c448859afd5996f227180/thumbnail_2986000.jpg","/articles/6312565/Utah/Jordan-School-Board-approves-1086-million-in-summer-projects-awards-multiple-construction-and-equipment-bids","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6312565-c3bf58ebf909b462e233e34b0130c726/orig.mp4?Expires=1770975629&Signature=J5edHg17yvtpvbHUi1BPPS2~DtpO63xlZYHAQBE7FW6XGbbFVn3RS2Hr8C7080Z9dnDibA2T2-DVkxSbR9GBuYPb9WP6FrP2xohQUzU5~ywuepgBxkWX7O-fr5Pj5jUPrrYlYdRbBahLIuMApcfv4RZ6dTVpelehxGNeHdHqPXJ1NF6PD2WIp5nFT6E0Oi-jdVc~EoF8ZUHrFj3cRAtFhRREh-tgUkvePAQgca8ElIRcfb8E54IIcAINIzkg4i5wOzpZwnZ6kXvAOxyxnvjRet7~G6KWu8y4EgAg8nIpQjVP6N8Z~OCxz9eBnQqlvShv0yizrNqzfrK72QIoA2G~bQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Jordan School District Board of Education approved a package of summer projects and individual construction and equipment bids during its Feb. 25 business meeting, accepting the facilities committee’s recommendations that keep the district broadly within its capital-plan targets.

The board’s finance and facilities staff presented a list of summer 2025 projects with contracted bid totals, explaining the district originally budgeted about $10.5 million and received contractor bids totaling about $10.86 million. Staff said two projects were postponed (an interior renovation and a dome fabric replacement) and that certain items (seismic work, stadium sound and lighting) are funded from separate pots.

Votes at a glance (business meeting outcomes):
- District administration furniture for Jordan Learning Center — motion approved (mover: Barnett; second: Robinson). Board approved purchasing furniture under a vendor discount arrangement tied to other purchases. Staff said vendor will store and stage deliveries to coincide with building completion.
- Chiller replacement at West Jordan High School — motion approved (mover: Dean; second: Barnett). Staff said the chiller work is separate from planned WJHS renovation and should not be duplicated.
- Stadium lighting and audio-visual upgrades at Copper Hills and West Jordan high schools — motion approved (mover: Dunford; second: Dean). Funding draws on a separate capital allocation earmarked for stadium improvements.
- Greenhouse demolition at South Valley and replacement greenhouse (smaller scope) — motion approved (mover: Denford; second: Dean). The contracted work also included additional parking stalls, lighting, curb and gutter work.
- Stair access improvements at Black Ridge Elementary — motion approved (mover: Robinson; second: Barnett).
- Bingham High School parking lot expansion (option 2) — motion approved (mover: Dunford; second: Robinson). Board discussed moving the marquee area and improving lot access.
- Riverton High School ATC (advanced technical center) upgrades — motion approved (mover: Barrow; second: Barnett).
- South Jordan Middle School full renovation (Option 3, including alternates 1 & 2) — motion approved (mover: Barrow; second: Robinson). Staff confirmed Option 3 includes seismic mitigation identified in prior assessments.
- Transportation items: CNG tank replacements on school buses, third-party transportation services for special-education routes, and replacement of special-education buses — approved (mover: Robinson; second: Dunford). Staff said third-party special-education transport is used only for a small number of outlying cases (seven students at the time of the meeting) and that the RFP was structured as a multiyear contract to secure more favorable pricing.

Why it matters: The board’s approvals finalize the vendor selection and let purchasing and facilities staff proceed with contracts and summer schedules. Staff told the board the capital projects fund remains healthy and the district has a buffer large enough to cover the roughly $300,000 amount that staff said would be acceptable to exceed the initial allocation.

What they said: Facilities staff (Scott Thomas and Dave Rostrum) walked the board through bid tabs, alternates, and prequalification procedures. Thomas described prequalification steps for larger projects (bonding, portfolios, financing) and said prequalification reduced the pool to contractors the district judged able to complete complex summer schedules. Dave Rostrum and other staff explained contingency planning for big jobs, including temporary food-service solutions during kitchen work.

Ending: Board members asked staff to present the project list again at the business meeting (agenda items and bid forms were on the business agenda). Staff said the capital projects fund target remains above the district’s minimum; the board approved the bids and gave staff direction to proceed.","The board approved the district’s recommended summer 2025 projects and a slate of construction, infrastructure and equipment bids, including South Jordan Middle renovation (option 3), stadium lighting/audio-visual upgrades, and a chiller replacement at West Jordan High School.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6312570,"Jordan School Board reviews sweeping education bills, flags funding and transparency concerns",2155,389000,2544000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2390732-020d34b84d9c448859afd5996f227180&start=389&end=2544","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2390732-020d34b84d9c448859afd5996f227180/thumbnail_389000.jpg","/articles/6312570/Utah/Jordan-School-Board-reviews-sweeping-education-bills-flags-funding-and-transparency-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6312570-3f4cbc5e2d211ba09248a3ec90035df9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770975629&Signature=SgW02vTdEoGwVjMZnGbHgC7UwSYTtPm01jkowpKeFxHfXWsAdMqNRJa0K1GnymOoFO-Y-rs~TrIcfxemLG3Ge1gstiUTGrYCmILIETdYa2FEvmrVuWdA-iRtJ3Wfu~CBFyjyayqQtkWw2unnh8HFqCLe8rxru5rRMlnfONNMW3DrC9IqKZhqeDKf8Frjap~x4UkD30DgaJ7kbvdOSz2VbfMhT5ll2G4gJ~QiaTwxpGWvwfEde1zh-2Hc2tWhS4VNNa--a5zjOff4Yhrdy5mNWZg~YiPoerACcY2YdBHOevMe-CGnf6DILcv3I2O~y7aQf7NeObiN28wrrtPlQxdBtw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Jordan School District Board of Education held a legislative review at its Feb. 25 study session, where board members and staff discussed a string of bills under consideration at the Utah Legislature and how they could affect district finances, staffing and student services.

Board President Nikki George and Associate Superintendent Dr. Mike Anderson walked the board through multiple bills, including SB 237 (adds high school rodeo participation to the list of valid excuses), HB 267 (prohibits formal collective bargaining agreements for public employees), SB 37 (moves the state’s basic school levy distribution mechanism), SB 102 (program reviews and earlier concerns about professional staff WPU repeal), SB 321/SB110 changes to minimum levy lookbacks, HB 110 (freezing TSSA growth), HB 100 and others affecting school fees, HB 77 (limits flag displays by public employees), HB 40 (school security funding), HB 408 (allows referendum on some school board actions), and HB 552 (limits local building authority projects after a voter rejection).

Why it matters: several bills discussed would change how school revenues are collected and distributed, or how the district must operate. Staff and board members repeatedly highlighted a transparency concern about SB 37 because it would route money currently shown on property tax notices into the state general fund and then redistribute it monthly from income tax receipts. Business Administrator John Larson and Dr. Anderson explained the mechanics in detail and warned that moving school funding from property tax (relatively stable) to income tax (more volatile) could increase fiscal risk for rapidly growing districts such as Jordan.

On collective bargaining, Dr. Anderson clarified that HB 267 “does prohibit collective bargaining but it does not prohibit employees from being a member of a public employee association, such as the Utah Educators Association.” He added that the bill “doesn't prohibit school boards from still entering to conversations and meeting with them” but removes the formal statutory right to collective bargaining and the annual ratification process tied to formal agreements.

Board members pressed staff on programmatic and fiscal details: what SB 102’s review of programs would mean for professional staff weighted pupil units (WPU) and a $20.5 million item the board monitors closely; how HB 110 could freeze TSSA growth funding; what parts of the school-fees bills would remain chargeable (extracurricular fees and some postsecondary courses); and how HB 408’s referendum provisions could affect the district’s ability to levy required minimums to secure state equity funding.

Several board members said they and district staff are actively raising concerns with lawmakers. The board asked staff to continue tracking these bills and to notify the board of developments, and Dr. Anderson and board member Suzanne Wood were thanked for maintaining relations with legislators.

What the board said: Board members repeatedly emphasized the practical consequences for budgeting and operations. Board member Brian Barnett noted the specific risk to a growing district should the state’s mechanism change. President George said the board has approached sponsors to ask for clearer labeling or disclosure so voters and property owners better understand the ultimate use of the funds.

Ending: The board did not vote on any of these bills; the session was an information and strategy briefing. Staff will continue to monitor legislation and advise the board on likely fiscal and operational impacts.","Board members and district staff reviewed a range of education-related bills at the Feb. 25 study session, raising concerns about funding shifts, collective bargaining changes, and potential impacts on programs and personnel.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Therapists tell Jordan School Board low pay driving departures; district asked to consider salary adjustments

Board asks staff for PBIS/Multi-Tiered Systems report to evaluate expansion and special-education impacts

Jordan School Board approves $10.86 million in summer projects, awards multiple construction and equipment bids

Jordan School Board reviews sweeping education bills, flags funding and transparency concerns