District Newsletter – October 31, 2024

Dear Salt Lake City School District community,

As election day gets closer, it’s good to reflect on the importance of voting. Voting lets us shape our schools, neighborhoods, and communities. When we vote, we lead by example in showing our students that being involved matters and that our voices count.

Elections can bring strong emotions, and it’s also a good time for us to reflect on how we treat those with opinions different than our own and to remember to model dignity in our words and actions. Salt Lake City School District is working to lead out as a Dignity District, and we are grateful for your help in making dignity a part of our district culture. As families and educators, we are role models, and we can show our students that even when we disagree, we can still be respectful and find common ground.

If you haven’t cast your ballot yet, remember you can do so until 8:00 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, November 5. Thank you for doing your part to treat others with dignity and for making your voice heard on the important issues of our day.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Grant
Superintendent
Salt Lake City School District

Bond Information

The Board of Education’s bond proposal is on this year’s ballot, and details can be found on our website. If the bond passes, it will pay to rebuild Highland and West High Schools, build a modern athletic field house at East High School, and complete sustainability projects at 20 district schools and facilities. Thank you for being an active participant in our community!

Hiring Bus Drivers

We are hiring bus drivers to join our district! Enjoy excellent benefits and flexible hours, and make a difference in students' lives. Newly-hired drivers qualify for a $1,000 bonus after 60 days of active driving. Apply at jobs.slcschools.org to see open positions.

Parents Can Now Track Students’ Bus Rides

Starting November 1, we will roll out a trial run of ID badges that students will use to tap on and off our school buses. This is another feature offered by the new Zum app that gives parents the ability to track where their student is along a given bus route.

All students who qualify for bus service will receive an ID badge to use when they ride the bus. Parents will be able to track their individual student’s ride in the Zūm app as students should use their badge to tap on and off when boarding or leaving the bus.

Students who don’t qualify for bus services won’t receive a badge unless they’ve been given special approval to ride. During this trial, we won’t turn away students from our buses, regardless of whether they are approved riders. However, if we run into overcrowding issues, priority for riding will be given to students who qualify for bus service.

Students who already have a school ID will need to carry both their school ID and the new Zūm badge. Our goal is to combine these into one all-purpose student ID in the future, but more information about that will come later. Thank you for helping us improve transportation services! If you have any questions, please contact our Transportation department at (801) 974-8345.

Excellence from the Start

At Salt Lake City School District, we know that a strong educational foundation begins in the early years. That’s why we offer a first-rate PreK program designed to set our youngest learners on the path to success. In fact, testing data shows that students in our PreK program score higher and are more prepared for kindergarten than peers who did not participate.

Led by highly-qualified teachers who specialize in early childhood education, our PreK classrooms are nurturing environments where children develop critical early literacy, social, and emotional skills. Our PreK program also emphasizes the importance of parental involvement, fostering a collaborative approach to learning. We believe that engaging parents early in their child’s education helps establish a strong support system that lasts throughout their academic journey.

To learn more about enrolling your child in our PreK program, please contact our Early Childhood Department at (801) 974-8396, or visit their website at https://www.slcschools.org/departments/early-childhood.

Free UTA Transit Passes

We’re thrilled to continue offering free UTA transit passes to all district students and to one parent/guardian per household for the 2024-25 school year. This program helps ensure that transportation is not a barrier to education, giving students the freedom to commute to school, extracurricular activities, and even part-time jobs or internships.

Students who received a UTA transit pass last year will find that their pass is still active for the current school year. For new students, or those who may have lost their passes, visit your school’s main office to request a new one. 

Parents and guardians are also eligible to receive one free transit pass per household, making it easier for families to stay engaged with school events, meetings, and activities.

We’re grateful to the Salt Lake City Mayor’s Office, Utah Transit Authority (UTA), and the Salt Lake Education Foundation for their ongoing support of this program. Their commitment to breaking down transportation barriers ensures equal access to district opportunities for all students, regardless of financial status.

If you have any questions about the UTA transit pass program or need assistance with your pass, please contact your school’s main office for more information.

Important Voting Information

• If you haven’t registered to vote yet, you will still be able to register and vote in person on Election Day. (Check vote.utah.gov for more details.)
• If you’re voting by mail, ballots must be postmarked by November 4th OR returned to an official drop box by 8:00 PM on November 5.
• At vote.utah.gov, you can also learn about the candidates and issues in your area and find out how to turn in your mail-in ballot or when/where to vote in person.
• If you live in Salt Lake County, for the first time ever, your ballot is two pages long – front and back! Make sure you vote your whole ballot, so your voice is heard on every issue.

Upcoming Calendar

November 4 – Deadline to postmark mail-in ballots

November 5 – Election Day (last day to vote)
Don’t forget to vote! 

November 6 – Board Meeting (on Wednesday)
6 PM, in the Board Room at the district office (406 E. 100 S., SLC, UT 84111) 

November 19 – Board Meeting (starts later than normal)
6:30 PM, in the Board Room at the district office (406 E. 100 S., SLC, UT 84111) 

November 27 – Non-student Day

November 28 & 29 – Thanksgiving Recess