District Newsletter – September 6, 2024
Dear Salt Lake City School District families,
Thank you for helping us get the year off to a good start – from your patience as we rolled out a new bus tracking platform, to the support you give our schools by participating on your School Community Council or Parent Teacher Association, to your monumental efforts to make sure your children come to school ready to learn each day. The importance of your role in your child’s education cannot be overstated, and I want you to know how much we appreciate you and want you involved in our schools.
One important way to do this is by staying up to date on what’s happening in our schools and district. This year, we’re using a new communications tool called ParentSquare. ParentSquare is available as an app or a website, and I strongly encourage you to download the app! It provides information and updates from all your children’s schools in one location and allows for two-way communication with your child’s teachers, with automatic translation into your preferred language. We will use ParentSquare to share updates and good news and to share emergency alerts, as needed.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership. My staff and I couldn’t do what we do without you.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Grant, Ph.D.
Superintendent
Salt Lake City School District
Bond Election
You’ve probably heard by now that our Board of Education has called for a bond election in November. But what is a bond election?
The State of Utah doesn’t provide our district with money to build or upgrade schools. State funds are used to pay teachers and employees and to operate schools. We rely on taxpayer support to raise money to build or update schools through a bond election.
That means voters must approve a “general obligation bond” referendum in the November election. Just like homeowners borrow money in the form of a mortgage to buy a home, school districts can borrow money to pay to build or update schools. Residents pay back part of the principal and interest every year through property taxes until the bond is paid off.
The board will hold a public hearing about the bond proposal on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, at 7:00 PM, in the Board Room at the District Administration Building, 406 East 100 South, SLC, UT 84111.
You can find more information and a list of frequently asked questions on the district’s website. To find out how you can register to vote, visit the Salt Lake County Clerk’s website.
District Office
After two years in a temporary location, district services will be moving back to corner of 100 South and 400 East this month. The moving process will begin next week and will take a few days to complete. All district services will continue to be available during this transition. We thank you for your patience as we move a few departments each day. The address of the updated district office is 406 East 100 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84111. All departments will be moved to the new location by Monday, September 16.
Career Pathways in Health Sciences
Did you know the district offers several career pathways for students interested in Health Sciences? Some of the Career and Technical Education (CTE) classes we offer include Emergency Medical Technician, Medical Assisting, Biotechnology, and Medical Forensics. Students learn skills that can boost their earning potential and earn valuable certifications. These classes open doors to college programs in medical fields, therapeutic services, health informatics, and biotechnology.
In the 2023-24 school year:
- 34 students earned a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification,
- 192 students earned certificates in Medical Assisting, Clinical & Lab Procedures, Medical Office Management, and Anatomy & Physiology,
- 23 students earned their National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians certification, and
- 98% of students who completed a Health Science Pathway graduated from high school.
If your student is interested in these or other CTE classes, contact the CTE coordinator or counselor at their school.
UTA Bus Passes
We’re excited to once again offer free UTA transit passes to all district students and to one parent or guardian per household! If you still have your transit pass from last year, it should still be active. If your student has lost their pass or is new to the district, please contact your school’s main office. Parents and guardians can also request a pass (one per household) by contacting the office at their student’s school.
Thanks to the Salt Lake CIty Mayor’s Office, the Utah Transit Authority (UTA), and the Salt Lake Education Foundation for supporting this partnership.
Bond Open Houses
Join us at one of our upcoming open houses to learn more about the bond proposal. We will have Spanish translation at all open houses. If you need translation into other languages, please call (801) 578-8378.
- Thursday, September 12, 6-8 PM, West High School – Commons
- Wednesday, October 9, 6-8 PM, Edison Elementary - Multi-purpose Room
- Wednesday, October 23, 6-8 PM, Highland High School - Dean Collett Commons
We are Hiring!
We are hiring bus drivers to join our district! Enjoy excellent benefits, flexible hours, and make a difference in students' lives. Please share this with those you know who may be interested, or apply yourself on our website: http://jobs.slcschools.org.
Engaging in Family Reading
School is back in session, and it’s the perfect time to discover what your child enjoys reading! We have many resources to help your child find books they’ll love. They can visit the school library to check out books and magazines or explore our online library for ebooks and audiobooks. To stay involved in your child’s reading, you can log in to see what your child is reading. Instructions on how to do this are on the district website. If you have any questions or need reading recommendations, please ask your school’s teacher librarian.
Board Reports
We want to keep you informed without flooding your email inbox, so we will change from emailing you every board meeting report to posting them on our website (as always) and on ParentSquare. If you miss them, we will include links in our monthly newsletter.
Dates to Remember
Thursday, September 12 – Bond Open House
West High School, in the Commons, 6-8 PM.
Tuesday, September 17 - Board Meeting (5:30 PM) and Bond Public Hearing (7 PM)
Board Room, District office (406 East 100 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84111).
Friday, September 27 – Non-student Day
Tuesday, October 1 – Board Meeting
Board Room, District office (406 East 100 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84111).