Important Dates

October 2: SMS Site Council, 5:30 pm
October 2: SMS PTO Meeting, 6:45 pm
October 2: EL PTO Meeting, 7:00 pm
October 2: SHS Shawnee County Honors Scholars Reception, 6:00 pm
October 3: WI PTO Meeting, 6:00 pm
October 5: NF PTO/Site Council, 5:30 pm
October 6: Early Release
October 6: MELC No School (Preschool ONLY)
October 6: Homecoming Parade, 2:00 pm
October 6: SHS Homecoming Dance, 9:00 pm
October 9: Regular School Board Meeting
October 12: WI Site Council, 5:30 pm
October 12: MELC PTO Fall Festival, 5:30 pm
October 13: SMS Fall Dance, 7:00 pm
October 16: No School - PD/Staff Work Day
October 17: End of 1st Quarter
October 26: No School
October 27: No School

Click here to view the SHS athletics calendar and athletics website.

I would like to take a moment to update you on the strategic planning work in the district.

Last year, many of our stakeholders took part in information gathering that helped us build the foundation for our strategic plan by identifying our strengths and challenges.

From those conversations and surveys, we were able to build our Graduate Profile, which is our essential skills, mindsets, and competencies of USD 345 graduates; and our foundational beliefs that guide the district’s work, which we call our Guiding Principles.

From there, our Board of Education developed four focus areas for us to work on in our strategic plan: student academic excellence, student success skills, human capital management, and high quality district operations. With our foundational work complete, schools have begun the process of identifying where their school is in terms of student academic excellence and developing student success skills.

After our schools have created a description or representation of their current reality, they will select goals and projects related to academic excellence and student success skills.

Finally, schools will build their action plan to ensure they successfully complete their projects and meet their goals. This work will be monitored and progress will be measured as we work towards our goals.

While schools are working on their focus areas, departments will begin to follow the same steps to improve human capital management and provide high quality district operations.

I’m excited about the work being done to develop our strategic plan because our principals, teachers, and support staff are the ones building it. The incredible people working directly with our students every day will say, “this is where we need to improve and this is how we can get there” and it will be my job and our department’s job to support them. I strongly believe in the adage that people are not motivated by other people’s goals. Our commitment to our work will be rooted in the autonomy we have to determine the best way to achieve our goals within the framework the board has provided.

At Seaman School District, we are all about community and relationships, and those two elements will be our driving force in helping make this important work a success because we know that we all have a role to play in providing our students with the best educational experience possible.

Thank you for the important role you play in our district and I look forward to sharing more updates with you as we progress.

Brad Willson
Superintendent

Homecoming Parade

Lunch Menus

NEW FEATURE ALERT: You can visit www.linqconnect.com to view the menu at your student's school. This new feature also contains clickable links to view the nutritional value for each menu item.

Join our Team as a Substitute Teacher

Substitute

We have substitute teacher positions open, including both regular and long-term. If you know of any potential candidates, please have them contact the HR department at 785–575-8602 or email [email protected]. Below is more information on substitute pay.

Long-Term Substitute Teacher
Substitute Teachers are compensated at the long-term daily rate under the following condition: Beginning on the eleventh consecutive day of replacing the same absent teacher, the substitute will begin receiving the long term pay rate. Once a substitute teacher begins a long-term assignment, they will assume all of the responsibilities and duties of the regular teacher.

Substitute teachers, when in a long-term assignment will be allowed "plan time" as is possible, but may be required to cover another teacher's classroom during the absent teacher's plan time.

Long Term Rate: Full Day $240; Half Day $120

Regular Substitute Teachers
Substitute Teachers payroll period will end monthly on the last day of the month, with the possible exception of May. The first payroll period of each school year will begin on the first day of school through August 31. The final payroll period for the school year runs through the last day of school. We suggest that substitutes keep records of the dates worked and any details of the assignment hours along with the confirmation number given by Absence Management. Payday will be the 14th of each month, September through June unless the 14th is on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday.

Substitute teachers are paid by a half day or full day. Four or less hours is considered a half day. Any time over four hours, less than eight hours is considered a full day.

Regular Substitute Rate: Full Day $120; Half Day $65 (rates for regular subbing up through ten days, day 11 with the same assignment becomes long-term substitute status).

How do you become a Substitute Teacher?
1. Apply online at seamanschools.org/employment.
2. Provide a copy of your substitute teaching license (State of Kansas license required) to Human Resources.
3. Human Resources will review all application information and contact you.
4. Complete a criminal background check and Child Abuse and Neglect Registry check.
5. Participate in USD 345 substitute orientation and organizational training.
6. Provide a signed Certificate of Health which includes a TB test.
7. Complete new hire paperwork and get photo ID badge.

For additional information, please contact Jenny Boggs in Human Resources at 785-575-8602 or [email protected].

How do you obtain a substitute teaching license?
Information about substitute teaching license requirements and how to obtain a license can be found on the KSDE website. Standard processing time for a substitute licenses 4-8 weeks, depending on application and call volume which is highest from May to August. Per KSDE, an individual may temporarily qualify for an emergency substitute license with the following:

1. High school diploma; and
2. Completion of Greenbush's Emergency Substitute Training Modules (training may be completed now); and
3. Verification of hire from a local education agency (LEA)
4. Application and $60 processing fee.
5. Fingerprint background check and fee. (Individuals who previously received a TEAL license are not required to resubmit fingerprints.
6. Individual may serve no more than 15 consecutive days in the same assignment.

Get Paid to Watch Games

Wouldn’t it be cool if you could get paid to go to your kid’s events? You can! Our incredible transportation department will train you (paid training, btw) and pay you to drive a bus to athletics and activities, and pay you to watch the game/activity, and pay you to drive the bus back! Plus, bus drivers get into away games for free! Starting pay is $17.25 per hour. Think about it for a second. It kinda makes sense, doesn’t it? If you’re interested, give Ronna Blocker a call at 785-286-8440 or email [email protected].

Work in USD 345 and join a family of dedicated staff members who make a difference in our community every day!

Apply Online: https://seamanschools.tedk12.com/hire/Index.aspx
Questions: 785-575-8602

See Something, Say Something

Our See Something, Say Something reporting tool is anonymous. This form allows you and others to submit safety concerns to district officials. This reporting tool is continuously monitored by district staff. If you would like to receive follow-up correspondence you may leave your contact information. Reporting observed threats, behaviors, actions, and harassment help maintain a safe and secure learning environment for all students and staff.

After you provide as much information as you have about a safety or security concern, here are the next steps the district follows:

1. A district official reviews your information and replies to your tip if contact info is provided.
2. Your tip is forwarded to the proper administration to begin investigation.
3. You are contacted (if contact info is provided) to provide any follow-up info, if needed.
4. Administration follows through with the investigation and any action steps necessary.

Crime Stoppers is another reporting tool available to Shawnee County residents. Crime Stoppers encourages members of the community to assist local law enforcement agencies in the fight against crime by overcoming fear and apathy. They assist local law enforcement agencies by gathering information through the use of online and mobile tools and encourage community members to volunteer vital information that could lead to the battle against crime.

Call the Anonymous Tip Line at (785) 234-0007 or submit information through their Mobile Application. Tips that lead to a felony arrest are eligible for a cash reward.

See Something, Say Something
www.seamanschools.org/report

Crime Stoppers
(785) 234-0007

Seaman Parents as Teachers

Parents as Teachers

Parents as Teachers is a FREE program offered to anyone in the Seaman School District. It is a voluntary program designed for all families with children ages prenatal to Kindergarten entry. Parents as Teachers (PAT) is based on two important concepts: 1.) Parents are their child's first and most influential teachers and 2.) experiences in the first years of a child's life are key to future success in school and life.

Parents as Teachers offers personal visits, group connections, screenings and a resource network. Call Mathes Early Learning Center at 785-286-7103 and leave a message for Angie or Tina. Also check out our Facebook Page, Seaman Parents as Teachers USD 345.

Visit Seaman Parents as Teachers online for more information.

School Board Meetings

Teachers of the Year
Regular board meetings are scheduled on the second Monday of each month at 6:00 pm, with the exception of February, March and April, which will be held on the third Monday. Regular meetings may be adjourned to another time and place when necessary. Special meetings may also be scheduled on an as-needed basis.

Regular meetings typically take place at the Seaman Education Center. When meeting locations change, notice is sent out to the public and made available online. Board agendas go live on the Friday afternoon prior to the regular board meeting.

All regular meetings are streamed live and available on the district's YouTube channel. A recap of the meeting is also made available through the Board Digest.

Both in-person and digital public comment are accepted at regular board meetings. The public comment agenda item may be found in the meeting agenda.

Remaining regular meetings for the 2023-24 school year:

October 9, 2023
November 13, 2023
December 11, 2023
January 8, 2024
February 19, 2024
March 18, 2024
April 15, 2024
May 13, 2024
June 10, 2024
July 8, 2024

Peachjar Flyers

Stay up-to-date and informed with events and resources available around the community by checking our digital flyerboard. Community organizations can upload their flyers for USD 345 families to receive through email.

Peachjar
Don't forget to check out our collection of school and community flyers. You can view all flyers for the district or search by school. Digital flyers help us keep you informed and saves our community partners in resources.

A Look at District News

Building Teachers of the Year