December 2023
View current and past e-Communicators by visiting www.seamanschools.org/eCommunicator.
Important Dates
December 4: SMS Site Council, 5:30 pm
December 4: SMS PTO, 6:30 pm
December 4: NF Winter Program, 6:30 pm
December 5: EL Winter Program
December 6: MELC Site Council, 5:30 pm
December 6: 6th Grade SEBO Concert, 6:00 pm
December 6: SHS Winter Band Concert, 7:00 pm
December 7: PTO/Site Council, 5:30 pm
December 7: Winter Players Show, 7:00 pm
December 8: NH Winter Program
December 8: SHS STUCO Blood Drive
December 11: Regular Board Meeting, 6:00 pm
December 12: WI 5th & 6th Grade Music Program, 6:30 pm
December 12: NH PTO/Site Council Meeting, 6:00 pm
December 12: SMS Holiday Band Concert, 7:00 pm
December 13: SMS Winter Choral Concert, 7:00 pm
December 14: LO PTO Meeting, 6:00 pm
December 14: SHS/SMS Winter Orchestra Concert, 7:00 pm
December 15: LO Site Council Meeting, 12:00 pm
December 18: SHS Choir Concert, 7:00 pm
December 19: LO Kindergarten Music Program, 6:00 pm
December 19: LO 1st/2nd Grade Music Program, 7:00 pm
December 21: Early Release Day - Teacher Work Day
December 21: End of Second Quarter
December 22: No School - Winter Break
December 25: No School - Winter Break
December 26: No School - Winter Break
December 27: No School - Winter Break
December 28: No School - Winter Break
December 29: No School - Winter Break
Click here to view the SHS athletics calendar and athletics website.
I’d like to take a moment as we approach this holiday season to wish each of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. As we approach the winter break, I think it is a great time to reflect on the year and to count our blessings. I feel extremely blessed to be in this district with a great staff, exceptional students, and the most supportive community. I am so thankful to the Board of Education for giving me the opportunity to lead in this district alongside such great people. I take that responsibility very seriously and I want each and every student to have an education that ensures their success after they graduate. I am thankful that my family gets to enjoy this community that rallies around its students and supports the schools as the center of the community. All of us are blessed to have great educators and staff taking care of our children.
Our students have had so much success already this year that it isn’t feasible to list it all here, but they are truly amazing. Our staff is in the process of taking the strategic direction our Board of Education provided with exceptional feedback from our community, families, students, and staff and turning it into actionable improvement in our schools. This improvement will directly benefit our students, ensuring that they master the skills they need to be successful in their future. In addition, our operations departments are refining processes so we are as efficient and effective as possible with our community resources and our taxpayer’s funds.
Thank you for all you do to support the students in the Seaman School District and I hope you have a wonderful holiday. I am looking forward to continuing to support the great work of our staff as we look toward the new year that I hope is full of blessings for you and your family.
Brad Willson
Superintendent
2024-2025 School Calendar Coming Soon!
Inclement Weather School Closure Procedure
With the winter chill in the air, we thought this would be a great time to remind you of our inclement weather school closing procedures. The following steps will be taken once a decision has been made to close schools or implement a late start, due to inclement weather.
1. If the decision is made to postpone the start of school or cancel school, the Superintendent will immediately notify parents and staff via a voice call.
2. An email and text will go out to all staff and families.
3. After those initial notifications, we will follow our standard notification procedures (news media, social media, websites, etc.).
It is very important to have your contact information up to date. Please contact your school office if you have not been receiving district emails so we can update your contact info.
If school is NOT canceled and remains in session, you will NOT have any notifications from the district. This is to reduce the confusion of adding additional messaging for parents, students, and staff to sort through when searching for the most updated postings. We will alert you if school is canceled, we will not alert you when school is in session.
When school is canceled all campus activities (including community facility use) are canceled for that day and evening. If students have scheduled activities away from school, coaches and sponsors will communicate directly with their teams and activities.
Thank you for taking the time to stay informed on our winter weather processes. Student and staff safety is our top priority as we make school closure decisions.
Join our Team as a Substitute Teacher
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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].
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 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
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:
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.
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
School Board Election Results
Northern Hills welcomes Native American singers & dancers