September 13, 2021

Board Digest

September 13, 2021

 

Following each board of education meeting, the Director of Communications recaps the board meeting in the Board Digest. To view the full agenda, click here.


Superintendent Remarks
Commissioner Randy Watson and Deputy Commissioner Brad Neuenswander visited our district last Wednesday, September 8. They spoke about the importance of continuing our efforts to redesign our school system to achieve success for each child. They spoke about what Kansans want from their schools which you can see below with some notes on items we're already doing. 

Kansas children need quality preschool and all-day kindergarten
• We have been an all-day kindergarten district for several years now
• In 2017, we opened the Mathes Early Learning Center; around 300 children

Changes need to be made to address school culture
• Curriculum aligned to standards; data analysis; professional learning needs; stakeholder surveys and community conversations; safe and supportive school environment for all students

New dynamic roles for counselors and social workers
• Social-emotional supports; trauma informed care; and college and career readiness (Advisory and CALP)

Collaboration between schools and businesses
• Strategic Planning; Budgeting; Boys and Girls Clubs; Internships; Job Shadowing; Career Fair at SHS; We have interview days with our success 101 students in which area businesses are helping our freshmen understand the importance of selling themselves during a professional interview

Reorganize schools around students, not the system
• Multi-tiered systems of supports (academic, social, emotional, and behavioral needs); Interest inventories; Individual Plans of Study; school activities

Community service needs to play a bigger role
• Senior Service Day; Community Resource Room; Career Closet; Submitting bills and testimony at the statehouse; Civic engagement club; Civic advocacy network

As you can see, we are well positioned to provide our children with opportunities for very bright futures. We as a school community are responsible for so much more today than we were just a few years ago. We are entering a time where we should be thinking about not only our present challenges but future opportunities for our students and our schools.

 
Dr. Noble
Dr. Steve Noble
Superintendent

President Remarks

I would like to take some time during this portion of our meeting to vocalize not only my gratitude, but the gratitude of my colleagues, and a community towards the 12 nurses and staff who have put in countless hours of hard work and devoted labor for our students during these trying times. We are forever thankful for your unselfishness and commitment for a better tomorrow. We all soon forget that our nurses' primary function is to keep our kids healthy, active and present in the students' learning opportunity. So, thank you as you continue to deal with physical ailments, daily medicines, medical monitoring and hunger pains our students have daily. We all applaud your intelligence, patience, time, and compassion and offer support for keeping our children in school. The impact you provide is overwhelmingly appreciated.

Thank You! 

 
Keith Griffin
Keith Griffin 
USD 345 Board President

Board of Education Consent Agenda

The consent agenda contains items packaged into one agenda item. They are often routine and garner very little discussion. A full list of consent items can be found by visiting the BoardDocs website


District Namesake Committee Update

Namesake Committee Update

Corey Dehn from the District Namesake Committee updated the board on the committee's work and the timeline for the final report. 

Committee Purpose
• The Namesake Advisory Committee was formed to gather information in as fair and factual a way as possible and to present a report to the school board that reflects the experiences and perspectives in the community.
• Our job, as volunteers on the committee, is not to provide a recommendation to the school board. Our role is to provide the board with information to make the best decision possible to help our community move forward from this challenge.
 
Survey and Red Couch
• The committee received a large sum of survey responses and red couch stories from in-person events as well as online story submissions. Those forms are now closed and being processed into our final report.

Timeline

• The Namesake Advisory Committee will present the report to the board of education in October.
• The committee encourages the school board to begin to imagine how to help themselves and the community make sense of the information when they receive the report. The school board will have their own process to work through before a vote.
 

Discussion Items 

  • Safe Return to School Plan Update
  • Report Card Update
  • Teaching and Learning Report
  • KESA Accreditation Report
  • Special Services Report
  • Facilities Report
  • Budget Report
  • Technology Report

  • Action Items (approved)


    Next 345 Board of Education Meeting

    The next regularly scheduled board meeting will take place on October 11. It is scheduled to start at 6:00 pm. The Seaman USD #345 Board of Education will plan to meet at the Seaman Education Center, 901 NW Lyman Rd.


    Board of Education Agenda

    To review previous board of education agendas, click here.


    How Can I Watch a Previous Board of Education Meeting?

    The video from the meeting will be available by the Tuesday at noon following the meeting. The video can be viewed by clicking here.

     

    Seaman School District USD #345
    901 NW Lyman Rd | Topeka, KS 66608