Silver Lake Schools

June 9^th Board Meetings

Our Wednesday June 9th Board Meetings will return to normal, in-person attendance. The public is welcome to attend both the Special Board meeting at 5:55 PM followed immediately by the Regular June Board Meeting at 6:00 PM, in the Board Room at the grade school. Fully vaccinated attendees are not required to wear masks or socially distance. The Board meeting agendas for both meetings are available on our school website under the board of education link.

     Ryan Luke Hired as Next Silver Lake Jr/Sr High Principal

Silver Lake is proud to announce the hiring of Mr. Ryan Luke as the next principal to lead Silver Lake Jr/Sr High School. He will be taking over for Mr. Brad Womack, who will be serving as the superintendent of schools next year for Silver Lake USD #372. We are very excited for Mr. Luke to join our team. He brings a forward-thinking vision of education that will allow Silver Lake students to continue to be highly successful both in and out of the classroom and in their post-secondary endeavors.

Mr. Luke is in his 20th year of education and his 6th in administration. He has been the principal at St. Marys Jr/Sr High School for four years, and before that was an assistant principal/ athletic director at Chanute High School in Chanute, KS.  Mr. Luke also spent time at Eudora High School in Eudora, KS, and in Beatrice, NE, with Beatrice Public Schools. Mr. Luke grew up in a rural community in south-central Nebraska where his family farmed, and his mother was a 3rd-grade teacher for 30 years. Ryan and his wife Miranda Luke have three children and live in rural Silver Lake.  Mr. Luke states, “In all my years of education, I have known and respected Silver Lake USD 372 for its strong tradition and excellence in education. I am honored, and consider it a privilege, to have the opportunity to be the next principal of Silver Lake Jr/Sr High School.”

I look forward to serving, supporting, and providing educational opportunities for all stakeholders of the USD 372 community”.

Womack Selected as next Silver Lake Superintendent

Silver Lake School District 372 Board of Education has named Brad Womack as the next superintendent starting July 1, 2021.  Womack will succeed Tim Hallacy, who is moving to Shawnee Heights School District as its superintendent.  Womack currently is the principal of the Silver Lake Junior/Senior High School.

With the assistance of Greenbush Education Service Center, Silver Lake’s Board of Education conducted the search for itssuperintendent.   The search resulted in 14 applicants with diverse geographic and professional backgrounds.  The board interviewed four applicants.

We are extraordinarily pleased with the outcome of this search process. In the end, Womack proved to be the best fit to carry forward the vision of Silver Lake. His knowledge inside and out of the Silver Lake School District, along with his drive for student success and his commitment to push for excellence demonstrates his capability to succeed in this new role.

Womack began his teaching career in 1996 at Burlingame School District where he taught math for two years.  After teaching one year at Washburn Rural School District, he joined Silver Lake School District as a math teacher in 1999.  In 2010, he became the principal of Silver Lake Junior/Senior High School.  During his time as principal, he oversaw the expansion of Silver Lake’s curricular opportunities for all students, which has included everything from college classes to credit recovery.

“The Board of Education is excited for Brad to begin his new role as Silver Lake’s Superintendent,” Board President Jake Fisher said.  “Brad’s dedication to the Silver Lake Community and his commitment to our students is unquestionable.”

“I am deeply humbled to have the opportunity to lead the school district that not only molded me as a young person but also has helped to put my children on successful paths in life,” Womack said.  “I will work tirelessly for the students of our community and I am excited to work with the board to continue to set and attain goals that stretch our organization in ways that sets the bar for excellence in the education community.  Thank you to all who have taught, mentored, counseled and supported me throughout my development in this rewarding profession, and thank you to my wife, Jennifer and five children for always encouraging me in all that I do.”

Seamless Summer Option Meal Program

Parents:

Late last week the USDA announced a waiver for schools to utilize the Seamless Summer Option meal program similar to the one we used to feed students for free in the spring. This is a waiver USD #372 qualifies for and our waiver has been approved. Beginning September 4, 2020 all ENROLLED students of USD 372 Silver Lake will receive free meals (in person and Remote learners).  The district will be able to operate this program through the end of this school year..  This means that all students will receive a free breakfast and lunch if they elect to eat each day.  Any extras, ala carte items and 2nd breakfast or lunch will still have the normal charges if the student chooses to take these. 

The district will update the meal accounts for all students to reflect free meals as of the date above.  Parents don’t have to do anything at this time.  Once the program funds are spent, all students will return to their original meal status prior to September 4, 2020.  This waiver does not affect meal status and the district will continue to accept free and reduced meal applications.   

If you have any questions about the program, please contact Debbie Walburn at dwalburn@silverlakeschools.org or 785-582-4902.

Tim Hallacy

Silver Lake Schools

Superintendent 

USD 372 Return to School Plan

Updated SLJH/SLHS Supply List