NV’s top leader reflects on first year amid big planning push

It is not even accurate to say that as one school year closes, another begins — before the finishing touches are put on one school year, the next is already being planned.

That is where Nodaway Valley and other school leaders across Iowa find themselves now, approving budgets, calendars and more for the coming year.

As the 2025-26 school year begins to wind down, with about six weeks of classes remaining, Dr. Pam Stangeland has started reflecting on her first year as superintendent of Nodaway Valley and CAM.

“Each school year has its own ebb and flow. Sometimes people will think that it sails into the sunset in the spring, and it’s actually the opposite,” Stangeland said. “There are so many things to be done in the spring to finish up the year that you’re in while hiring, planning and making sure we have things set up for our school year in the fall. It’s a double-duty time for school districts.”

The maximum tax levy was approved as a decrease from last school year, and a public hearing for the proposed budget was held April 1. In Stangeland’s words, a key part of those items is “appropriately stewarding taxpayer dollars where they need to go.” The calendar also was approved earlier.

Stangeland said she was pleased with how negotiations went with staff this year. Contracts for next school year were issued recently and are due back April 21. She and two school board members met six times with the staff negotiations committee, beginning even before state supplemental aid was set by the Iowa Legislature, as that per-pupil figure is tied to school funding. Certified staff received an approximately 2.75% raise from this school year, while classified staff, including paraprofessionals and other support staff, will receive increases that are very similar.

“We met multiple times and I think we had great discussions about what is important to teachers, in addition to the wages,” Stangeland said. “There were things they brought forward and some of them we were able to manage and some we were not. School districts have financial limitations, so I believe we have to offer some other things that make teachers want to come here and stay here.”

Once contracts are returned, district leaders will begin assessing staffing needs for next school year.

Another change Stangeland hopes will be effective is moving away from early dismissal days in favor of fewer full-day professional development sessions throughout the school year. She said she hopes those will provide valuable time for learning, collaboration and growth among staff members.

“We want to structure those appropriately,” Stangeland said. “We want to make sure they have district-level time, building-level time and collaborative time within their content areas or grade levels, as well as having time to do the work they need to do themselves.”

Stangeland said she has enjoyed the role and getting to know the Nodaway Valley and CAM communities.

“There were so many surprises for me this year — positive surprises and some surprises where we learned we need to focus on this or that more. I’ve loved being here, being a part of the community,” Stangeland said. “I’ve met so many amazing people who have a passion for the community and a passion for education who are great, great partners. I’ve felt very supported in that way. That has helped me through some of the ‘Are you kidding me?!’ moments that we’ve had this year.”

The superintendent acknowledged the challenge of leading two school districts that are very different from each other. She also has been somewhat involved in the dissolution of Orient-Macksburg and leads Iowa’s largest online school, Iowa Connections Academy. Those roles give her a unique perspective as she advocates for and leads each district. She said she has devoted extra attention to making sure each district receives equitable attention.

“All this has led me to reach out to people I probably wouldn’t have met or wouldn’t have collaborated with, just to ensure I’m leading instead of reacting,” Stangeland said. “I really find that to be very, very important. I want to make sure I’m helping our staff and our families to see that this is the next thing we need to consider. That’s sometimes challenging as we figure out how we can do things even better.”