During the recent school board meeting in Fontanelle, Dr. Pam Stangeland, the Superintendent of Nodaway Valley, presented the proposed school calendar for the 2024-2025 academic year. The calendar has been designed with input from staff and is set to be reviewed for approval on March 11, 2024, in Greenfield.
The new calendar outlines 1,111.5 hours of instructional time over 173 calendar days, with a focus on enhancing professional development for teachers. Stangeland noted that there will be 12 full days dedicated to professional development, equating to 72 hours. This change is a shift from the current year, which includes 1,123.5 hours and 179 days of instruction, along with seven professional development days and 36 hours of early release.
Stangeland expressed optimism about the transition to full days of professional development, primarily scheduled for Mondays. This decision aims to increase efficiency, allowing teachers to collaborate and focus on their needs without frequent interruptions. Feedback from two surveys conducted among the staff guided this calendar development.
If the calendar is approved, the first day of school will be on Tuesday, August 25, 2024. The Christmas break is planned from Wednesday, December 23, to Friday, January 1, with Spring Break scheduled for March 17-19. The final day of school will fall on May 25, 2025.
New Director District Territories and Mental Health Initiatives
In addition to the school calendar, the board reviewed a proposal concerning new director district territories. The plan suggests that parts of District 1, previously the Greenfield district, and District 2, formerly known as Bridgewater-Fontanelle, will integrate portions of the Orient-Macksburg school district territory. The board will maintain its structure of five members, consisting of two from District 1, one from District 2, and two at-large members. This will provide Orient-Macksburg residents with two pathways to participate in the Nodaway Valley school board, either as district representatives or at-large candidates.
The meeting also featured a presentation by local mental health advocates, Pastor Melinda Stonebraker and Sam Schwartz, regarding the implementation of the Hope Squad program. This student-led, peer-to-peer suicide prevention initiative aims to support elementary and secondary students. Stonebraker highlighted that the program offers age-appropriate suicide prevention training tailored for different educational levels.
Stonebraker pointed out the alarming statistics surrounding youth mental health, noting that suicide is the second leading cause of death for individuals aged 10-34 and that three out of twenty pre-adolescents experience suicidal thoughts. She emphasized that the program fosters connection among students, which is crucial for mental well-being.
“Generally speaking, we know loneliness has become an epidemic, impacting health as significantly as smoking and obesity,” Stonebraker stated. “Connection is vital.”
If established at Nodaway Valley, Hope Squads would operate in each school building, with adult leaders vetted by Brain Health Matters and school administration. The groups are expected to meet weekly, creating a supportive environment for students in crisis.
Research indicates that students are more inclined to talk to peers than adults when facing difficulties. The Hope Squad program leverages this dynamic to facilitate communication between students in need and adults who can provide assistance.
With over 2,000 Hope Squads currently active across the United States, the program has been adopted by every school district in Cass County. Stangeland acknowledged that while other measures are being taken to address similar concerns at Nodaway Valley, the introduction of Hope Squad could significantly enhance mental health support for students. The program will likely be included in a future board agenda for approval.
As these initiatives develop, Nodaway Valley is positioning itself to enhance both its educational offerings and the mental well-being of its students, ensuring a supportive and effective learning environment.
