Sioux Falls' new superintendent wants to hear from you

Simplified: The Sioux Falls School District has a new leader as of this week, but he's a very familiar face around town. Superintendent Jamie Nold started his career with the district in 1995 and held a variety of roles including math teacher, coach, principal and assistant superintendent before taking the helm of the district.

Why it matters

  • Nold is the first superintendent in a decade – since Pam Homan left the position in 2015 – who brings a background working in the Sioux Falls School District. Previous superintendents Jane Stavem and Brian Maher were hired from out-of-state.
  • Nold also takes leadership in the district at a time when budgets are tight, a challenge of which he's well aware. The district cut $3 million this year, and is looking to cut another $3 million in next year's budget, Nold said. But he wants the public to know the district has been fiscally responsible, and "we can show that."
  • As he starts his new job with the district, Nold is coming in with an open mind and plans to look to the community for feedback, support, partnerships and advocacy in the coming years.
"I've lived in this community for 30 years now, and I love this community ... Our community wants to have good public schools," Nold said. "We want those high-quality amenities here in Sioux Falls, and part of that is our public schools, so absolutely I want our community to be involved in that."

Tell me more

Despite the impending budget challenges, Nold will be overseeing some more fun projects in his tenure, as well.

  • That includes decisions on the design of a new Whittier Middle School, increasing college and career access for high schoolers, and forming more partnerships with local universities and industry partners to make sure every single kid has an opportunity to find a path forward that works for them.

There will also be more challenges to overcome.

  • Nold noted the importance of mentorship and helping kids practice reading or stay on-track to graduate.
"If I could snap my fingers and have things resolved, I wish that our kids would come into our elementary schools all having a level playing field as far as their preparedness for school," Nold said, adding that income is a major predictor for a student's success.

South Dakota is one of six states with no state-funded preschool programs, meaning that kids whose parents cannot afford to send them to a private preschool are often starting kindergarten a few steps behind their peers.

What happens next?

A lot of listening, Nold said.

He wants to make sure he's connected to the community – especially because more than 80% of kids in Sioux Falls attend public schools.

"I think we're going to hear in our community that we want quality schools," Nold said. "We want quality education programs. We want quality public schools."