Lingenfelter Hired As New Superintendent Of Iowa School

Neligh-Oakdale's Kimberly Lingenfelter will receive a more than 20 percent pay raise as she becomes superintendent of a school in Iowa this fall.

Lingenfelter will go from a Warrior to a Brave as she leaves for Cherokee Community Schools, a district more than double the size of Neligh-Oakdale.

Lingenfelter, 50, was unanimously extended a contract Thursday by the Cherokee Board of Education to be the new superintendent in Cherokee, Iowa. According to Cherokee Community Schools, Lingenfelter will receive a salary of $140,000 and a moving expense allowance reimbursable up to $5,000, as well as full benefits.

Her salary at Neligh-Oakdale for 2014-15 was $115,000.

“I’m excited about the opportunity in Cherokee and am looking forward to working with the Board of Education members, who are advocates for student achievement," Lingenfelter said. "Cherokee is a beautiful community and a wonderful school district for me and my family."

Located in northwest Iowa, the district enrolls about 940 students in four schools. Washington High School is a class 2-A high school serving students in grades 9-12, Cherokee Middle School serves grades 5-8, Roosevelt Elementary School serves students in kindergarten to fourth grade and the Early Childhood Learning Center serves students ages three and four.

Other finalists for the position were G. Spencer Larsen of Arco, Idaho; Jim Lentz of Pipestone, Minn.; and Pat Miller of Ida Grove, Iowa.

Lingenfelter said she and her husband, Burt, plan to move to Cherokee this summer, along with their son, Ben, who will be a junior in the fall. They also have three grown children - Andrew, Luke and Mary. 

Lingenfelter has spent the last four years at Neligh-Oakdale and resigned in December, effective the end of her contract - June 30. Before Neligh-Oakdale, Lingenfelter was a principal at Bloomfield Community Schools for four years. Prior to that, she was a high school math teacher at Plainview Public Schools for 18 years. 

"I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to my administrators, faculty and staff at Neligh-Oakdale for their hard work and dedication so our students can become lifelong learners in a changing society," Lingenfelter said. "I'd also like to thank those in the community who genuinely support the school district. I appreciate all of your support during our time in Neligh."

As superintendent, Lingenfelter will replace John Chalstrom, who is taking a position as chief financial officer in the Sioux City district. 

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