Incoming Fort Dodge Community School District Superintendent Josh Porter is beginning to assemble his team to lead the district next school year.

With the upcoming departure of Director of Elementary Education and Student Services Stephanie Anderson, Porter and the School Board are looking to realign the district’s organizational chart. Last week, Anderson was named the next superintendent of the Riverside Community School District.

During a workshop prior to Monday’s school board meeting, board President Stu Cochrane said reorganizing the district’s leadership is something that’s been discussed for a while.

Under the proposed reorganized model — which Porter noted is just a template and could change — the superintendent would directly oversee the director of safety and security, director of communication, director of buildings and grounds, director of transportation, director of human resources, executive director of finance, Fort Dodge Senior High principal, Fort Dodge Middle School principal, and finally, the associate superintendent.

The associate superintendent would be a new position that would directly oversee the director of curriculum and instruction, elementary school principals, director of special education and the director of technology.

The Fort Dodge district has previously operated under the associate superintendent organizational model, Porter noted.

There was some discussion on what the organizational model would look like if current Director of Secondary Education Services Kirsten Doebel stayed with the district for the next school year. Doebel also has her superintendent license and has been interviewing with other districts for the next chapter of her career.

If Doebel does stay for the 2023-24 school year, Porter said, she would likely transition into the director of curriculum and instruction role.

“Dr. Doebel is just a natural fit,” he said. “I think that’s a strong area of hers and I think that’s something she really cares about. She has a huge passion for that.”

The other concern was the addition of an associate superintendent and when to begin advertising and recruiting to fill that role. During the work session, the board gave Porter the go-ahead to start that process.

“Timing is crucial,” said board Vice President Angie Tracy.

Still, this isn’t a process Porter plans to rush, he said.

“It’s about finding the right person,” he said.

“We’re not going to put a candidate in, we’re going to put the right candidate in,” agreed board member Lisa Shimkat.

Cochrane said with the new organizational chart, he thinks information will flow better among administrators. Tracy said she’s wanted the district to move to this model for the last couple years, and board member Bill Kent agreed.

“I believe this is the right organizational chart and I have for some time,” he said. “I think we go ahead and do it.”