A proactive approach to attendance and strong numbers from new curriculum were presented to the Fort Dodge Community School District Board on Monday.

Middle School Principal Shawn Chesteen and Assistant Principal Aaron Miller shared ideas the middle school building has put in place for improved attendance over November and December. They include grade improvement opportunities that support those with failing grades by offering them an opportunity to raise their grades and incentivizing passing classes by rewarding students.

“Mr. Miller, myself and the staff have also been pursuing ideas regarding free access to middle or high school games if attendance for the two weeks prior to Thanksgiving is perfect and offering a time to bring a snack and drink if attendance within our school is 85 percent in December,” Chesteen said.

Early Childhood Center Principal Jeri Ayala Thompson and Assistant Principal Nicole Ahrens talked about what the new curriculum for their building has done. They shared video vignettes from staff and students which have led to 87 percent of students being at or above level in phonemic awareness and 73 percent of student being at or above grade level in letter sound production.

“We are so thankful to the board for the new curriculum purchase,” Thompson noted. “The staff has been working together to ensure the best opportunities for students while the children having really enjoyed what is being offered.”

The board approved the following items:

• Out of state travel for the high school band and orchestra students to attend the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee, in December 2025.

• Purchase of iPads for Tier 3 Literacy Instruction at a cost of $61,192.50 from Title 1 funds. According to Curriculum Director Teri Boezinger, the Tier I and II levels have been completed with the need for Tier III being more equipment. “Every student group needs an iPad in instruction,” she said. “All 29 teachers will have one in their classrooms to enable this.”

• Purchase of Computer Aided Design student Dell desktop computers. District Internet Technology Director Kevin Bailey informed the board that his staff had identified some issues for students with the current equipment. “I believe we have gotten a nice balance of performance from what we’ve been looking at (in regards to purchases),” he said.

• Purchase of staff laptop computers and replacement iPads for students in grades K-2. “The original equipment was purchased with COVID funds,” Bailey said. “We need to refresh the devices. Our staff will purchase 95 staff laptops a year so to not have to get them all at once. As far as the iPads, we are purchasing 300 initially.”

• Purchase of Emergency Medical Technicians Pathway Package Supplies for Health Occupations classes at the senior high from RealityWorks.

• Purchase of metals and welding machines for the Metals Workshop at Senior High by Greenway & Associates Ltd.

• Immediate Adoption of Board Policy 804.05 Stock Prescription Medication Supply and Exhibit 804.05-E(1) Stock Prescription Medication Supply — Parental Authorization and Release Form for the Administration of a Voluntary School Supply of Stock Medication for Life Threatening Incidents. “The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services reached out to us offering free medication into schools,” Aaron Davidson, executive director of educational services, said. “This would allow, as an example, a supply available for the numbers of adults we have for family engagement events. It gives us a stock in case something happens.”

• Fall 2024 SBRC Application for Modified Supplemental Amount for Increasing Enrollment, Open Enrollment Out, and LEP Beyond Five Years. Funds received from open enrollment out totaled $384, 675 and LEP funds were $3,121.

• The monthly financial reports from Oct. 1, 2024, through Oct. 31, 2024. According to board Financial Director Brandon Hansel, revenue for the span totaled $12.1 million with expenses coming in $10.9 million.