Fort Dodge Senior High School Principal Staci Laird and Duncombe Elementary Principal Ryan Flaherty presented updates from their buildings at Monday’s meeting of the Fort Dodge Community School Board.

Laird spoke to two key goals of literacy and a program that deals with discussing the question of “What if our students only could …”.

“Our push to go along with overall district goals in literacy are to identify areas outside of our teachers’ course areas,” she said. “We are working through some standards throughout the year.”

“The second goal deals with different answers to areas beyond science, math, and social sciences,” she added. “We’ve had a variety of discussions dealing with different topics, including post-school employment. The program we’re working with has a three-year span, but we’re excited to be beginning.”

Laird also pointed to continued decreasing numbers in altercations and fights at the Senior High, which have dropped 55 percent from 2023-24 and 66 percent from 2022-23; a recent career fair that featured 46 local employers; and closing in on full staffing, among other topics.

Flaherty discussed striving for a balanced approach to greatness at Duncombe.

“We are letting the state report card we recently received motivate us to even higher levels,” he told the board. “We may have some challenges, but they make us unique and stronger when we work together.”

Duncombe Elementary’s main 2024-25 goals deal with literacy and attendance, according to Flaherty.

“We want to get right with reading and get our daily attendance increased because the skills that are being taught, especially in reading, are vital,” he said.

Flaherty said that a Jan. 10 meeting is set with district Curriculum Director Teri Goetzinger to look at areas for improvement on the state report card. He used an example of addressing some difficult science results with IExcel, a computer program where children can learn at their own pace, and Sci-Ad, a program that has hands-on, project-based opportunities available.

In action items at the board:

• Approved upgrading the LED scoreboard at Dodger Stadium at a cost of $62,400. District Maintenance Director Ryan Utley said that Varsity Group made new panels that will work better with the board.

• Approved a bid of $28,654 for structural support beams from Jensen Builders Ltd., of Fort Dodge, for the scoreboard at Dodger Stadium. Two additional beams will be added.

• Approved the purchase of exercise equipment machines for the physical education department at the Senior High School.

• Approved the purchase of volleyball sets for the Middle School. According to Superintendent Josh Porter, the current equipment is very old and cumbersome to set up. The new sets will be more efficient and streamlined for usage.

The next meeting of the Fort Dodge Community School Board is at 6 p.m. Dec. 30.