A unique farm-to-table program brought forward by Future Farmers of America and the Health Occupation Students of America chapters at Fort Dodge Senior High was presented Monday at the Fort Dodge Community School board meeting.

According to health occupations instructor Kylie O’Leary, the main goal of the Feeding Our Future service project is to plant gardens at every daycare facility in the area.

“Our main objective is to show those children the farm-to-table process,” O’Leary noted. “We want them to know you can provide for yourself with this life skill and also eat healthy.”

The project begins at the Kingdom Kids center in March.

According to O’Leary, a couple of banks are donating and interested individuals can contribute at St. Olaf Lutheran Church. Grace Winkel, Meah McCaleb, Lillie Nekvinda, Jessenia Elias, and Hailey Carstensen are on the committee which features FFA, HOSA, Skills USA, Art Club and Family and Community Leaders of America members.

“We are also looking to have these gardens being able to be walked through for family and community members with benches and other aesthetics,” O’Leary said. “The produce will be donated back for usage in local soup kitchens and through church outreach programs with the potential of teaching canning techniques and other opportunities, too.”

The board also heard from Duncombe Elementary Principal Ryan Flaherty and Butler Elementary Principal Jessica Kruckenberg as part of regular district building updates.

Flaherty touted Duncombe’s Talented and Gifted/Extended Learning program led by Karine Feddersen.

“What makes us unique is sometimes our people,” Flaherty said. “This is true with this area and the system created by Karine.”

He presented information on social and emotional journaling, creating academic goals, working out disagreements, a book club, TAG exhibit fair, individual identification, and Project Discovery programs that the group participates in.

“These types of programs are good for everyone,” Flaherty said.

Kruckenberg also highlighted various programs and successes. Those included Winter FAST growth in reading, which has all first- through fifth-grade classrooms above 85 percent with a high water mark of 98 percent in the second grade; a One Million Minutes reading project for families and students; rising attendance figures of 93.7 percent daily with a goal of 95 percent and a collaboration with Nik Myers from Southside Martial Arts for daily confidence groups.

“They teach basic fitness such as pushups, jumping jacks and more for 45 minutes each morning,” she said. “Our girls are currently in the program, with the boys participating in March and April and a combination at the end of year.”

The board also approved the following items:

• The purchase of an eight-year art curriculum for grades K-12. “We’re in our second year of our review cycle with art at the forefront,” Director of Curriculum Teri Boezinger said. “We are trying to balance large and small purchases. This one is just over $63,000, and we have talked with current staff about the plans which they will move forward with.”

• Final acceptance and closing final project costs for a public improvement contract with Black Hawk Roof Company. District maintenance director Ryan Utley said it was the closing of a job they did on the pool and wrestling room at the high school in the summer of 2024.

• A resolution tentatively accepting plans, specifications, form of contract, and estimate of total cost for the Fort Dodge Feelhaver Elementary window and door replacement project and authorizing and fixing a date, time, and location for a hearing of competitive bids. Utley noted it is the first step toward replacing doors and exterior windows at the elementary building. A price tag of $390,000 is included with plans and spec bids, which are going out soon, due March 20.

• Financial reports from Jan. 1-31, 2025. Board finance chair Brandon Hansel informed the group revenues were $24.4 million with expenses at just over $23 million.

The next meeting of the school board is March 10.