The Fort Dodge Community School District Board of Education approved its 2019 legislative priorities and changes to its employee handbook at its meeting Monday evening.

Superintendent Jesse Ulrich said every year, the Iowa Association of School Boards asks its members to provide input on what its legislative platform should be for the school year.

According to Ulrich, there are a number of priorities the Fort Dodge district is focused on this year for the Legislature.

One of them is school funding, and, in particular, state supplemental aide.

“Over the past nine years, on average, there’s only been 1.7 or 1.8% state supplemental aide increases,” he said. “We really need a boost in that funding to make things work.”

Inequalities when it comes to educating students who live in poverty is another important issue.

“We have about 60% of students on free and reduced (lunches),” Ulrich said.

Additionally, Ulrich said the district wants to focus on the importance of flexibility when it comes to spending the money the district receives.

The employee handbook, also known as worker rules, was also approved by board members Monday.

Ulrich said every month, the school’s administration meets with different employee groups to talk about what issues are important to them.

The updated employee handbook is a result of those meetings.

Most of the changes this year were clarifications.

One major change Ulrich highlighted is the requirement that employees must verbally tell another employee if their conversation is being recorded.

“We want to create an environment within our workforce where people are trusting each other and not feeling like, ‘Am I being recorded when I don’t know?'” Ulrich said.

The update also included clarification that it’s OK to wear Dodger attire on Fridays, as the school considers that professional attire.