The Board of Education approved a change order for the Early Childhood Center project in the amount of $98,705.53 on Monday night.

The change order covers various additions, including the change from vinyl tile to carpet in several classrooms, adding additional electrical outlets, adding marker boards, rerouting an existing gas line out from under the playground, replacing seeding with sod within the fenced playground ara and replacing the remainder of the concrete sidewalks in the courtyard area.

The total cost for the project is now $6,101,114.96, and it is scheduled to be completed later this spring.

Superintendent Jesse Ulrich gave the board an update on the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds the district will receive as a part of Congress’ coronavirus aid packages. He said he learned on Monday the amount the Fort Dodge district will receive and that it is about $1 million less than district leaders had anticipated. The district will receive about $8.5 million in ESSER funds, which must be used by Sept. 30, 2023.

The school board approved a $113,970 purchase of new furniture for Butler Elementary School to accommodate changes brought by the transition of fifth grade back to the elementary level. District Director of Buildings and Grounds Ryan Utley said the furniture purchased will match the classroom furniture at Duncombe Elementary School, allowing for students to spread out more in the classroom. Currently, many of the classrooms have students sitting at tables, which makes social distancing challenging.

The furniture will be paid for out of funds the district is receiving from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund, granted by the federal government for coronavirus aid.

The school board approved the purchase of professional development for the ARC early literacy curriculum used by the district’s transitional kindergarten classrooms. The $14,000 purchase will be paid for out of teacher quality funds.

A two-year contract with Better Lessons for professional development on the K-12 Illustrative Math curriculum was approved by the board on Monday. The contract for $242,000 over two years will also be paid out of ESSER funds to address the loss of learning due to COVID-19.

The board also renewed the contract the district has with St. Paul Lutheran School to provide school breakfast and lunch for the 2021-2022 school year. The FDCSD Food Service Department will prepare and serve meals at the school. The district will bill St. Paul monthly for breakfasts and lunches for students and adults, ranging in price from 30 cents to $3.85 per meal.