There’s one consistent similarity to his former position as the Fort Dodge chief of police, though: Porter knows to always expect the unexpected.

“I have an office at the middle school,” he said. “That’s where people can get a hold of me, but I am never there. It’s a lot like when I worked for the Police Department. I come in with a plan for the day or knowing what I want to do, but by 8:30 (in the morning), those plans are usually put to the side and I am off doing something else.”

Porter retired as chief of police in April 2023. He joined the FDCSD team on May 3, and officially started as director of safety and security on July 1.

“Going into the position, I knew there were some expectations of what (the district) wanted the job to be. As I got into it, I started recognizing some other things that need to be on my plate as well,” said Porter. “It’s different now, though, because I have bosses. I meet with (Superintendent) Josh Porter and (Executive Director of Educational Services) Aaron Davidson on a regular basis. If something comes up that I feel needs addressed, I run it by them and they give me a ‘yes’ or ‘no.'”

Porter admitted when he started on July 1 and school was not in session, he wasn’t used to the down time. Now he knows that period of adjustment was beneficial, as he became more familiar with the requirements and responsibilities that quickly arrived with the start of the school year.

“I knew there were bigger projects that needed to be done,” he said. “There were a lot of things that people were doing before I took the position that weren’t necessarily part of their job.”

Porter first went right to work on revamping the district’s emergency response plans. He said some schools didn’t realize the district had certain plans in place, while some had outdated documents.

“I wanted to clean that up and make sure no one is using something that’s old,” Porter said. “Each building has basically its own plan. It was similar, but each of them could curve it toward their own building. That was one thing I wanted to get completed: so everyone had one ‘bible’ for those things and they had one guide.

“Administrators in each building have some leeway to run their buildings, but there were certain things within the district that needed to be standardized.”

In addition to taking on that project, Porter has accomplished many other goals during his brief time on the job: improving the district communications system, completing response training with building secretaries, training in all the buildings, and a number of other items.

One of the most noticeable changes Porter helped implement is one-way entries to the elementary school buildings. All students must now enter the buildings through the same doors.

“There hasn’t been much negative response to that,” Porter said.

Porter has also worked to add additional signage throughout the district, collaborate with city and county law enforcement and other officials, and create a database for sexual offenders, trespass orders, investigations and search and seizure.

Porter’s position includes investigation and resolution of complaints of bullying, harassment, sexual discrimination and abuse of students by staff .

FDCSD Superintendent Josh Porter called the hiring “a blessing to our district.”

“Not only were we able to hire someone with an extremely high-level of expertise, but (creating the position) allowed us to offer support differently than we have in the past from a preschool through 12th grade level,” Josh Porter said. “Roger has jumped into the position and helped us create something dynamic, increasing the safety for students and staff. We’re very thankful for his hard work and dedication, and the ideas he continues to bring to the table.

“The security and safety of our students and staff is the most important thing we have to have in place, first and foremost. We’re very thankful for our school board supporting the transition this year.”

Roger Porter also has big-picture projects in mind. He is currently working with district leadership to write a safety and security grant, which would bring in additional funds for door locks, communications and a few other items.

“We’d be able to add additional cameras, and work to get where we can have just one key that opens doors in the district,” Porter said. “Right now, you need about 27. We’d be able to offer some additional training as well.”

Thanks to Porter’s recommendation, the district added an emergency radio system that allows buildings to communicate directly with law enforcement. Leaders from a building are able to immediately contact law enforcement. Responding officers then know which building and which entrance to enter.

A similar system was used in the recent school shooting in Perry. Administrators at the building were immediately communicating with local law enforcement, which then contacted the school.

“My first thought when Perry happened was, ‘now it’s really close to home,'” Porter said. “Part of me knew it could happen in Iowa, so now, it’s something we need to (collectively) work to prevent.”

In the aftermath of the Perry tragedy, Porter said the district will once again be conducting drills in the schools. The lockdown safety drill will be held at 9 a.m. Feb. 22 in all schools.. Each building will have the drill at the same time.

An informational meeting for parents will be held at 6 p.m. Feb. 19 in the Fort Dodge Middle School auditorium.

“I really encourage parents to show up, because I am sure there are questions they don’t know the answers to and I’d rather be able to answer them face-to-face,” he said. “We’d rather have people base their feelings on this discussion, (versus) something they read on Facebook.”

He said information on the drills and the parent meeting will be announced soon.

Porter has learned school districts are adding a similar position to his. He has joined a group dedicated to safety in the schools, and has networked with others who share the same responsibilities within their respective districts.

“There are a lot more than I originally knew,” Porter said. “A lot are similar in that they are retired law enforcement as well. I was surprised by how many districts (offered a similar role).”

Roger Porter’s accomplishments since July 1

• Revamping the Emergency Operations process for the district

• Improved communications system

• Response training with building secretaries

• Training with all buildings

• Collaboration meeting with city and county

• Emergency radios and lock down buttons repaired

• One way entry to all elementary buildings

• Investigation clean up of bullying/harassment/Title IX/Chapter 102. Updated all forms and updated reporting process

• Signage on and inside buildings

• Working on safety and security grant

• Created a district database for sexual offenders/trespass orders/investigations/search and seizure

• Researching and presenting numerous safety technologies

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