Approval of a technology-framed program for students that excel in mathematics spotlighted the Fort Dodge Community School District Board meeting Monday.

District Curriculum and Instruction Director Teri Boezinger shared the program entitled Art of Problem Solving (AoPS), which was approved for a fee of $13,594.

“It’s a project for talented and gifted teachers at all elementaries,” she said. “We will target the program usage for students who excel in math. It was used in some buildings during the fourth quarter of 2023-24.”

“It deals with advanced mathematics and problem solving,” she added. “The technology component is wonderful, as it’s much like gaming with a teacher-led component to engage with students. There are various paths and journeys students can take dealing with engineering, problem solving and so forth.”

Board member Diane Pratt shared her enthusiasm for the possibilities of the program and asked Boezinger about potential data tracking in order to share successes with the community.

“We will be watching for growth,” Boezinger said. “Our staff will dig for further data and tracking of skill abilities. I agree it would be great to share the successes of those numbers.”

In other action items, the board:

• Approved updates for the district’s emergency operations plan. Director of Safety and Security Roger Porter informed the board that he had completely streamlined the document with information for all buildings in one location and an online training video included.

• Approved Pratt as the board’s delegate for the Iowa Association of School Board’s yearly convention.

• Approved a change order for the Dodger Stadium building project that deals with rerouting fiber lines from the new locker rooms under the facility to the press box area. The original thought had been to run the lines under the field, according to Ryan Utley, director of buildings and grounds, but there were potential issues with water lines and the turf. Cost of the change order was $6,298.67.

• Approved moving $100,000 earmarked for district activities and athletics from the activity fund to the general fund. According to Superintendent Josh Porter, the change was something many other districts had already done to make things run more efficiently for needed funds when it comes to travel situations.